
At Oldham Aesthetic & General Dentistry, Drs. Bobbi and Richard Oldham strive to get both you and your mouth healthy in a personal, comfortable environment. This means something different for each of our patients. While we are known for helping with headaches, TMJ disorders, dental anxiety, sleep apnea, and cosmetic concerns, we provide the full range of dental services. Our team uses a consultancy-based approach to help identify your areas of concern and discuss possibilities to address those concerns. No matter how big or small your dental needs might be, we work hard to customize a dental plan that will make you happy. In 2013, 2014, and 2015 we were awarded the“Best Bedside Manner” awards from Our Health Magazine. Most recently Dr. Richard Oldham won Lynchburg’s best cosmetic dentist category. If you have concerns, questions, or just want to stop by, we offer a free consultation at your convenience. To schedule an appointment call or click the button above. We look forward to seeing you!

Meet Dr. Richard Oldham
Dr. Richard Oldham grew up in Lynchburg before studying Economics and Mathematics at the University of Virginia. He then graduated from Medical College of Virginia in 2011. He went on to
do a residency at the University of Pittsburgh before returning to Lynchburg to practice dentistry.
Dr. Oldham is an active member of a variety of dental organizations and areas of dental research, including: the American Dental Association, the International Association of Physiologic Aesthetics, the International Association of Dental Research, the International Society of Computerized Dentistry, and the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology.
Dr. Oldham enjoys spending time with his wife and three dogs, gardening, working on cars, and shotgun sports.

Meet Dr. Bobbi Oldham
Dr. Bobbi Oldham, mother of Dr. Richard, graduated from the University of Virginia in 1974 before attending the Medical College of Virginia where she earned her DDS in 1978. She was
among the first women both to graduate from UVA and earn a dental degree.
Since 1981, Dr. Bobbi and her husband Dr. Dwight have lived and worked in Lynchburg.
Dr. Bobbi has been active in dental public health since graduating from dental school. She is active in her local health department and free clinics helping provide dental services to patients in need.
Dr. Bobbi enjoys general dentistry and helping anxious patients -- especially children -- enjoy their dental visit.
When she's not working, Dr. Bobbi enjoys spending time with her four children, five grandchildren, her church flower guild, and the Hillside Garden Club.
Would you like to learn more about ourOffice Amenities?
Office Amenities
Below you will find some of the comforts we provide our patients. To take advantage of these amenities, simply let your Treatment Coordinator know your preference or you can print out the menu of choices ahead of your visit and we can file your preference in your chart.
- Before Treatment
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Relax before your appointment in our bright, comfortable reception area. For your comfort we provide:
- Complimentary refreshment bar with coffee, juice, water, and snacks
- The morning paper and cable news
- Fresh-baked cookies
- Carnation roses and other seasonal flowers
- During Treatment
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We’ll make sure you feel pampered while visiting us. For your comfort we have availalbe:
- The Nu-Calm system for drug-free dental sedation
- Neck pillows to support your neck and back
- Soft and cozy blankets to make sure you stay warm
- Eye masks and sunglasses to block any bright lights
- Noise cancelling headphones with either our provided playlists of bring your own music
- Variety of television programming available in every room
- High-quality lip balm to prevent chapped lips
- Jaw rests to prevent sore jaw joints
- After Treatment
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Our pampering doesn’t stop at the end of your appointment. We want to make sure your entire visit exceeded your expectations. We provide all our patients with:
- A fresh, warm lemon-scented towel to freshen up
- A bottle of water and complementary post-care supplies
- Written instructions
- A follow-up phone call within 24-48 hours to check and make sure your are happy
Dental Services
Click an icon below to find out more about our dental services.
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Comprehensive Care
Exceptional dental care begins with a thorough and comprehensive exam. Our team will check not just your teeth but everything supporting your ability to breathe, sleep, smile, chew and swallow. However, we often provide specific services for patients that have been referred to us by other dental offices. If you would like to maintain your relationship with another office, we are happy to help any way we can.
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Advanced Diagnostics
We use the most advanced diagnostic tools available to catch problems early. Just a few examples include: TekScan digital bite evaluation, Velscope oral pathology screening, Myotronics digital muscle and posture evaluation, DIAGNODent laser cavity detection, and advanced salivary diagnostics to test for the bugs that cause both tooth decay and gum disease.
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Advanced Imaging
Our team uses our advanced imaging systems extensively throughout our diagnosis, treatment planning, and delivery of services. We have a large collection of high quality DSLR cameras, intraoral cameras, and the highest quality digital xrays available. For our patients with difficulty obtaining xrays or more extensive needs, we have the latest in digital 3D imaging for teeth, bones, sinuses, and other structures related to chewing and swallowing.
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TMJ & Orthotics
Do you have head, neck, or shoulder pain? Pain, popping or clicking in your jaw joint (TMJ)? Difficulty opening or chewing the foods you like? Ringing in your ears? Tingling or numbness in your fingers? Allergies that make you feel pressure behind or under your eyes? Do you often wake up and feel tired? Are you athlete looking for a performance edge? Many of these conditions can be improved by changing your bite. An orthotic is a device that repositions your lower jaw to improve your bite. We make a wide variety of orthotics to fit your particular needs.
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Cosmetic Dentistry & Whitening
Our doctors have extensive training to improve not only the form but also the function of your smile. We use one of the best ceramists in the world to achieve these results and often work alongside our ceramists to improve our work. We have extensive experience rehabilitating not only the teeth you see when you smile but the whole mouth. We work closely with our patients to design a wearable smile prototype that is completely reversible. Our patients can make changes before committing to finalized treatment. To achieve an ideal smile design, we routinely use whitening, veneers, braces, and/or gum contouring.
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Cosmetic Dentures
Dentures have come a long way in recent years. We have better materials and methods for making them, especially with the use of dental implants to make the denture more functional. Not only can you chew better, but these new dentures make you look significantly younger. Some patients know this service as a cosmetic or facelift denture.
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Sedation Dentistry
Are you anxious about coming to the dentist? Has this anxiety prevented you from seeking treatment in the past? You may be a candidate for sedation. Our team has advanced training to safely calm your nerves while getting the treatment you need.
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Sleep Dentistry
Do you take medications for high blood presure? Do you often wake up feel tired or groggy? Has someone complained that you snore? Are you unhappy with your CPAP? You may be a candidate for sleep dentistry. We provide both at home sleep tests and dental appliances to treat sleep breathing disorders (for example, sleep apnea). Our patients and their families rave about the change in quality of life after getting a good night’s rest.
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Dental Implants
Dental implants replace the root structure for missing teeth. There are a variety of restoration types for dental implants. We can help replace a single tooth or multiple teeth. Our team has extensive training in all areas of implant dentistry.
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General Dentistry
We provide the full range of general dental services. We are happy to see patients of all ages no matter how small or large your dental needs may be. Sometimes we are asked if we do ‘everyday-type’ dentistry — in short, yes!
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Cleanings
Our hygienists have completed extensive continuing education, just like the rest of our team. Our commitment to prevention is clear to anyone who visits with us. We spend time getting to know you to better customize and optimize your home care. As with the rest of our practice, we use the best tools available such as piezoelectric cleaning instruments, Xylitol mints, probiotic home care products, and lab tests for your saliva to check for potential issues.
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Periodontal (Gum) Therapy
Gums and bone are the foundation for our teeth. Approximately 80% of the population has some form of gum problem yet much of this progressive disease goes unaddressed. We use the latest and most advanced methods available to both diagnose and treat gum problems at any stage. We focus on prevention and use of home hygiene aids and probiotics. For more advanced cases, we sometimes recommend deep cleanings, laser treatment, and labs to test for the bugs that cause gum problems and your immune system’s ability to fight infection. After finding the source of the problems, we can recommend a customized treatment option for everyone.
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Short on time?
We can provide same day service for all but the most extensive dental needs. Even then, our world-class lab can turn around cases within days. We use a CNC machine to mill porcelain restorations in our office for same-day service. No more need for temporary crowns or second appointments. If you have specific needs, we provide on-site dental ceramists to evaluate your case. No matter how big or small your dental needs might be, we can work within your schedule.
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State-of-the-Art Sterilization
We are deeply committed to keeping our patients safe. We use the best available methods to ensure everything we use during our appointment is sterile. Most everything we use is single-use, which means we throw it away at the end of the appointment. Our metal instruments are thoroughly cleaned before putting them in a Class B sterilizer, which adheres to the strictest standards for killing bugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the questions we get asked most often. Click on the question to get the answer!
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Do you accept my insurance?
The short answer: yes! We happily work with any insurance company, regardless of provider, to maximize your benefits. This includes providing all paperwork to the insurance company on your behalf. And in some cases we can use your medical insurance. The longer answer: dental coverage in real dollars has decreased every year since the 1960s. And the mix of services covered by dental insurance companies is becoming more and more narrow. Insurance companies will sometimes not cover basic services like white fillings, for instance. Most policies work on a fixed fee schedule based on geographic averages. This average may not always coincide with our fees. Different insurance companies vary greatly in the types of coverage available. Most patients will only be reimbursed a portion of their overall treatment cost, regardless of where they choose to use their dental insurance. Because of the confusion caused and limited benefits provided by dental insurance, we have chosen to be unrestricted participants with your insurance company. The bottom line: we are happy to provide consultation about insurance options. For most patients, however, we recommend they not purchase their own insurance coverage as most pay more for the coverage than they receive in benefits.
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How do I make financial arrangements?
We will present a treatment proposal outlining treatment and the associated cost prior to starting any work. We will review your needs and preferences to find a plan that makes you happy and gets you healthy. Once we have a plan, we provide several ways to complete financial arrangements:
- CareCredit: provides up to 12 months of interest free financing
- Cash or Check: if your account balance is settled prior to treatment we offer a 5% accounting courtesy
- Limited in-office financing available depending on treatment plan
Our Treatment Coordinators, are happy to help walk you through your choices and help find a way to make treatment affordable.
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What is TMJ?
The Temporomandibular Joint, or TMJ, is the jaw joint that allows you to open and close your mouth. This joint is unique in the way it operates and is sensitive to problems. TMJ problems can come from the jaw itself or teeth and muscles. Associated symptoms include:
- Worn or fractured teeth
- Jaw pain, popping, or noise
- Jaw locking
- Headaches
- Neck aches
- Facial pain
- Limited range of motion
- Difficulty chewing
- Ear problems
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Numbness or tingling
While we cannot help eliminate every nuisance or pain associated with your jaw joint, we can help in the vast majority of cases to eliminate or greatly reduce symptoms. In severe cases, we sometimes need the help of a medical doctor, oral surgeon, physical therapist, chiropractor, or massage therapist. To learn more about the TMJ and how we can help, click here.
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I'm missing one or more teeth -- what are the options?
There are three main strategies to replacing missing teeth.
- Removable Denture
- Fixed Bridge
- Implant Supported Crown or Implant Supported Bridge
The appropriate strategy depends on how many teeth are missing and your preferences.
Removable Denture
The first choice to consider is whether or not the replacement is removable. Advantage Very cost effective way to replace teeth Disadvantages
- RD must be removed for cleaning and sleeping
- RD neither looks nor feels like your natural teeth
- RD can become dislodged when speaking or chewing
Removable options have greatly improved recently. To learn more, check out our New You dentures with implant restorations.
Fixed Bridge
The fixed bridge uses the teeth on either side of the missing tooth for support. It is bonded in and does not require removal. It looks and functions like natural teeth–except for flossing. Dental floss cannot be passed between the teeth on the bridge because they are splinted together; a floss threader is used to pass floss under the bridge. Advantages
- The bridge does not require daily removal
- The bridge looks and functions like natural teeth
Disadvantages
- The bridge “marries” three or more teeth together. A cavity on one tooth in the future can possibly require the replacement of the bridge if the decay gets under the margin on the bridge.
- The teeth on each side of the space need to be altered. If there are existing crowns on either of these teeth, they will need to be removed and discarded.
Implant Supported Crown or Implant Supported Fixed Bridge
The implant-supported crown is the most natural feeling and functioning option. It does not rely on any other tooth to stay in the mouth. The implant is placed in the bone in the location of the missing tooth. After bone has integrated around the implant, a post and a crown are placed on the implant. The future of the crown/implant is not dependent on the surrounding teeth. The teeth on each side of the missing space do not need to be altered for support purposes. The implant/crown is not susceptible to decay and it can be flossed like a natural tooth. Advantages
- Implant/crown is not susceptible to decay.
- Implant/crown is minimally susceptible to periodontal disease.
- Implant/crown does not rely on other teeth for support.
- Decay on the surrounding teeth will not affect the implant/crown.
- A more natural cleaning process for the patient occurs since typically implants are not connected to natural teeth.
- The implant/crown increases strength of the quadrant where it is placed.
- Bone stays with implant placement and atrophies (shrinks) with no implant.
Disadvantages
- Initially cost more than the RPD or Fixed Bridge- but a great value considering the disadvantages of the RPD and the Fixed Bridge.
- Implants typically take more time; but with today’s techniques, the prosthetic (replacement) phase may begin at 2-3 months from implant placement.
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I'm anxious about visiting the dental office -- what are the options?
We offer a variety of ways to calm your nerves and make your visit less stressful. Our office has a warm, relaxed atmosphere and our treatment coordinators enjoy making you comfortable. We offer:
- Nu-Calm to provide a drug-free way to relax
- Oral sedation using a small dose of anti-anxiety medication
- In-office conscious sedation using nitrous oxide with or without oral drugs
Our doctors and team members have completed extensive education in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, sedation protocols, and hold a special license from the state of Virginia to administer these medications safely in our office.
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I hate needles -- is there anything you can do?
Yes! We no longer “numb” teeth like the old days. We use a combination of special gels and a computerized anesthesia delivery system that leaves many of our patients unsure if they had their tooth worked on or not. We have specialized lasers available that allow us to do many procedures without any anesthesia at all.
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Do you see kids?
Yes!
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Is fluoride safe?
Yes! From the Centers for Disease Control website:
“The safety and benefits of fluoride are well documented. For 70 years, people in the United States have benefited from drinking water with fluoride, leading to better dental health. Drinking fluoridated water keeps the teeth strong and reduced tooth decay by approximately 25% in children and adults. By preventing tooth decay, community water fluoridation has been shown to save money, both for families and the health care system.”
The CDC publishes up-to-date safety information and scientific literature on fluoridation here. See also:
- The National Cancer Institute’s review of literature concludes there is no causal link between fluoride in drinking water and cancer risk, systemic disease, or adverse health event
- The American Dental Association’s literature on the safety and efficacy of fluoride and water fluoridation
- The Vermont Department of Health’s literature on the safety and efficacy of fluoride and water fluoridation
We recommend most everyone has at least one fluoride source to prevent tooth decay. For younger patients, we follow a risk-based schedule from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry for patients aged 6-16 years old.
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Can you help me sleep better?
Absolutely. Sleep is a vital restorative process for us all. Without sufficient quality sleep each night, we are prone to develop a variety of problems including:
- Chronic fatigue
- Headaches
- Memory changes
- High blood pressure
- Heart failure, irregular heart beats, and heart attacks
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Worsening of ADHD
In the worst cases, untreated sleep apnea can result in death. We routinely screen for the same conditions in our office and provide cost effective at-home sleep tests to screen for any potential sleep issues. You go home with a kit that will measure the oxygen in your blood, your breathing, and the quality of your sleep. When you bring the kit back to our office, we download the data and send it to a Pulmonologist. The physician will then render a diagnosis of your sleep as well as a suggested treatment option.
Testimonials
Find out what our patients are saying about us after their visit:
The feedback below is from our facebook page:
“Professional and personable. I have kind of a complicated oral history and actually cried when I left because I was so relieved to have found a practice that genuinely cares”
“Dr Richard Oldham and staff are genuinely caring! I’ve had extensive dental work and they’re always so good to me! We saw Dr Bobbi Oldham for many yrs at Parker Dental and followed her to their own office!! Definitely 5 stars!!”

“I am a new patient and all I can say is I truly wish I had found this team years ago. I have such a high anxiety level with dentist and this entire team made me feel so comfortable! I had to have two teeth taken out and it was a very relaxing procedure. They did everything they could to make me comfortable.”

Dr. Oldham has completely eliminated my pain associated with a severe case of TMJ. I am so very thankful for the care, concern, follow-up, and treatment. The entire staff is amazing and always make you feel welcome and comfortable. Thank you!

Came in this morning for work. After, went to Lowe’s, then lunch with my wife. First time after having work done that I did not go home and go back to bed. Dr. Oldham is great!

I went in for 2 crowns and they were done while I waited–no
return visit necessary! Everyone is so nice. The procedure was painless. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.

I am a new patient and all I can say is I truly wish I had found this team years ago. I have such a high anxiety level with dentist and this entire team made me feel so comfortabl
e! I had to have two teeth taken out and it was a very relaxing procedure. They did everything they could to make me comfortabl e.

“Best dentists and staff EVER, we have been going there for about 40 years. Even when we lived in west va.