A smile is such a simple gesture, yet it holds so much power. It is innately human - a universal way to convey happiness, greet one another and signal that we're nice people. Smiles communicate how we're feeling and are great for breaking the ice or awkward moments. A good-natured smile moves mountains, but if you're like the average person, it may not be perfect. And that's okay. But is it healthy?
Studies from the CDC show that 1 in 4 U.S. adults from 20 to 64 have cavities. Perhaps even more surprising is that approximately 34 million school hours are lost every year due to emergency dental care. For children, missing time could mean the difference between moving forward and being held back.
If you're one of the many people who feel ashamed about their teeth, need preventative oral care, or suffer serious issues like tooth decay, it's time to protect your teeth and gums. Luckily, Merchants Walk Dental is here to serve you with the highest quality dental work in East Cobb, from preventative care to cosmetic dentistry.
At Merchants Walk Dental, your healthy teeth and gums are our passion. Our dentists and hygienists are committed to providing you with the best dental care possible in a comfortable, stress-free setting. Since opening in 2017, we have become the premier dentist in Kennesaw, GA, offering many dental services such as:
As experts, we know how important oral hygiene is for your health. We feel that it's important to go the extra mile to speak with our patients about the best practices involved with brushing, flossing, and healthy gums. We know what an impact a beautiful smile can make, which is why we are so dedicated to providing our patients with cleaner, straighter teeth than ever before.
Having served Georgia and East Cobb for years, we understand that no two patients will ever have the same needs. That's why we provide personalized services like cleanings and root canals tailored to each patient's unique needs. We also know that money doesn't grow on trees, so we accept most major dental insurance plans to ensure you can keep your teeth clean and healthy all year long.
If you're searching for an expert team of friendly dentists and hygienists, look no further than Merchants Walk Dental. We pride ourselves on the best dental care coupled with warm, engaging customer service. You can rest easy knowing you're in capable, welcoming hands whether it's your first or fortieth visit to our office.
Here at Merchants Walk Dental, we understand that getting your teeth cleaned isn't something everyone looks forward to. However, getting regular teeth cleanings performed by a trustworthy dentist is the best way to maintain a healthy smile and avoid serious oral hygiene issues. And while it's easy to avoid the dentist, doing so for too long can be bad for your overall health.
Studies have linked poor oral hygiene to serious problems like cancer, cardiovascular disease, bone loss, and strokes. If you're flossing and brushing at home twice a day, that's great. Doing so is the best way to get a leg up on critical oral hygiene problems. However, getting your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist helps ensure your teeth are thoroughly cleaned, healthy, and protected.
It's a question we get all the time - what is periodontal treatment? This treatment focuses on your gums and preventing the common diseases that attack them. When left unchecked, plaque accumulates and hardens, forming hard-to-remove tartar. This tartar irritates your gums and will eventually lead to a litany of problems like tooth decay, tooth loss, and more.
During your teeth cleaning session at Merchants Walk Dental, we'll examine your gums closely to ensure they're healthy and functional.
Each of our teeth cleaning appointments has comprehensive check-ups, including:
The only surefire way to prevent tartar buildup and, by proxy, gum disease is by brushing and flossing diligently at home. If you have been slacking on regular brushing and have not visited a dentist recently, your gums could be suffering. If you have any of the following signs of gum disease, contact Merchants Walk Dental to schedule a dental exam in Kennesaw, GA:
If you have had a cavity filled before, you're not alone. Tooth decay affects more than 90% of adults over the age of 40 - a stunning statistic that, in many cases, is entirely preventable. At Merchants Walk Dental, we use composite resin fillings to keep our patient's teeth healthy and functional. Unlike amalgam fillings, composite fillings are more discreet, match the color of your teeth, and are free of mercury.
While fillings can have a few uses, our doctors typically use fillings to âfillâ a part of your tooth that is decaying. This hole of decay is called a cavity. Sometimes, fillings are also used to fix broken, cracked, or worn-down teeth from grinding and nail-biting. Fillings are a great way to restore decaying teeth to their normal shape and function while preventing sensitivity and inhibiting further decay.
During your dental exam at our office in East Cobb, your dental hygienist will check for signs of cavities and tooth decay to ensure your oral hygiene remains in peak condition.
Abscesses- Without professional dental treatment, infected teeth lead to dental abscesses, which can be fatal if left untreated.
Nerve Pain- When your tooth is cracked and left without treatment, it can make its way to your nerve, resulting in extreme pain and damage.
Substantial Decay- If you leave an infection to fester without having a root canal, the infection can spread to other teeth in your mouth. If you don't address the initial signs of decay, you'll have to undergo treatment for multiple teeth.
Tooth Loss- Extensive decay and trauma often cause damage to your tooth's pulp. Our root canal treatments in Kennesaw remove this infected pulp. However, if you choose to ignore the problem, the infected pulp will rot your entire tooth, causing you to lose it forever.
One mention of the word root canal can send shivers up the spine for many people. Root canals get a bad rap, but the treatment has come a long way over the last decade.
When tooth decay and infection are left to fester, it can wreak havoc on your oral hygiene. Often, root canals in cityname, GA, are the best choice for patients with extensively diseased teeth. The goal of a root canal is to save and repair teeth by removing the infection from the pulp and nerve of the tooth.
Signs of tooth decay that may require a root canal include:
When a substantial cavity threatens a person's tooth and fillings aren't working, many dentists will use crowns to fix the problem. A crown is an aesthetic cap or a tooth-shaped covering placed over another tooth or implant for stability. Typically, crowns improve appearance and strength of a patient's teeth.
Crowns are also used to restore the size and shape of damaged or chipped teeth. When used for this purpose, dental crowns are usually bonded to the tooth using dental-grade cement.
During your dental exam and cleaning, your hygienist will keep a sharp eye out for signs of tooth decay, which may require a crown. Benefits of dental crows from Merchants Walk Dental include:
Restorative dental treatments can be complicated, but dental crowns are straightforward and minimally invasive. During the process, your tooth's enamel is cleaned, and your damaged tissue is removed. Once that process is complete, we'll cast a custom crown for your tooth. While the crown is created, Dr. John Bishara or Dr. Milli Patel will provide you with a temporary crown for normal functionality.
Damaged enamel or structural damage can cause pain and sensitivity. Having a dental crown installed will help alleviate a good amount of your pain.
Our dental crowns are made with high-quality, long-lasting materials. With proper care and regular check-ups, they can withstand years of chewing, biting, and grinding.
When you lose one or more teeth, whether due to decay or another factor, it's important to fill the space where the tooth is missing. That's where dental bridges come in. Bridges are essentially fake permanent teeth used to fill holes caused by missing teeth. The false tooth is fused between two dental crowns giving it the bridge concept. Dental bridges are then typically anchored to healthy teeth using resin and cement.
The health of your teeth, their position, and the state of the surrounding bone will help our team determine if bridges are right for you. If not, dentures in Kennesaw, GA, might be a better option. Dentures come in two forms: partial and complete. Dentures are best for patients who have missing teeth but aren't able to use bridges. Complete dentures all your missing teeth, while partial dentures replace one or two teeth.
Getting cosmetic dentures can be a life-changing experience. It often requires physical and emotional preparation. At Merchants Walk Dental, our team will take as much time needed to consult with and prepare you for your denture procedure.
Whether you need dental bridges or cosmetic dentures, we're here to help make your experience as seamless and stress-free as possible.
Dental implants are needed when you have missing teeth, but you cannot or will not get crowns, bridges, or dentures. Failing to replace a lost tooth will cause a bevy of problems as time goes on. For many patients, dental implants are the best option for replacing missing teeth. With dental implants, you can replace a single tooth or multiple teeth. A dental implant serves as a permanent artificial root anchored into the jawbone.
When our team puts a dental implant in place, your jawbone grafts itself to the titanium post making it as strong as your original root and tooth. The result is a natural, beautiful, fully-functional set of teeth that lasts for years.
Establishing healthy dental habits early in life is key for long-term oral health and confidence. The best way to learn those habits is at home and in a dentist's office.
At Merchants Walk Dental, our goal is to foster long-lasting relationship with the families in our community who trust us to care for their children's dental health.
When you choose Merchants Walk Dental as your child's dentist, you can rest easy knowing we treat your loved one just like ours. Our professional hygienists and experienced doctors are trained and certified to give your kids a comfortable dental experience. We like to mix fun with education, putting your child at ease while helping them understand the importance of proper dental care.
Common habits like teeth grinding and thumb sucking can have profound effects later in life. Our doctors are keenly aware of these habits, and work hard to help you and your child develop creative solutions to halt that behavior.
Our pediatric dental services improve the health of your child's teeth and gums with:
Having served the East Cobb and Kennesaw for years, we know your dental needs are unique and different from your neighbor. That's why we offer a variety of dental services to address each patient's special circumstances, from standard cleanings to complex root canals. By using the latest innovations and techniques in dentistry, we can better serve each client on an individualized level, leading to better comprehensive dental care.
We're taking new patients and accept most major forms of dental insurance to keep your teeth healthy and clean without breaking the bank. Contact our office today to schedule your dental exam and learn more about our history!
Box Score (.pdf) KENNESAW, Ga. – Junior right fielder Stephen Reid remained hot, going 3-for-4 with a double, but it wouldn’t be enough as Georgia Tech baseball fell 6-5 to Kennesaw State on Wednesday night at Stillwell Stadium.Reid gave the Yellow Jackets (28-20) its lone extra-base hit as it totaled nine hits overall on the night. Drew Compton ...
KENNESAW, Ga. – Junior right fielder Stephen Reid remained hot, going 3-for-4 with a double, but it wouldn’t be enough as Georgia Tech baseball fell 6-5 to Kennesaw State on Wednesday night at Stillwell Stadium.
Reid gave the Yellow Jackets (28-20) its lone extra-base hit as it totaled nine hits overall on the night. Drew Compton turned in two hits and an RBI, while Jake DeLeo also drove in a run.
Tech’s five runs all came in a wild fifth inning as the Jackets scored on a balk, fielder’s choice, single and an error to start the inning before two RBI singles by Reid and Compton rounded out the effort.
LHP Camron Hill got his fourth start of the season and had two runs score on five hits in his 2.1 innings. RHP Dawson Brown then came in and went 1.2 no-hit innings before turning the ball over to RHP Jackson Vaughan. Vaughan had three runs cross against him on two hits including the lone homer of the game in 2.0 innings. LHP Dalton Smith (2-2) pitched well despite having the winning run cross against him, going 2.0 innings of two-hit ball.
The Owls (23-24) were led by Brayden Eidson, who hit the two-run homer. RHP Nolan Sliver (2-2) got the win with 2.2 innings scoreless while RHP Blake Aita got the save.
Georgia Tech continues its five-game road trip when it travels to No. 10 Duke on May 12-14. First pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra.
Alexander-Tharpe Fund
The Alexander-Tharpe Fund is the fundraising arm of Georgia Tech athletics, providing scholarship, operations and facilities support for Georgia Tech’s 400-plus student-athletes. Be a part of developing Georgia Tech’s Everyday Champions and helping the Yellow Jackets compete for championships at the highest levels of college athletics by supporting the Annual Athletic Scholarship Fund, which directly provides scholarships for Georgia Tech student-athletes. To learn more about supporting the Yellow Jackets, visit atfund.org.
For the latest information on the Georgia Tech baseball team, follow us on Twitter (@GTBaseball), Facebook, Instagram (@gt_baseball) or visit us at www.ramblinwreck.com.
A popular retailer has filed for bankruptcy and has announced its store in Kennesaw, Georgia, will close.Christmas Tree Shops, a home decor, furniture, and discount gift retailer, has filed for bankruptcy protection and announced ten of its stores will be closed. Unfortunately for residents of Kennesaw, Georgia, its store is one of those listed to shut.The Christmas Tree Gift Shop (now known as CTS) first opened as a seasonal gift shop open between May and October in the 1950s. Bed Bath & Beyond owned it fo...
A popular retailer has filed for bankruptcy and has announced its store in Kennesaw, Georgia, will close.
Christmas Tree Shops, a home decor, furniture, and discount gift retailer, has filed for bankruptcy protection and announced ten of its stores will be closed. Unfortunately for residents of Kennesaw, Georgia, its store is one of those listed to shut.
The Christmas Tree Gift Shop (now known as CTS) first opened as a seasonal gift shop open between May and October in the 1950s. Bed Bath & Beyond owned it for some time before being acquired by Handil Holdings in 2020.
At the time of the bankruptcy filing, the brand had 82 stores across 20 states and employed more than 5,700 staff nationwide.
According to Forbes, the "company attributed the bankruptcy to high inflation, recent interest rate hikes and dropping consumer demand for home goods and seasonal decoration."
“Christmas Tree Shops is in bankruptcy probably for the same reasons as Bed Bath & Beyond but with less of a lead-up. It’s another store that sells everything, and you can still get that stuff easier from Amazon.” Ted Gavin, managing director and founding partner of Gavin/Solmonese, a corporate recovery firm
Store closing in Kennesaw, Georgia
The store was popular with locals and had an average 4.5-star rating from almost 2000 reviews on Google.
"Wow, my first time at this establishment, and it was wonderful. Such beautiful things to buy. I had a blast walking around and buying stuff. I will definitely go back !!!" Angela Greene
"Best prices on all things Christmas and other Holidays. My go-to for gift wrap and decor, better prices and way better quality than Walmart." Daniel Beckett
Sadly the store will close, and a sale has commenced.
According to a press release, "shoppers can take advantage of discounts up to 30 percent off the lowest ticketed prices throughout the store. These stores offer a huge selection of home décor, furniture, gifts, and so much more, including popular brands, now at even lower prices."
No date has been listed for when the store may close, so shoppers should act quickly to take advantage of this sale.
Several retail chains have filed for bankruptcy recently, including Bed Bath & Beyond, Tuesday Morning, David's Bridal, and Party City. In addition, other major retailers such as Walmart, Macy's, GAP, and Best Buy are also closing stores across the United States.
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Two Kennesaw State University faculty members have received a Spencer Foundation grant for a research project to incorporate Asian American history in Georgia school curriculum.Bagwell College of Education faculty Theresa Alviar-Martin, an associate professor of curriculum and instruction and Sohyun An, a full professor of social studies education, say the $50,000 grant is the outcome of a grassroots effort from Asian American students, parents and teachers in...
Two Kennesaw State University faculty members have received a Spencer Foundation grant for a research project to incorporate Asian American history in Georgia school curriculum.
Bagwell College of Education faculty Theresa Alviar-Martin, an associate professor of curriculum and instruction and Sohyun An, a full professor of social studies education, say the $50,000 grant is the outcome of a grassroots effort from Asian American students, parents and teachers in the metro Atlanta community. An said the effort to develop Georgia curriculum that includes the diverse and complex stories of Asian American history was bolstered by both an increase in violence against Asian Americans across the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic and the March 2021 spa shootings in Acworth and Atlanta that claimed the lives of eight people, six of whom were Asian immigrant women.
“The shootings were right in our backyard, so it really became a moment of reckoning for students, parents, teachers and others in the Asian American community in Georgia,” An said. “And we concluded that education is the key to stopping hate against the Asian American women, elders, and students. If our students grow up learning that Asian American history is part of American history, they don’t see Asian Americans as foreigners, or dangerous threat to the nation.’”
The research combines An’s background in Asian American studies and social studies education, Alviar-Martin’s expertise in decolonial and global citizenship education and the pair’s plans to co-author a book on similar topics. The book aims to center and uplift diverse and complex stories of Asian American students, parents, and educators and their grassroot organizing for K-12 Asian American studies and ethnic studies education in Georgia’s public schools.
“In education, when people teach about world history, it’s usually from a very Western lens. The stories are usually told from the colonizers’ point of view, so it’s often about conquest and wars,” said Alviar-Martin, who noted her own heritage from the Philippines, which was a colonial territory of Spain and later the U.S. “The curriculum doesn’t always critically consider how society is shaped by people who are affected by those conflicts historically and presently.”
Alviar-Martin and An say their primary research question is, “Who is advocating for K-12 Asian American studies in Georgia’s public schools, and what are their goals, successes, and challenges in advancing an accurate and inclusive history curriculum?”
Alviar-Martin said the recent rise in incidents of Asian hate were hurtful and disempowering for the Asian American community in Atlanta, but they have also been a catalyst for parents, students, teachers and scholars including faculty members at KSU to stand up to demand ethnic studies for all and educational justice.
“We want to connect the common themes in experience from people we have talked to within local Asian American communities to include in the larger collection of literature detailing the experience of Asian American families living in the U.S.,” Alviar-Martin said. “And we think it’s appropriate that this is happening in Atlanta, which is very much known as a cradle of civil rights.”
The Spencer Foundation has been funding research exclusively in the area of education since 1971.
– Thomas HartwellPhotos by Darnell Wilburn
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 43,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
Fewer parasites in U.S. waters might be seen by many as a good thing, but a Kennesaw State University biologist says the trend signals potential danger for fish and other wildlife.According to Whitney Preisser, assistant professor of biology, the decrease in parasites is likely a result of changes in the water temperature. These changes hint at a potential ecological threat which could impact all species. Her findings were recently published in the ...
Fewer parasites in U.S. waters might be seen by many as a good thing, but a Kennesaw State University biologist says the trend signals potential danger for fish and other wildlife.
According to Whitney Preisser, assistant professor of biology, the decrease in parasites is likely a result of changes in the water temperature. These changes hint at a potential ecological threat which could impact all species. Her findings were recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences.
“If the parasites die off, then we might see impacts to the free-living species, the ones most people want to keep around, as well,” Preisser said. “This paper hopefully draws attention to an urgent environmental issue.”
Preisser, whose specialties are parasitology and disease ecology, began her work as a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Washington. When she joined the KSU College of Science and Mathematics faculty in August 2022, she continued her research by tapping into the work of Professor Emeritus Bill Ensign. Between the 1990s and 2016, Ensign took more than 2,000 specimens out of streams and creeks primarily in Cobb and Paulding counties for research purposes. Preisser is now examining them for further study of parasites specific to local waterways. The collection spans more than 115 species of fish, offering a glimpse into the waterways’ health.
“This study will be bigger than the one I did in Washington, and it will involve freshwater fish, which have slightly different stressors than saltwater fish,” she said. “I’m looking at how urbanization, changes in water temperature, and pollution are impacting the parasites of these freshwater fish in Georgia.”
In addition to continuing the study of parasites in Georgia waterways, she has a similar project in mind using road-killed animals, such as deer, coyotes, foxes and squirrels. She said the parasites found in those mammals can tell us about the health of the environment, because animals reflect their ecosystems.
“I want people to recognize the importance of parasites,” she said. “Even though they may cause some harm to individual animals, their overall effect can be good for the ecosystem. They help control populations, they help drive species biodiversity and they help cycle nutrients.”
Along with her study of parasites in fish and roadkill, she teaches classes in parasitology and ecology in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, and hopes to attract both undergraduate and graduate researchers interested in parasitology.
“I feel like Kennesaw State equally values research and teaching,” she said. “I’m happy to be here because I can have the best of all worlds in that way.”
Photos by Darnell Wilburn
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 43,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (28-19) vs. KENNESAW STATE OWLS (22-24)May 10, 2023 • 7 PMKennesaw, Ga. (Fred Stillwell Baseball Stadium)TuesdayTV: ESPN+ | Watch LivePlay-by-Play: Trey FowlerAnalyst: Matteen ZibanejadradRadio: WREK 91.1 FM | ...
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS (28-19) vs. KENNESAW STATE OWLS (22-24)May 10, 2023 • 7 PMKennesaw, Ga. (Fred Stillwell Baseball Stadium)
TuesdayTV: ESPN+ | Watch LivePlay-by-Play: Trey FowlerAnalyst: Matteen Zibanejadrad
Radio: WREK 91.1 FM | GT Gameday App | Listen OnlinePlay-by-Play: Wiley Ballard
GAMEDAY CENTRALGame Notes | 2023 GT Baseball Info Guide
TOP STORYLINES
• Georgia Tech baseball kicks off its five-game road swing on Wednesday, May 10 at Kennesaw State.
• Georgia Tech looks to close the season on a hot streak as one of only 16 teams nationally with 10+ top-50 RPI wins, having currently won seven of its last eight games.
• Tech’s remaining ACC series are No. 10 Duke and No. 21 Virginia and its midweeks are Kennesaw and Mercer as it winds down the season.
• Tech took a convincing series win against Pitt, holding the Panthers to just nine runs total, while scoring 26 runs of its own.
• Tech got five-inning, one-run starts out of both Luke Schmolke and Aeden Finateri, who has been one of Tech’s top reliever and made his first start of the season.
• Tech will look to LHP Camron Hill on Wednesday as he looks to make it two-straight strong starts.
• Hill went 4.1 innings scoreless against Mercer, striking out four and allowing just two hits.
• Tech has been red-hot at the plate of late, now having three hitters in the top 10 in ACC play, including the ACC leader, Stephen Reid (.418). Kristian Campbell is sixth at (.378) and Jake DeLeo is 10th (.365).
• Overall, Tech (.329) has a whopping EIGHT .300 hitters in the lineup: Campbell (.394), Angelo Dispigna (.389), DeLeo (.382), Reid (.360), Jadyn Jackson (.339), Drew Compton (.318), Jackson Finley (.317), and John Giesler (.315).
• Reid was named both ACC and National Player of the Week for his performance against Pitt. He launched four home runs and hit .643 overall to drive in 10 runs on the weekend.
• He was the second Yellow Jacket this season to tie the program record with three homers in a single game.