Meet Dr. Chandler Conner | New Periodontist in Southern Pines and Sandford, NC
There’s something special about being treated by a doctor who has deep roots in your area. Our new periodontist at Van Scoyoc Periodontics, Dr. Chandler Conner, grew up just down the road in Rockingham, North Carolina. While his education took him across the state—from Raleigh to Greenville to Chapel Hill and a bit further away—he’s now back in the Sandhills, seeing patients in Southern Pines and Sandford, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have him as part of our team.
For many of the families who walk through our doors, it’s nice to know their periodontist isn’t a stranger who’s just passing through before moving on to a bigger pond. He’s someone who understands this community. Because this is where he grew up.
That homecoming is only part of the story, though.
Dr. Conner also has a decade of training, making him one of the most thoroughly prepared clinicians in the area.
A Scientist First
Before Dr. Conner ever picked up a dental instrument, he was a scientist.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from NC State, then completed a master’s degree in Physiology. That’s all before applying to dental school. It’s worth noting that kind of foundation isn’t required to become a dentist. But Dr. Conner, before he became a doctor, wanted to understand the biology behind the disease before trying to treat it.
From there, he earned his dental degree at East Carolina University’s School of Dental Medicine, followed by a periodontology residency and a second master’s degree at UNC’s Adams School of Dentistry.
In 2026, he became a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology—one of the newest and most current credentials a periodontist can hold, reflecting today’s techniques and standards rather than practices from decades past.
Put simply, Dr. Conner has spent more time studying the science of periodontal health than most people spend on an entire graduate degree, let alone two.
Research With Patients in Mind
What’s easy to miss on a CV is why someone chooses their research topics. During his residency, Dr. Conner’s work focused on patient-reported outcomes following soft tissue grafting. In plain terms, he studied how patients actually feel during recovery, not just how a procedure looks on paper.
That’s the kind of question a clinician asks when they’re already thinking about the patient experience, not only the surgical outcome.
He also researched the oral microbiome’s role in periodontal disease progression, work that reflects a broader curiosity about why gum disease develops and progresses the way it does. That kind of curiosity leads to more thoughtful, individualized care at the chair.
Hands-On Experience, Built Early
Dr. Conner’s clinical training runs deep. Through his residency and years of shadowing under practicing periodontists—including right here in Southern Pines, at Van Scoyoc Periodontics—he built hands-on experience with implant placement, sinus lifts, bone and tissue grafting, and advanced techniques for treating gum disease.
That experience actually started earlier than most. As an undergraduate, he worked as a clinical research assistant at UNC, assisting with everything from implant procedures to non-surgical periodontal therapy. That was years before he entered dental school. By the time he treated his first patient in Southern Pines, he had been in and around periodontal care for over a decade.
A Doctor Who Cares and Shows Up to Prove It
Throughout school, Dr. Conner consistently sought ways to care for people who needed it most. He volunteered with Missions of Mercy free dental clinics across North Carolina, provided care to underserved patients through the Student Health Action Coalition, and assisted with dental care for Hispanic farmworkers through a service clinic in Greenville.
He also spent time as a Red Cross volunteer during disaster relief efforts, helping distribute food and emergency supplies to people in need.
That pattern of showing up—again and again—for people who might not otherwise have easy access to care demonstrates how he treats every patient who sits in his chair, regardless of the complexity of their case or their background.
Welcome to the Practice
Outside the office, Dr. Conner is looking forward to a new chapter of his own: he and his wife had their first child last September. In a way, it’s a fitting parallel. Just as he’s building a new life for his growing family here in the Sandhills, he’s also building new relationships with the patients and families who trust him with their care.
If you’re due for a periodontal evaluation or have been told you may need a specialist, we’d love to introduce you to Dr. Conner. His combination of rigorous training, research-driven curiosity, and genuine care for patients makes him a wonderful addition to our team. He’s truly a doctor our community can feel good about trusting.
Ready to schedule a visit with Dr. Conner? Contact our office to book your appointment today.
