MEN WI N HEALTH www. Char l es tonPhys i c i ans . com | www.Hea l thL i nksChar l es ton . com | 47 Have you ever pondered those wonderful songs about smiles? The late, great Louis Armstrong cut to the chase when he sang, “Oh, when you're smilin', when you're smilin’, the whole world smiles with you.” Dr. Virginia Gregory of Smile Carolina Dental Group has been helping people smile for more than 30 years, and she is devoted to bringing contemporary clinical dentistry and optimal patient comfort to families in need from all over the Charleston community. Graduating from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Dr. Gregory completed her master’s in speech pathology and obtained her doctor of dental medicine from the Medical University of South Carolina. Her extensive background has some serious “teeth.” She attended the world-renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, completing its extensive post-graduate coursework and becoming an LVI-preferred dentist, a distinction that few dentists in South Carolina have achieved. She’s also earned a fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry, which requires rigorous testing and hundreds of hours of continuing education. Today, she is a proud member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American Dental Association and the South Carolina Dental Association. Dr. Gregory fell in love with dentistry when she earned an undergraduate degree in dental hygiene. “I knew then that I wanted to continue my training and education in the dental field and become a dentist. As a cosmetic dentist, I have always loved the art and the technical aspect of improving a patient’s smile. The emotional reward of changing a person’s life by providing a beautiful smile is the best part of my job and is what drives me to continue,” she said. She explained that she has had many wonderful mentors along the way who showed her what was possible and trained her in her skill-set. “I am always inspired by the possibilities for improvement in my abilities to provide excellence for my patients,” she noted. Dr. Gregory advised anyone wanting to pursue a career in health care to take STEM classes in high school and college. She also said that it is important to be a “people person” and emphasized the importance of being able to decompress after work. “I like to walk my dogs in the late afternoon after work. It helps to clear one’s mind after working all day. My husband and I like to cook dinner every night and that gives us a chance to talk over our day and relax. I believe in taking occasional vacations away from work to enjoy life away from dentistry. I also enjoy painting, reading and skiing.” By Eileen Casey Dr. Virginia Gregory SMILE CAROLINA DENTAL GROUP Mount Pleasant 843-627-2921 smilecarolinasc.com @smilecarolinasc The emotional reward of changing a person’s life by providing a beautiful smile is the best part of my job and is what drives me to continue. " " Photo by Jenn Cady.
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