 Michael O'Neil, D.D.S.
You might not expect a
former wrestler, pole-vaulter and Naval officer to have a talent for gentle
precision, but Dr. Michael P. O’Neil, DDS isn’t your average dentist.
For one thing, he truly loves what he
does. Long before earning a degree from Indiana University’s School of
Dentistry, or serving in the U.S. Navy as a Dental Officer, Mike knew what
he wanted to do with his life. Both his parents worked in medical fields, so
growing up he had lots of chances to talk with doctors and surgeons, and he
was fortunate enough to have a great dentist as a kid.
By the time he graduated from Notre
Dame with a degree in Biology, Dr. O’Neil was already looking ahead to the
day he would have his own practice – even though he understood how much work
it would be. Dentistry isn’t easy, as Mike will tell you: “At the end of the
day, I’m worn out,” he says, “…but that’s the way it should be, I think. If
you’re exhausted that means you had a good day… that you accomplished a
lot.”
He loves coming in each morning and he
can’t imagine retiring. For most folks, it’s hard to imagine enjoying
working on people’s mouths, but the challenging nature of dentistry inspires
Dr. O’Neil – and so do the results. “I love it when a patient gets up from
the chair, looks in the mirror and smiles. ...When they look at themselves,
and say ‘Dr. O’Neil, you nailed it’… that really feels good.”
In the quest to improve his patients’
results, Mike constantly studies new technologies as they become available.
When fewer than 3% of offices were doing laser dentistry, and the CEREC
restorative system was just as rare, Today’s Dentistry had both. But it’s
not about competition – he shares his experience and expertise with other
dentists, to help them better serve their patients. Dr. O’Neil is also the
consulting dentist to web-based health magazine ROBEICS.COM, and hosts the
talk radio show “Ask the Doctor.”
Over the years, Mike’s motivation and
dedication to dentistry have earned him numerous qualifications, listed
below:
-
ADA – American Dental Association
-
IDA – Indiana Dental Association
-
IDDS – Indianapolis District Dental
Society
-
AACD – American Academy of Cosmetic
Dentistry
-
AALD – American Academy of Laser
Dentistry
-
AIIA – American Institute of Implant
Awareness
-
NAACD – North American Academy of
Computerized Dentistry
Perhaps Dr. O’Neil’s greatest honor,
though, came from a source closer to home. When asked about her career
aspiration, his 8-year-old daughter gave the same answer Mike did at her
age, some three decades ago. “When I grow up … I want to be a dentist.”
If she’s anything like her father, she’ll be a good one. |
