Pierce & Pierce Orthodontics, Mt Pleasant

Going to the dentist is an enjoyable experience. If you don’t believe that, perhaps you are not going to the right dental practice. The best advertising tends to be word of mouth – no pun intended – and if you ask a longtime East Cooper resident which dentist or orthodontist is best, you may hear a recommendation for Dr. Pierce.

In the 1980s, Dr. Michael Pierce established an orthodontic practice in Mount Pleasant. Back then, there were just a few dentists in town and, if you or your child needed braces, there were even fewer options. Originally from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Dr. Pierce arrived in the Lowcountry as soon as he could, after studying dentistry at Temple University and a stint in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps. After teaching at the Medical University of South Carolina’s dental school, he returned to Temple Dental School to be certified in orthodontics.

“I started out in engineering but I didn’t enjoy it. My cousin was a dentist and he loved it,” said Dr. Mike when asked how he chose his career path.

Dr. Tim Pierce arrived while his father was training to become an orthodontist, so it is no surprise that he decided to join the family business. After receiving an undergraduate degree from Furman University and a degree from the Medical University of South Carolina School of Dental Medicine, he, too, attended Temple University and earned his certificate in orthodontics as well as an advanced degree in oral biology.

While at Temple, Dr. Tim met his future wife and the woman who would round out the family business. Dr. Daphne Pierce was destined for dentistry. As a child, she was fascinated by teeth.

“I just loved teeth,” she admitted.

So it was natural that she, too, would study dentistry at Temple University. While Dr. Mike and Dr. Tim concentrate on straightening teeth and other orthodontic issues, Dr. Daphne provides general dentistry services, making this a nearly full-service office.

All three doctors agree that the key is to create a fun and enjoyable atmosphere for their patients and the office support staff. They offer the latest technology, blended with a high degree of professionalism. And they are understandably proud of their work. It is visible every time one of their patients – and even former patients – smiles.

Dr. Mike said that technology has changed quite a bit from the larger braces of the 1980s. They are smaller and used for shorter periods of time; some are virtually invisible. And instead of waiting until the teen years, the first orthodontic evaluation takes place at the age of 7 or 8.

The best reward is beautiful teeth, of course, and the self-confidence that comes with looking good.