Convenient Access from Bluffton
Halfway through a semester at Bluffton University, a cracked molar raises an awkward question: who do you call when your family dentist is back home? Pure Smiles in downtown Findlay is about 22 minutes up I-75. Students, retirees and families who need a dentist in Bluffton, OH can reach four dentists at one practice without a long detour.
Leave the Bluffton Town Hall at 154 N Main St via E Elm St and N Main St, which carries SR 103. Follow SR 103 east on E Jefferson St for a little over a mile to I-75, then drive north about 13.6 miles. The I-75 Business exit leads through a roundabout onto Lima Ave in south Findlay; from there, S Cory St takes you to W Crawford St. It is just under 18 miles door to door, roughly 22 minutes, though rush hour can add a few.
Our office stands at 223 W Crawford St, Findlay, OH 45840, a short walk from the county courthouse and the Hancock Historical Museum. Tap the Pure Smiles map pin for turn-by-turn directions. We also welcome neighbors from Pandora and Rawson.
A College Town with Two Very Different Dental Needs
Bluffton lies mostly in Allen County, with part of the village reaching into Hancock, roughly halfway between Lima and Findlay along I-75. Riley Creek runs through town, and downtown business blocks are anchored by the town hall at Elm and Main.
The village describes the university as central to Bluffton in every sense. Founded in 1899 as Central Mennonite College, it sits on a 65-acre campus at 1 University Drive. Some students are managing their own appointments for the first time, and that can feel unfamiliar.
The same village is also home to the Mennonite Memorial Home and Maple Crest Senior Living, which means a sizable group of older residents. Their questions tend to be about worn crowns, loose dentures and missing teeth rather than wisdom teeth or whitening.
A practice that serves both groups well needs range: quick help when a student breaks a tooth before finals, and careful restorative planning for a retiree. Our four dentists split that range between them, so every patient lands with someone suited to the work.
Older patients often juggle several medications and appointments with other providers. Dr. Emma Bergman has experience treating medically complex older patients, and the whole team reviews health history before any restorative work. That extra care matters when a treatment plan has to fit around a heart condition or a blood thinner.
The office keeps hours Monday through Wednesday from 8 AM to 5 PM and Thursday from 8 AM to 4 PM. Students can often fit a morning appointment before afternoon classes, since the drive from campus is only about 22 minutes.
What Students and Retirees Ask Before Booking
Students usually want to know three things: can I be seen if I'm new, what will a first emergency visit cost, and will my insurance work this far from home? New patients can use the $89 Limited Emergency Exam & X-Ray, which can't be combined with other offers. If your coverage is through Delta Dental, Medical Mutual or Superior Dental, we are a preferred provider and file the claim for you.
Older residents ask different questions. They want to know whether it is too late for an implant, or whether a slipping lower denture can be anchored. Dr. Chad Ollom places implants, implant dentures and full-arch implant bridges, and an implant consultation is the place to start. A single gap can often be closed with an implant crown that looks and works like the tooth it replaces.
Families in Bluffton Exempted Village Schools, home of the Pirates, fall somewhere in between. Their questions are about checkups, straightening and the occasional sports-field chip. We see children and parents in the same visit when the schedule allows.
Between classes, practices and trips to Village Park, Buckeye Park or the pool on N Spring St, it is easy to let a minor toothache slide. The village's recreation page lists those spots, along with The Buckeye and Cobb Lake, two old quarries kept for fishing.
How We Care for Patients Who Want a Dentist in Bluffton, OH
Emergency Care
A broken tooth during exam week or a swollen jaw after a long drive home needs prompt attention. Call the office first so the team can guide you and hold the earliest opening. The interstate drive keeps the trip quick.
Invisalign®
Clear aligners suit busy students who want straighter teeth without brackets showing in every photo. An iTero® scan creates the digital model your aligners are built from. Check-ins can line up with semester breaks.
Dental Implants
Older residents can replace one tooth or a full arch with implant-supported teeth. Bone and tissue grafting are done in-house when extra support is needed. Planning starts with a careful exam and imaging.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Graduation photos, job interviews and weddings send plenty of people looking for a brighter smile. Cosmetic care can address chips, stains and uneven edges. A consultation shows you what is realistic before you commit.
Nervous patients, whether eighteen or eighty, can talk through sedation before treatment. The practice offers nitrous oxide, oral sedation and IV sedation, and Dr. Chad Ollom is a certified IV conscious sedation provider. Longer procedures such as implant surgery are often easier to face with one of these options in place. Your dentist will recommend the level that fits your health and the work being done.
Meet Your Findlay Dentists
After a biology degree at the University of Cincinnati and a DDS at Ohio State, Dr. Stephanie Ollom served as a Navy lieutenant and ran a remote dental clinic overseas. Her Kois Center courses and Comprehensive Orthodontics series help patients weighing aligners or cosmetic changes. Students and retirees may also see Dr. Chad Ollom, Dr. Joseph Van Oss or Dr. Emma Bergman.
Insurance & Financing
Students and retirees on a budget have options. Cherry, CareCredit and Proceed Finance can spread a larger treatment over monthly payments, and the in-house Healthy Smiles Plan helps patients without insurance. The office also accepts VA referrals, cash, checks and major cards.
What Our Customers Say
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Pure Smiles from Bluffton, and how do I get there?
Our office sits just under 18 miles from Bluffton, about a 22-minute drive. Take SR 103 east to I-75 north, then exit onto I-75 Business and Lima Ave into Findlay before turning onto S Cory St and W Crawford St. Residents comparing a dentist in Bluffton, OH will find the route is mostly interstate.
Can Bluffton college students get urgent dental care while away from home?
Yes, students are welcome as new patients at our Findlay office. Bring your insurance card, a photo ID and a list of any medications. If something urgent comes up first, the $89 Limited Emergency Exam & X-Ray is available to new patients and can't be combined with other offers.
What dental problems should older Bluffton residents watch for?
Gum disease, root cavities and dry mouth from medications are the main ones to watch with age. Mention any new prescriptions at each checkup so the doctors can adjust your care. Dr. Emma Bergman has experience treating medically complex older patients, and steady home care plus regular cleanings help many people keep their natural teeth for life.
Can a sinus infection cause a toothache?
Yes, sinus pressure can make the upper back teeth ache, often several teeth at once. A dental problem is more likely when one tooth hurts with chewing or with hot and cold. An exam with digital x-rays or 3D cone beam imaging helps the doctors tell the two apart so you get the right care.
Can an older resident replace a loose denture with implants?
Often yes, since implant dentures and full-arch implant bridges are part of Dr. Chad Ollom's work. He also performs bone grafting when the jaw needs more support. An implant consultation, with imaging, shows whether this approach fits your health and goals.
Schedule Your Visit from Bluffton
Whether it is a mid-semester emergency or a long-planned implant, anyone weighing a dentist in Bluffton, OH can call 419-664-3283 and be here in about 22 minutes. The Areas We Serve hub lists every nearby community, and our Dentist Findlay, OH page introduces the whole practice.