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                                   EXHIBIT 5.1

                                 King & Spalding
                              191 Peachtree Street
                           Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1763
                            Telephone (404) 572-4600
                            Telecopier (404) 572-5100
                                 March 26, 1998


OrthAlliance, Inc.
23848 Hawthorne Boulevard
Suite 200
Torrance, California 90505

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to OrthAlliance, Inc. (the "Company") in
connection with the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering
the offering pursuant to the OrthAlliance, Inc. 1997 Non-Employee Director Stock
Plan (the "Plan") of up to 200,000 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's Class
A Common Stock, $.001 par value per share. In connection therewith, we have
examined such corporate records, certificates of public offices and other
documents and records as we have considered necessary or proper for the purpose
of this opinion.

     This opinion is limited by and is in accordance with, the January 1, 1992,
edition of the Interpretive Standards applicable to Legal Opinions to Third
Parties in Corporate Transactions adopted by the Legal Opinion Committee of the
Corporate and Banking Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia.

     Based on the foregoing, and having regard to legal considerations which we
deem relevant, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued and delivered
as described in the Registration Statement and Plan, will be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        /s/ King & Spalding

                                        King & Spalding