Thank You for Contacting Us
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Why Choose Us
A Southern Smiles location feels much less like an orthodontics or dentist office and a lot more like visiting family—we redefine Southern hospitality.
Meet Dr. Matthew McNutt
After a word of advice from his mother, Dr. Matthew has dedicated his practice to revolving around you, your family, and your needs above all else.
Reviews & Testimonials
Read what real Southern Smiles patients think about our open, hospitable orthodontic and dental practices.
Serving Our Community
We love rejuvenating smiles. But we do a lot more than that. See what else we do around Cary and Clayton.
Our Story
Southern Smiles of Cary, NC, brings the synergy of both orthodontics and pediatric dentistry together side by side. We think they go together like peanut butter and jelly! The Southern Smiles story began in 2020 through the affiliation of the orthodontic practice of Dr. Matthew McNutt and the pediatric dentistry practice of Dr. Daniel Howell.
A History of Smiles
Our story starts with pediatric dentist Dr. Dan Howell: “Dr. Dan,” as he is known at the office, was the very first pediatric dentist in Cary, NC, and is a legend in the community. Having founded his practice in 1979, he has cared for generations of children.
Cary was still a very small town with only ten dentists. Dr. Dan began a well-deserved break and phased into retirement in 2023. Dr. Dan will continue to work occasionally. He’s a big kid at heart, and we won’t be able to keep him away. Nor do we want to!
Our story continues with orthodontist Dr. Matthew McNutt: “Dr. Matthew,” as he is known at the office, began his orthodontic career in 1996 while still an undergraduate student at NC State, working as an orthodontic lab tech and assistant for a local orthodontist in both Raleigh and Cary. After completing both dental school and orthodontic residency at UNC Chapel Hill, Dr. McNutt founded his private practice in Cary in 2007.
A brand new pediatric office space marked the next exciting chapter in our story. Dr. Dan practiced in the same office in Cary from 1987 until 2022.
How We Stand Out
At Southern Smiles, we boldly embrace the idea that every patient is worthy of compassion and deserves the highest quality of care, and the needs of our patients come before our own. We believe in going above and beyond what the world expects, and we strive to put a smile on your face with our southern hospitality.
When you visit us, you will find a fun-loving team that cares deeply about what we do, and if you are lucky, you may visit on a day when Ripley or Shiloh, our golden-doodle comfort dogs, are on paw patrol in the office.
In the orthodontic office, we treat patients of all ages, from young children to adults, well into their senior years. In our pediatric dental office, we treat children from infancy through the teen years. We have a heart for special needs children, many of whom stay in the practice well into adulthood.
New Beginnings
In the summer of 2022, a new pediatric dental office space began construction in the building next to Dr. McNutt’s orthodontic office in Cary. This enchanting and charming office officially opened in January of 2023 and will bring comfort to children for many years to come.
Our story continues to grow with the addition in 2023 of Pediatric Dentist Dr. Narineh Panoosian, otherwise known in the office as “Dr. Nar.” The pediatric team excitedly welcomed her into to the practice family to carry on Dr. Dan’s legacy.
She brings her kindness, compassion, and world-class training to our team. Dr. Nar shares Dr. Dan’s deep passion and commitment to providing the best possible care for children.
Everyone who joins our family of patients becomes a part of the Southern Smiles story.