"Yes, Dr. Norwood in Norwood is at the Norwood Dental Clinic."

I had that answer many times when folks asked me about my partner Tom. He is a Norwood, the last living Norwood, in the small town of Norwood, North Carolina. He has been a dentist in the lakeside area of Stanly County since 1975. Dentistry was all he ever wanted to do from the time he was in elementary school, watching the building we are in today being built. Thirty eight years and thousands of appreciative patients and three generations later, he is retiring and selling me his share of Norwood Dental Clinic. I have the privilege of taking the helm of this amazing practice. We have been working together since 2000 and, although we are equal partners, I have always thought of Dr. N as a father figure to me. My Dad, Bill, passed away in 1998 so having Tom was critical for my well being and direction. He was able to help me as a dentist, businessman, and just as a person. He has a gentle way about him. Not passive aggressive but passive and constructive. He knows how to live a good life, to treat people right, to minimize self-induced stress and to appreciate his time on earth. He has been a hugely positive force in my life and the lives of his patients. Now, he can spend well-deserved time with his family including his two grandkids.

I have been blessed to have been his partner and to have been able to finish out my career serving the same great families here in Stanly County. My hat is off to Dr. Tom Norwood! Best wishes moving forward and make the next 38 years even better!

today's smile file features 'rick' who had several issues with his smile.  for a long time, he was uncomfortable smiling and it affected his self esteem.  he came to me, during a consult we discussed his problems and several treatment options.  we also discussed the risks and benefits of these treatment options.

patient concerns:
mismatched shades of enamel
recession of gumline showing root
stained enamel
tooth size discrepancies
minor orthodontic issues such as rotated teeth

my approach:
because the patient's bite was relatively normal, and there were no other complications related to his periodontal health, we decided to use lava crowns to restore his six front teeth on the top arch.  i have used lava crowns (porcelain fused to a zirconium substrate) for years and have found them to be beautiful and highly durable.  this patient was ecstatic about the result, and his wife says she can't get him to quit smiling, not that she would want him to...

some patients hesitate to get treatments for many years because they believe it will be a major undertaking.  this is not always the case.  in today's smile file, we meet patient 'ashley.'  in high school, she suffered a severe injury to her front teeth, which left several cosmetic issues.  having these corrected was something she always wanted to do, and i was the first dentist to recommend these conservative procedures.

cosmetic bonding and esthetic recontouring, while very conservative and relatively inexpensive, can have a tremendous impact on a patient's smile.  take a look at what can be done in less than thirty minutes in our office.  

patient concerns:
teeth were stained from age and two prior root canals
teeth were uneven across the front
canine was rotated on one side, leaving a space in her bite

my approach:
after bleaching, i lengthened both lateral incisors with composite bonding.  i felt that the central incisors were too long, so i removed a small amount of enamel at the edge.  the spaces that were of concern at the canine teeth were bonded to reduce the space.  the patient was extremely happy with her results, as evidenced in her glowing 'after' pictures.

Sorry to be 'tongue in cheek'...

Norwood Dental Clinic proudly announces the sell of the practice to Dr. Mark Lassiter.  After 38 years of dedicated service to the community, Dr. Tom Norwood announced his retirement at the end of August 2013.  Drs. Norwood and Lassiter have been partners for approximately seven years, and the transition was a natural one for them both.  Dr. Norwood thanks his wonderful patient base for years of loyalty and friendship.

As a patient, you can expect the same individualized service from Lassiter and Associates.  Dr. Summer Shelton will remain the primary associate of the practice.  Drs. Lassiter and Shelton are both graduates of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  They both look forward to serving the community of Norwood and surrounding counties for years to come.  

For more information or to schedule an appointment please visit our website www.norwooddentalclinic.com or call 704.474.3152