Susan O’Connor’s Galax practice connects local dentistry with a history of service

Susan F. O'Connor bought her Galax dental practice in 1993, joining a local practice history that reaches back to 1951. Her work since then has connected a Washington Street office with a wider commitment to dental education and volunteer care.

O'Connor graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry in 1987 and practiced in Kentucky before coming to Galax. She later earned Fellowship and Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry, milestones reflecting substantial continuing education beyond dental school.

That interest in learning has also extended to service. Her professional biography describes participation in Virginia's Mission of Mercy projects, including work in Wise and Grundy, as well as dental volunteer trips elsewhere. Much of that volunteer work has taken place within Virginia, connecting her clinical skills with communities beyond her own office.

In Galax, the practice provides care for children and adults, including preventive and restorative dentistry. Its patient information emphasizes discussing treatment and helping people understand their dental needs. The office occupies a longstanding place in the city's downtown, where its history links successive generations of dentists and patients.

The team around a dental chair is an essential part of that continuity. Hygienists, assistants and front-desk staff handle different aspects of a visit, from preventive care and clinical support to the arrangements that allow an appointment to happen. O'Connor's account of the practice emphasizes that shared effort.

Her story is grounded in a particular place, but its reach is broader: a Galax dentist whose career has made room for continued study and care beyond her regular patient schedule. The combination gives the practice a history shaped by both professional development and service.