Today we’d like to introduce you to Conor Perrin.
Hi Conor, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always known I wanted to work with my hands and create things that make people feel more confident, so dentistry was a natural fit for me. But when I graduated dental school and entered the traditional practice environment, I realized pretty quickly that the way most dentistry is still done hasn’t changed in decades. It felt rushed, reactive, and focused more on drilling and replacing than actually preserving teeth and getting to the root of what’s causing problems in the first place. And the experience for patients didn’t feel personal or uplifting. It was transactional.
I wanted something different.
So in 2023, I took a leap and opened The Tooth Co. in Irvine — a fully private, boutique practice built around prevention, biomimetic dentistry, and a more human, aesthetic-driven approach. Instead of using one-size-fits-all labs or aggressive prep techniques, we take time to understand each person’s face, bite, and personality. We do minimal prep porcelain veneers, advanced bonding, and Invisalign with a very handcrafted feel. I work closely with a master ceramist for every case, and we’ve built systems to maintain both the porcelain and the natural teeth long term.
It wasn’t easy at first — opening a dental startup is humbling. There were months of worrying if the phone would ring, learning business in real time, and building a patient base from scratch. But I showed everything. I documented our growth online — the treatment philosophy, the cases, the behind-the-scenes, even the struggles — and it resonated. People connected to the idea that dentistry can be beautiful, thoughtful, and done with intention.
Today, The Tooth Co. has become a destination for cosmetic and minimally invasive dentistry in Orange County. We get to design smiles that look natural, protect people’s teeth instead of destroying them, and create an experience that feels warm and personal, not clinical or rushed.
I’m proud of what we’re building — not just the dentistry itself, but the culture. It’s a place where people feel seen, cared for, and excited about their smile. And we’re just getting started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road. Opening a practice from scratch is equal parts exciting and humbling. One of the biggest challenges has been marketing. There’s no playbook for how to get your message out in a saturated market like Orange County. I’ve worked with multiple marketing companies along the way — some helped, some didn’t — and I’m still refining what works. I’ve also learned that social media is its own full-time job. Creating content that’s both educational and engaging takes a lot of time and creative energy. There are days where I spend hours filming or editing a post and then question if any of it even matters. But it does — because when it resonates, it genuinely brings in the right people.
Another challenge has been building the right team. Skill matters, of course, but personality and culture matter even more. I want The Tooth Co. to feel warm, calm, and intentional, and not everyone is a match for that. I’ve had to learn how to hire slowly, communicate expectations clearly, and let people go when the fit isn’t right — which is never easy.
But every struggle has made the practice stronger. We’re still iterating, still learning, and still improving — and I think that mindset is the reason we’ve been able to grow the way we have.
We’ve been impressed with The Tooth Co. , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At The Tooth Co., we specialize in biomimetic and cosmetic dentistry — which essentially means we restore and enhance teeth in a way that protects as much of your natural tooth structure as possible while still creating beautiful, natural-looking results. We’re best known for minimal-prep porcelain veneers, advanced bonding, and Invisalign, but more than the procedures themselves, it’s the approach that sets us apart.
Every smile we create is custom. I work closely with a master ceramist, and we design each case around someone’s facial structure, bite, personality, and goals. It’s never a one-size-fits-all template. I’m also extremely focused on the health and longevity of both the porcelain and the natural teeth underneath — so we have systems for ongoing maintenance, gum health, and follow-up care. I want our veneers to look great not just the day they go in, but ten, fifteen years from now.
But honestly, I think our culture is what I’m most proud of. I wanted to build a space that didn’t feel like “going to the dentist.” We take our time. We listen. We treat people like guests, not appointments. The experience is warm, calm, personal, and very intentional. You feel taken care of the entire time.
If I had to sum up our brand in one line:
It’s high-level dentistry with heart.
Beautiful work that’s grounded in science, done by a team that genuinely cares.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is being on the boat at Lake Shasta in the summer. We’d spend long days out on the water, just cruising with friends and family, watching the sun dip behind the pine-covered hills. I can still remember the smell of the warm air and the trees, the sound of the water hitting the side of the boat, and that feeling of absolutely no responsibility. At the time, little things felt like such big deals — school, friendships, whatever was going on that week — but looking back, those evenings were pure peace. There was something so simple and grounding about being in nature, surrounded by people I loved, with nowhere to be except exactly where we were. Those moments shaped me more than I realized then. They’re a reminder to slow down, stay present, and appreciate the small, ordinary joys — because those are the ones that end up meaning the most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thetoothco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drconorperrin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetoothco.oc/reels/?_rdr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheToothCo.
