We Welcome New Patients

A form for personal and health history is on this site. Please download to fill out if you would like to save some time. You are perfectly welcome to fill it out at the office if you prefer.

Personal & Health History Form

At your first visit we will do a complete examination, clean your teeth and discuss treatment options. If there is anything you do not like about your smile, please tell our staff or doctors, and we'd be glad to help you achieve the smile you deserve.

If you have a dental issue that needs to be addressed immediately, please tell us when making your appointment.

Preventive & Restorative Education

Preventive

We like to think that we will be there for your lifetime, and your teeth will be too.

Regular checkups at our office are important, including x-rays. We check for oral cancer at every exam. Cavities that are found early are much easier and less expensive to fix than once they are large. Not everyone needs to come every six months, some need more, some less.

What we do at our office is important, but it does not come close to what you do at home. Good oral hygiene, including flossing, is the best thing you do for your teeth daily.

Diet is very important to teeth.

Sugary or acidic foods can decay teeth quickly. Sodas, even diet ones, are particularly bad for teeth. Soda Attacks:

Your health and habits can influence your dental health.

Diabetes, smoking, and medications change the ability for your mouth to heal. Affects of Diabeties:

Sealants can be applied to teeth to prevent cavities from forming in the grooves of your teeth.

Oral Examinations & X-rays can find problems early, when they are easy to fix. They also can find and prevent gum disease.

Restorative

Restorations repair teeth that have had decay or breakage. Fillings are for small problems, and fixed crowns or bridges are for teeth that have more extensive damage.

Fillings can be tooth-coloured, resin-bonded or amalgams.

Crowns & Bridges are cemented, covering the entire surface of exposed tooth.

Endodontics (root canals) A tooth needs a root canal when it is hurting, or when there is so little tooth structure above the gum that a post must be placed to restore the tooth. Root Canals are very easy, just a bit boring. The center of the root is cleaned out and an inert filling placed. Dr. O'Connor does all front teeth- incisors and canines, and some back teeth, premolars. You will be referred for a molar to a specialist.

Orthodontics When teeth are crowded, or there is excessive over bite or overjet, the best option is braces. While Dr. O'Connor does some minor tooth movement in the office, she refers all banding to a specialist in Galax.
Implants Missing teeth can now be replaced by artificial ones. Please ask us about this exciting procedure.