Changing lives
one smile at a time

Welcome to
Small & Piers Orthodontics

We’re so glad you’ve found us! Our practice has a long history of providing the highest quality of orthodontic care in Hickory and Morganton, North Carolina. We believe a smile is something that can open doors in the lives of our patients—to better opportunities, higher self-confidence, and even to the hearts of others—and our goal is to treat every patient like one of the family. We’re unique because we bring the perspectives of two orthodontists to every treatment plan. Between Dr. Small’s decades of experience generating fantastic orthodontic outcomes and Dr. Piers’ rigorous training in the latest orthodontic techniques, Small & Piers Orthodontics brings a combination of deep clinical experience and cutting-edge technological expertise to every one of our patients.

What sets us apart?
Meet Our Doctors

Meet Dr. David Small
Your Hickory OrthodontistYour Morganton Orthodontist

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Dr. Small practiced for the first five years of his career in a Florida orthodontic office that treated complicated cases involving both orthodontics and orthognathic (jaw) surgery, and he has been bringing his experience and top-notch care to the treatment of complex cases in Hickory and Morganton for more than two decades. He uses his expertise to treat not only severe skeletal problems, but also to work with other specialists in the treatment of painful jaw joints (TMD) using orthodontics. Dr. Small loves the artistic aspects of orthodontics, and in his spare time, he even enjoys bending creative wire figures out of orthodontic wire.

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Meet Dr. David Small
Husband and Father of Two

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Dr. Small has been married for over 30 years to his wife, Gena, who is a native of Hickory, NC. Gena is a former professional ballerina who performs disaster relief through Samaritan’s Purse and teaches Bible study courses through their church. Together they have raised two children: Chris – a sound engineer in Nashville for popular country artists – and Amanda – a pediatrician who recently completed a training year in Africa. Dr. Small and his family are dedicated music lovers who will travel anywhere to see a live concert.

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Meet Dr. David Small
Leader in the Dental Community

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Dr. Small has always been dedicated to helping and working with other doctors in his professional community. From his leadership as President of the University of Louisville Orthodontic Alumni Association, President of The Western Piedmont Dental Society, and the leader of a local dental study club (a role he has held for nearly 20 years), to helping new doctors find their feet when they move to town, Dr. Small has been a longtime pillar of the Hickory and Morganton orthodontic community.

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Meet Dr. Christian Piers
Your Morganton OrthodontistYour Hickory Orthodontist

• • •

Orthodontics changed Dr. Piers’ life when he was a teenager, and he’s committed to sharing that same transformational experience with our patients here in Hickory and Morganton. A former Brooks Orthodontic Fellow at UNC-Chapel Hill, Dr. Piers is now a Board-Certified Orthodontist—a designation held by only 30% of orthodontists. His research has been published by the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), and he is especially interested in treating patients with state-of-the-art customized orthodontic solutions like Invisalign®.

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Meet Dr. Christian Piers
Husband and Father of Two

• • •

Dr. Piers and his wife, Rachael, first fell in love with North Carolina while flying twice a year from Hawaii— where he worked as a seahorse farmer— to his graduate school campus at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC. After earning an MFA in creative writing from WWC, followed by a Doctorate of Dental Surgery in Colorado, he and Rachael—a special education teacher—returned to North Carolina for his residency in orthodontics at UNC- Chapel Hill. Now parents to Kai and Koa, the Piers’ enjoy spending their free time hiking, mountain biking, skiing, and trail-running in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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Meet Dr. Christian Piers
Leader in the Dental Community

• • •

Dr. Piers serves as the only orthodontist on the editorial board of the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), the most read scientific journal in dentistry. A past national president of ASDA, the 20,000-member association that represents 90% of US dental students, Dr. Piers has successfully advocated for increased patient protections in the state of Colorado and is a sought-after writer and lecturer on subjects including Millennial dentists, interpersonal communication and the future of dentistry.

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What We Stand For

Orthodontics based on evidence. Period.

Drs. Small and Piers trained at top research-based residencies, and they believe that orthodontics is both an art and a SCIENCE. What does that mean? It means you won’t ever see us waving shiny, useless gadgets over your teeth and asking you to pay more for them, even if someone else says it’s “the next hottest thing.” Data doesn’t lie, and neither will we. We take our commitment to you as specialists seriously, and if you see something used in our office—a specific bracket, treatment philosophy, or medication—you can bet it’s supported by evidence. Period. That’s our promise to you.

Getting things straight, and looking good doing it.

Do you want to wait until you’re finished with treatment to start feeling good about your smile? We wouldn’t either. We want you to look and feel fantastic from Day One. Unless we’re doing something out of the ordinary (like preparing you for jaw surgery or making space to bring in an impacted tooth), we’re focused on getting you smiling with confidence as soon as we can. From color-customized braces for kids to school-color athletic mouthguards to esthetic and nearly invisible treatment for adults, we’re dedicated to making you feel good about your smile from the moment you first leave our office.

Treatment plans as individual as our patients.

You won’t find any cookie-cutter smiles here. If you hear that all orthodontic patients should be treated the same way, we’re here to set the record straight. We want to give you the smile that looks the best for YOU— not the smile that would look the best for your sister, or your best friend, or your uncle who lives in Cataloochee. And we want to get you there using the techniques that will be the most efficient and comfortable for you. While every patient has their own set of orthodontic problems and challenges, and there are often many ways to fix each set of problems, there is often one BEST way to treat every individual patient. Part of the fun in our jobs is in helping you figure out which treatment option is right for you, your child, or your loved one.

State of the art techniques.

Do you like taking goopy molds of your teeth? Neither do we. (Trust us, our classmates practiced on us in dental school.) From 3D scans of your teeth to customized treatments with clear aligners like Invisalign® and Clarity™, we’re here to make sure you benefit from the huge technological advances being made in orthodontics every day. We’re fortunate that orthodontics has been at the forefront of the digital revolution in dentistry, and we spend countless hours in continuing education every year to make sure we’re bringing those technologies to you, our patients.

Million dollar smiles at affordable prices.

Orthodontics is an investment—an investment in your self-confidence, oral health, and future success—and we want to make that investment affordable. We’re dedicated to working with every one of our patients to design financing and treatment options that can make orthodontics accessible, no matter what stage of life you’re in.

Proving that dentists like fun.

Drs. Small and Piers were both voted “Senior Class Clown” in high school, and while this is not usually something they put on their resumes, it tells you that they love to make people smile. While we’re deeply serious about our orthodontic treatments, we’re equally serious about having a blast at work and creating a space where our patients and teammates can share laughs that are as fantastic as our outcomes. We want you to leave your appointments with us ready to smile—for a whole world of reasons!

Testimonials

“Dr Small and Dr Piers are the best !!! These doctors take their time developing a treatment that meets your needs. I get teary at how much my boys profile has changed. All the staff is very professional and well trained!!! Thank you for providing Excellent care!!!”

– Darla R.

“We made several consultation appointments with many Orthodontists in the area before deciding Small & Piers were a great fit for our family! The Dr.’s and staff are extremely friendly and courteous and really great to work with on appointment times. I would recommend them to anyone!“

– Jason M.

“Dr. Small and Dr. Piers are phenomenal! We have two children who have been through the orthodontic process with them and they are professional, trustworthy, and intelligent. Their staff is friendly, organized, and efficient. Most of all, my children adore going! We highly recommend their practice and look forward to returning with our third child in a few years.“

– Meredith M.

“Love Dr. Small and Piers!!! The Drs and staff are the absolute best in town and I can’t recommend them enough!!! Thank you for giving my son a beautiful smile.”

– Karen D.

“High level of quality in everything this practice does. Dr Small, Dr Piers and staff are top notch…both caring and skilled. Feel very fortunate to have found such caliber of care. Many thanks from a grateful patient.”

– Carmen M.

“If you are looking for an orthodontist this is the place. Beautiful office and very friendly staff. Becky the office manager is amazing and very helpful with any questions or concerns you may have. Dr. Small is very informative, has a great personality and great with kids. I highly recommended Small & Piers Orthodontics.”

– Danielle B.

“The staff in the office was so so SO nice. Dr. Piers was AMAZING! EVERYONE was super friendly and helpful. Becky was the best assistant. Dr. Piers was so informative, patient and thorough. They definitely made going to the dentist a welcoming experience. If I have to say- the most friendly office I’ve EVER been to.“

– Pada L.

“Both doctors and the entire staff are awesome! Totally different experience from when I had braces back in the day and I’m thankful! I highly recommend them!”

– Lorri B.

“My daughter had tried another local orthodontist before a friend reached out, and told us about Small and Piers; the rest is history! Kristin and Becky made us feel right at home!“

– Ashley F.

“The whole staff are extremely kind and professional. Donna, Becky, and Kristin always have a smile on their faces and are willing to help in any way. We are 2 generations clients now and will continue to use them with the next.”

– Amanda T.

“Everyone was excellent today at my appointment. Becky and Dr. Piers were very kind and professional. I would recommend any adults to come to this practice. Thank you all for making me feel comfortable.“

– Dawn P.

“Everyone here is so friendly!!! I love Dr. Small! He is super friendly and makes sure that all of your questions have been answered and that you are in no pain!!!! I am so thankful that we found out about Dr. Small! Thanks for all y’all do!!!”

– Renee S.

“Becky did a fantastic job explaining everything and putting my girl at ease, which is a really big deal for a little girl who gets nervous going to the dentist. The same can be said of Dr. Piers who explained everything in a way that was easily understood to both of us. Highly recommend this practice. 💕”

– Jules G.

“This is an awesome group of people who make my son and I feel so comfortable going to. I highly recommend them.”

– Ellie C.

“From the front office staff to Becky all the way to Dr. Piers my son and I were welcomed warmly at this office. Everything was explained and there was a personal connection from the beginning. Becky and Dr. Piers both took the time to ask my son about his interests, which meant a lot. If we HAVE to get braces… this is definitely the place to do it. Thanks Small & Piers orthodontics!!!”

– Becca W.

“Everyone here is so friendly, I look forward to going each time. Dr. Piers is very knowledgeable and so nice! Kristin is always so sweet and helpful! I’d recommend them to everyone.” 😁

– Rachel G.

“Exceptional! From my first day to my last, they treated me with the utmost care. I had the same awesome experience at both location, Morganton and Hickory Office.”

– Mateo G.

“We absolutely love Small & Piers Orthodontics! Dr. Piers and Kristin have always went out of their way to make our daughter be at ease during her visits. She actually looks forward to going! Their entire team is great!”

– Michael S.

“Choosing Small and Piers as my orthodontist has been a wonderful decision! I love how friendly and caring everyone has been each time and I LOVE my teeth now! No more side pictures! Thank you Small and Piers! From the ladies up front working with my schedule to all the staff in the back answering all my questions; getting my braces off today and seeing my new smile is one of the best days of my life!” ❤️

– Misty G.