Convenient Access from Newark
One highway links the county seat to our door. Pure Smiles sits on East Broad Street in Pataskala, about 20 minutes west along SR 16, and many people who want a dentist in Newark, OH find that the drive fits neatly into a workday. Our doctors trained at Ohio State, and the office offers IV sedation, emergency visits and digital imaging in one place.
Starting from the downtown Newark library at 101 West Main Street, follow West Main to North 4th Street, which carries SR 13, and turn north. SR 13 becomes Mount Vernon Road and meets four-lane SR 16, where you head west. SR 16 runs past Granville, turns into Columbus Road and then Broad Street, and our office stands on East Broad Street just east of downtown Pataskala. Expect roughly 16 miles and 20 minutes, with rush hour adding a little.
The 1876 courthouse on the square, the Midland Theatre on North Park Place and The Works on South 1st Street are the downtown landmarks you leave behind. At the other end you will find us at 186 E Broad St, Pataskala, OH 43062, less than a mile from the Pataskala Public Library. Save the office in Google Maps for the first trip. Patients in Heath and Granville share much of the same SR 16 route.
A Dental Office That Fits the Newark Commute
Plenty of locals already drive SR 16 west for jobs toward Columbus. Intel's two announced chip factories in western Licking County lie in the same direction. Since Pataskala sits right on that road, a cleaning can happen on the way in or on the way home.
The office opens at 8 AM Monday through Thursday and closes at 5 PM. An early chair time lets a commuter finish a checkup and still reach work at a reasonable hour. We are closed Friday, so plan on a visit between Monday and Thursday.
Students fit the same pattern. Ohio State Newark and Central Ohio Technical College share a campus in the city, and many students travel toward Columbus for work or classes anyway. A practice on that path makes it easier to keep up with care between semesters.
Switching dentists is simpler than most people expect. Our front desk can request prior x-rays and records from your previous office, verify your coverage before the visit and send new-patient forms ahead of time. That way the first appointment focuses on your teeth rather than a clipboard. If you are moving to us after a long gap in care, there is no lecture, only a clear plan for getting back on track.
The City of Newark lists more than 20 parks and 11 miles of bike trails, including Everett Park and Horns Hill Park. An active family schedule of trail rides and ball games also brings the occasional chipped tooth or loose filling. The Octagon Earthworks, part of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks World Heritage Site since 2023, gives the city a landmark few places can match.
Dental Priorities for Newark Workers and Students
Busy adults are not the only patients we see from the county seat. Children from Newark City Schools, from kindergarten through the high school, come in for checkups, sealants and fillings, often on the same morning as a parent. Grouping the family into one block of appointments means one drive west instead of three.
Newark's economy leans on retail, healthcare, manufacturing and education. Those jobs often leave little room for a dental problem that drags on for weeks. A tooth that aches on Monday is easier to handle when the office is a single highway away and the team can take an x-ray, diagnose the cause and start treatment.
Root canal therapy is a good example. Many patients delay it out of worry, then end up with swelling that keeps them home from work. Our doctors perform root canal therapy right here in the office, and IV sedation is available for patients who feel anxious about longer procedures.
Technology helps the visit move efficiently. Digital x-rays appear on screen within moments, and the iTero digital scanner replaces messy putty impressions for Invisalign and crowns. For larger cases, 3D cone beam imaging shows bone and nerve positions that flat films cannot. Our advanced dental technology page describes each tool in more detail.
Prevention keeps emergencies rare. Twice-yearly cleanings and hygiene visits remove the buildup that brushing misses and catch decay early. For a busy household, that steady routine costs far less time than an urgent visit.
Gum disease deserves the same attention. It often develops quietly, with mild bleeding as the only early sign, and it can loosen teeth if ignored. Adults without insurance can use the Perio Care Plan to keep periodontal maintenance on a regular schedule, and our hygienists explain home care that actually fits a long workday.
Treatment for Anyone Choosing a Dentist in Newark, OH
Emergency Care
Broken teeth, sudden pain and swelling get prompt attention during office hours. Commuters heading west on SR 16 can call from the road so the team is ready when they arrive.
Endodontics
Root canal treatment saves a tooth whose nerve is infected or inflamed. Our doctors treat these cases in the office, which spares Newark patients a separate referral trip.
General Dentistry
Exams, fillings, crowns and checkups keep the whole household on schedule. Parents can line up visits for themselves and their kids in a single block of time.
Invisalign
Clear aligners suit professionals and college students who want straighter teeth without metal brackets. Progress checks fit easily into a regular commute, and aligners come out for meals and brushing.
Sedation Dentistry
Nitrous oxide, oral sedation and IV sedation help anxious adults get through care they have postponed. Several treatments can often be grouped into one visit, which saves drives back and forth.
First visits follow a simple pattern. The doctor reviews your health history, takes digital x-rays and completes a full exam, and a hygienist cleans your teeth when appropriate. You leave with a plan that outlines recommended treatment and costs, so you can decide what to schedule and when. Patients who arrive with a specific problem get that issue addressed first.
Meet Your Pataskala Dentists
Dr. Kunning Li completed a general practice residency at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, treating dental emergencies and medically complex patients. Dr. Li's outreach work includes emergency dental care in Uganda. Dr. Chad Ollom, an implant specialist with IV sedation certification, and Dr. Stephanie Ollom complete the doctor team.
Insurance & Financing
As a preferred provider for Aetna, DHA and Superior Dental, the office handles insurance filing on your behalf. Cherry and CareCredit offer payment plans when treatment runs larger than expected. Uninsured patients can join the Healthy Smiles Plan, and we accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard and Discover.
What Our Customers Say
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Pure Smiles from Newark, and how do I get there?
Our office is roughly 16 miles from downtown Newark, or about 20 minutes by car. Take North 4th Street (SR 13) north to SR 16, then follow SR 16 west as it becomes Columbus Road and Broad Street. For commuters weighing a dentist in Newark, OH, the drive involves only a handful of turns.
Can Newark patients use Medical Mutual or Superior Dental at the office?
Yes, Pure Smiles is a preferred provider with both Medical Mutual and Superior Dental, and the team files the insurance paperwork. Bring your card to the first visit so benefits can be checked before treatment. Patients with Ohio Medicaid or Molina dental coverage can be seen through My Community Smiles, located inside the same building.
How can Newark college students keep up with checkups during the semester?
The simplest approach is booking an 8 AM visit early in the week, Monday through Thursday, before classes fill the day. Students on a parent's plan can bring the insurance card, and those without coverage can ask about the Healthy Smiles Plan or monthly financing through Cherry. Booking the next cleaning at checkout keeps the routine on track.
Who helps if a tooth breaks during the workday in downtown Newark?
Our emergency team does, Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 5 PM. Call as soon as the break happens, describe any pain or swelling, and we will fit you in as quickly as we can. Bring a list of medications and any broken pieces, and the doctor will explain options before treatment starts.
I take several medications. Can the doctors plan treatment around my health conditions?
Yes, our doctors routinely adjust treatment for ongoing health conditions and daily medications. Dr. Kunning Li completed a hospital residency at Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center focused on medically complex and special-needs patients. Please bring a current medication list so the doctor can plan safe, comfortable care from the very first visit.
Schedule Your Visit from Newark
A dentist in Newark, OH residents can reach with one easy drive west is a phone call away at 740-716-7971. Other nearby communities appear on our areas we serve list, and our Dentist Pataskala, OH homepage covers everything else.