Meet Greg Prior, DDS
Why become a dentist? For many, the answer is “to help people.” For Dr. Greg Prior, the answer goes back to when he was a child.
As a child, he was looking for new adventures and learning about taking calculated risks. Unfortunately, sometimes you learn the hard way.
One day he took a fall from a highchair and broke his neck. It took several months before doctors finally diagnosed the real cause of his discomfort in his neck and jaw.
When issues are not found and treated promptly, they can have lasting effects. As Dr. Greg grew, he continued to have issues with restricted jaw movement and muscle pain.
These challenges influenced him to pursue dentistry as a profession in order to spare others the frustration caused by untreated issues, especially with respect to malformation of the jaw, teeth, and mouth.
Dr. Prior attended the Ohio State College of Dentistry, and graduated in 1976. He then moved to scenic Columbus, Montana, and established his practice. Dr. Prior took time to hone his craft and advance his education in the area of TMJ and Functional Jaw Orthopedics.
Montana is beautiful, but winters can be draining. In 2000, Dr. Prior packed up, and relocated to sunny Florida, where he’s been in practice ever since.
Dr. Prior’s early experience with injury and pain has led him to be a very compassionate dentist. He is a specialist in Functional Jaw Orthopedics, an in-depth study of how treating people from an early stage of facial growth allows their teeth to follow the natural flow of form and function. By examining and treating patients as needed in younger years, it can create better airway flow and allows a person to create an optimal dental situation for life.
Dr. Prior has always maintained that “the best dentistry is the least dentistry.” For him, this means that he prefers to engage in a partnership with patients, treating and teaching them with a goal of optimizing their current dental state. In this way, he gently guides them to maintain and preserve their natural teeth.
Dr. Prior’s desire to always learn about the latest advances in dental care didn’t end in 1976. He’s spent countless hours of his time in continuing education throughout the years, learning new dental technology to better help his patients.
Dr. Prior especially enjoys sharing his knowledge about dentistry with others. He has authored a book for other dentists, detailing his Painless Shot Technique. He also enjoys public speaking and has given lectures to numerous groups on topics including occlusion, orthopedic orthodontia, and the importance of optimizing airways.
Dr. Prior can also claim the title of Inventor. He has been issued US patents as well as 3 European patents. Dr. Prior and Dr. Jim Garry also designed one of the first oral appliances used to treat sleep apnea, The Garry-Prior Appliance.
Dr. Prior is a proud father and husband. When he’s not in the office, you can find him engaged in some of his other loves such as woodworking, fly fishing, and scuba diving.
Dr. Prior is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA), the Upper Pinellas County Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), the ACDSM, and the International College of Craniomandibular Orthopedics (ICCMO).
Dr. Prior’s Vision
Oral health is a life long journey. I have learned that an informed and enlightened patient makes excellent decisions regarding their oral health and that partnering with a trusted guide is their best assurance of staying on their chosen path. I’m privileged to work with a knowledgeable team who share this same simple truth and who also go the country mile to ensure that the quality dentistry our patients receive is matched by a truly exceptional level of customer service.