The Tompkins Orthodontics Story
Since 1966, Tompkins Orthodontics has been perfecting smiles in and around the greater Columbia area and has been a part of multiple generations of families in the community.
Dr. Linn S. Tompkins, Jr. began his orthodontic journey in the fall of 1963 and founded Tompkins Orthodontics in 1966. He was known as Dr. T to all and was a gifted orthodontist and deeply cared for his patients. He had an infectious personality and a passion for orthodontics and always stayed ahead with orthodontic innovations and technology. He was the first Board certified orthodontist in the Columbia area and his love for orthodontics trickled down to his son, Sims, as he joined his father in practice in 1988 and they worked side by side for five years as Dr. T shared his wealth of knowledge and wisdom with his son.
Dr. Sims Tompkins has always been drawn to the orthodontic profession and he worked in his father’s lab making orthodontic appliances in high school. He has the same philosophies, principles, and beliefs of his father – of how patients should be treated from the initial consultation to the day treatment has ended. He also has a passion for dental sleep medicine and has worked with patients since the early 1990’s helping them treat the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea well before it became a viable alternative to conventional CPAP therapy. He has the unique distinction of being the only person in South Carolina that is Board certified in both Orthodontics and Dental Sleep Medicine. He has served the profession in both the dental and orthodontic communities and most recently has completed his term as the president of the Southern Association of Orthodontists, a distinction held by only eight South Carolinians in the over 100-year history of the SAO.
As excited as he was to follow in his father’s footsteps with the goal of delivering quality orthodontic treatment in a family-oriented environment to his patients, he is equally excited to welcome his son, Sims Jr., into the family practice to carry on the Tompkins legacy. Dr. Sims Jr. completed his residency in orthodontics in the fall of 2022 and is thrilled to have the blessing of working alongside his father and learning from generations of Tompkins experience.
The orthodontic landscape has evolved and changed over the years with the advent of digital impressions, 3-D printers and clear aligners – and Tompkins Orthodontics has stayed at the forefront of the many orthodontic innovations within the industry. Our office uses the most cutting-edge technology and orthodontic equipment to provide the quality of care our patients deserve, but the same philosophies, principles, and beliefs of quality patient treatment has remained constant through all three generations.
