Dr. Otto Tidwell opens state-of-the-art office in Rehoboth

A new dental office outside Rehoboth Beach offers anesthesia services for patients who dread the dentist's chair.

Dr. Otto Tidwell  specializes in oral and maxillofacial surgery, with a focus on dental implants, tooth extractions, cancer surgery and pathology. His new office is one of only a few in the region that offers laser technology to provide precision treatment that minimizes invasive surgery.

Tidwell got his start in the Army as an oral surgeon. After five years of Army service, he left the military as a major and started his own practice in Philadelphia.

Twenty-six years later, Tidwell moved to the Cape Region; he opened an office in Frederica while also working with dentists in Lewes.

"About two years ago I decided to sell my practice with the intention of moving here to practice," Tidwell said. "So far I have been extremely well received because people appreciate quality care."

His continued affiliation with the Pennsylvania Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery allows him to refer patients with specific needs to specialists.

"It's all about quality care here," Tidwell said.

He is now ready to offer his experience and expertise in completely renovated, state-of-the-art offices at Lighthouse Plaza, with high ceilings, glass walls and spacious patient rooms.

"I wanted it to be a comfortable atmosphere for patients," Tidwell said.

Dr. Greg Dearing, an endodontic surgeon who has an office in Middletown, will also practice in Tidwell's new office.

Dearing has 10 years of experience and wanted to expand his services to the Cape Region. Many of his patients in Middletown were from southern Delaware and Maryland, but because of the economy and high gas prices, they were hesitant to make the drive north.

"This allows me to come to where the patients are," Dearing said. "Plus, there is a bus stop out front so even those who have to use public transportation can get here."

Dearing operates at Tidwell's practice four days each month.

Tidwell received his dental degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Dentistry in Ohio in 1976. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1983. He did advanced training in dental surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia prior to going into private practice.

Dearing graduated in 2002 from a post-doctoral program in endodontics at Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia; he earlier graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and performed a residency at Philadelphia's Veteran's Affairs Medical Center.

Dr. Tidwell's office and the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce will host an open house and ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m., Friday, June 15. The public is welcome to attend to learn more about the practice at 19323 Lighthouse Plaza Blvd., Unit 4, Rehoboth. The office is behind the QVC Outlet.

For more information or to make an appointment, call 302-226-1606.