Dr. Joanna Dover, DMD Claimed

Dr. Joanna Dover, DMD

My passion for dental health started with my mother, Susan, a dental hygienist. She instilled in me a love for dentistry, and I applied to dental school fresh out of high school and attended an early acceptance program at the University of Florida. My undergraduate degree is in Human Nutrition, and I went on to continue dental school and graduated in the top 8 of my class. I continued my education at a residency program at Palmetto Health Richland, here in Columbia, SC. While in residency, I met my future husband, Michael, at a gamecock tailgate and quickly decided that there is just too much to love about Columbia to leave. We have three children, Ethan, Weston, and Layton Rose, and a very fuzzy dog, Etta.

I hope that, in my practice, in all that we say, and all that we do, we are a testament to God’s love for all people.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are the ideal, most conservative, replacement for missing or nonrestorable teeth. Implants look, feel, and act like natural teeth, and even better – they don’t get cavities!

Dental implants act like the roots of teeth and are placed under the gums. Sometimes, a tooth can be placed on the implant right away, and sometimes we wait until the bone grows all the way into the implant. Once stable, the implant can hold a single tooth, multiple teeth, or even dentures.

Our office places and restores both zirconia and titanium implants.

Dental Hygiene And Periodontal Care

The health of your gingival (gum) tissue gives us insight into the health of the rest of your body. Not only do we care about the bacteria from your gum tissue entering and affecting your whole body, but we also want your teeth, and your dental restorations, to last as long as possible. People actually lose more teeth to periodontal disease (gum disease), than cavities. Many people also think that brushing harder is better, and don’t understand the harsh effects that whitening toothpaste can have, especially with a medium-bristled toothbrush. As a new patient, we will evaluate the health of your mouth by doing a full-mouth exam including periodontal probing and palpating (feeling) your masticatory (biting, clenching) muscles, and determine a tailor-fit plan.We have genetic testing available for periodontal disease, bacterial saliva testing, and a host of natural and medicinal antimicrobials that we use as adjuncts. We also offer a gentle, suture-free way of replacing brushed-away gum tissue (the Chao pinhole technique). We stress oral hygiene instruction and make sure you understand and can demonstrate how to take the best care possible of your mouth. If flossing is difficult for you, or you need more help, we make sure to give you the tools you need. We look forward to helping you successfully maintain your best health possible.