Your Neighbourhood Dentist in Old North London
Old North carries itself differently than the rest of the city. Century homes sit under mature maples, Western University anchors one end of the neighbourhood, and Richmond Row is close enough for a coffee before or after almost anything. Families here tend to stay for a long time, which means dental care that keeps up with a household over years, not just a single visit, tends to matter more than it does elsewhere. This page covers how families in Old North find their way to a family dental practice nearby, what to expect once they arrive, and the questions we hear most from patients in this part of the city.
Dental Care Rooted in the Old North Community
Why Old North Families Have Trusted Us for Decades
Our practice has been part of London’s dental community since 1984, which is long enough to have treated grandparents, then their children, then their grandchildren, often in the same week. That kind of continuity tends to matter to Old North households in particular. Many families here have owned their homes for decades, sent multiple kids through the same schools, and prefer a dental practice that already has their history on file rather than starting over with a new provider every few years. Whether you are a longtime homeowner near St. George Street or a Western faculty member who just bought your first house in the area, the goal is the same: one dental record that follows your whole family, updated visit after visit.
Meet the Patients Down the Street
A good number of our regular patients live within a short drive of Old North, and the pattern we notice most is continuity. Parents who started coming in as Western students end up bringing their own kids in years later. Retired professors who moved into the neighbourhood decades ago are often still on our schedule, sometimes booking alongside adult children who have since bought homes of their own nearby. We are glad to feature real Old North patient stories on this page once we have their consent to share them, and we will update this section as those stories come in.
How to Find Us from Old North
Walking and Cycling Routes
Old North is one of the more walkable parts of the city on its own, and the Thames Valley Parkway runs right along its edge near Gibbons Park. For cyclists who do not mind a longer ride, the Parkway offers a scenic, mostly car-free way to head toward the west end. It is a genuine option on a nice day, though most Old North patients treat it as a ride rather than a walk, given the distance involved.
Driving Directions from Richmond Street and St. George Street
The most common route from Old North runs south along Richmond Street, then west onto Oxford Street. From St. George Street, the pattern is similar: south to connect with Richmond or one of the parallel streets, then west along Oxford. Traffic along this corridor is generally lighter outside of school pickup and the late afternoon rush, so timing an appointment around those windows tends to make the drive smoother.
Parking Near the Clinic
Old North itself has residential permit parking on a number of streets close to Western, so if you are heading out from home, it is worth checking posted signage before you leave the car for an extended errand. Once you reach us on Oxford Street West, parking is more straightforward than what you may be used to closer to campus. If you have specific concerns about where to park for your visit, our front desk team is happy to walk you through it when you book.
Dental Services Popular with Old North Patients
Preventive Care for Long-Term Residents
Regular checkups and cleanings are the backbone of most Old North patients’ visits, and for families who have been with us for years, that usually means we already have a baseline for what is normal for your teeth and gums. Digital X-rays let us track small changes over time with less radiation than older film-based systems, which matters when you are comparing images taken years apart.
Restorative Dentistry and Crowns
Old North’s housing stock skews older, and so does a good share of the neighbourhood’s population, which shows up in the kind of restorative work we see. Worn fillings, cracked teeth, and root canal-treated teeth that need a crown are common requests. For many suitable cases, our CEREC same-day crown technology means a custom ceramic crown can be designed, milled, and placed in a single appointment rather than the two-visit process older methods required.
Care for Western University Faculty and Graduate Students
Faculty, postdocs, and graduate students living in or near Old North often have limited windows around teaching schedules, lab hours, or exam periods. We offer appointment times outside a standard nine-to-five day, including early mornings and evenings on select days, which tends to work better for academic schedules than a typical weekday-only office.
Serving the Heart of Old North
Landmarks We're Near
Old North’s daily rhythm runs through a few key spots: Gibbons Park with its playground and wading pool, the Thames Valley Parkway that threads along the river, and Blackfriars Bridge, one of the oldest and most photographed bridges in the city. This part of London also sits close to major healthcare and university campuses, which is part of why so many hospital and university employees end up living in the neighbourhood in the first place.
Insurance and Direct Billing for University Health Plans
We work with most private insurance plans and submit claims electronically whenever a plan allows it. This includes many of the benefit plans carried by Western employees, such as those offered through faculty and staff associations and unions. Coverage details vary by plan and by procedure, so we recommend confirming your specific benefits with our team before your visit rather than assuming a treatment is fully covered.
Frequently Asked Questions From Old North Patients
Do you accept Western's UWOFA/PSAC insurance plans?
We accept most private dental insurance plans, including many carried by Western University employees under UWOFA and PSAC-affiliated benefits. Coverage amounts and what is included depend on your specific plan, so it is worth having your insurance details ready when you book so our team can check your benefits ahead of time.
Is there parking if I drive from Piccadilly or St. James Street?
Yes. If you are coming from Piccadilly, St. James Street, or another part of Old North, just be aware that some streets closer to Western use residential permit parking, so plan your route with that in mind. Once you arrive at our Oxford Street West location, parking is generally easier to manage than what you may be used to nearer campus.
Can my whole family book back-to-back appointments?
Yes, this is one of the more popular requests from Old North families. We regularly schedule parents, kids, and even grandparents in the same visit window so a family does not need to make multiple trips across town. Just mention when you book that you would like everyone scheduled together, and our team will do its best to line up the appointments.
Book Your Visit from Old North
Whether you have lived on the same Old North street for twenty years or just moved in near Western this fall, finding a family dental practice that can keep up with your household over time is worth setting up early rather than putting off. We Smile Dentistry welcomes new patients from Old North and the surrounding area, with flexible scheduling built around real family and academic calendars.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Coverage, treatment suitability, and appointment availability vary by individual case. For personalized care, please contact our team to book a consultation.