Dr. Nicole Teehan

Dr. Nicole Teehan has seen it all: She spent four years in Hawaii as a military linguist, got her foot in the door as a dental assistant, and even found time for a philosophy degree before getting her DDS in oral surgery. She also happens to own a bar with her husband. “It’s certainly not the traditional path to dentistry,” she says, “but I feel like that’s a good thing.”

And when it comes to the procedures themselves, Dr. Teehan has been there too. “I broke my jaw in a surfing accident when I was still working as an assistant,” she says, “and I had to get quite a few different kinds of surgeries over the years. So when I tell you what you can expect from a procedure, that’s from my own personal experience. I’ve actually been through it all.”

She also knows that oral surgery can be kind of intimidating, so she goes the extra mile to help you feel like you’re in the driver’s seat. “It’s totally normal to have anxiety,” she says. “But I’ll be patient, there’s no rush, and there’s plenty of time for questions. I’ll do everything I can to make it a good experience for you.”