Dr. A. Cheria O'Neal is a native Floridian. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida in Microbiology and Molecular Biology in 1996. She completed her dental degree from the Medical University of South Carolina, in Charleston, SC in 2003.

Dr. O'Neal continued her postgraduate education at the Medical University of South Carolina. She received her certificate of Periodontics and graduated with honors with a master's degree in health science in 2006. Following her periodontal residency, Dr.O'Neal practiced for a dental group in the Atlanta area, traveling between locations for 3 years before purchasing her periodontal practice in East Cobb in 2010.

Today, Dr. O'Neal works closely with restorative dentists in the Atlanta area to provide patients with comprehensive dental care. She has extensive experience and training in placing dental implants, bone grafts and sinus lifts, periodontal soft tissue surgery and cosmetic periodontal procedures.

Dr. O'Neal is certified in WaterLase Dentistry and LANAP (Laser-assisted new attachment procedure) protocol for treatment of periodontal disease, periodontal surgery, crown lengthening and other periodontal procedures.

A continuing education enthusiast, Dr.O'Neal is a member of the American Academy of Periodontology, the Southern Academy of Periodontology, the American Dental Association, Hinman Dental Society, Spears Study Club and the Georgia Dental Association. Through her memberships and professional affiliations, she attends numerous courses each year to remain up-to-date on the latest technology.

Dr. O'Neal's community service involves providing dental services for lower income individuals through Good Samaritan Health Center of Cobb County and the Cobb County Dental Society Child Assistance Program. She currently lives in Roswell with her husband Brandon and their 2 sons. She enjoys reading, hiking and watching her boys play lacrosse.

I always loved science and math and had great dentists growing up who influenced me. I decided I wanted to be a dentist when I was in middle school. My dentist mentors also helped me with some of my school science projects.

This practice is my home away from home! I look forward to getting up and going to work each day. Every member of the office is truly committed to the practice, our patients and each other. I feel blessed to be a part of the O'Neal dental team family.

Lori received her Dental Hygiene degree from Santa Fe Community College, in Gainesville, FL. Upon graduating, Lori started practicing in the field of periodontics in 1995 at The University of Florida Periodontal Research Department, followed by 11 years in a periodontal office. She joined our practice in 2008.

Lori loves her profession and strives to provide exceptional dental care to all her patients. Outside of the office, Lori enjoys her family time with her husband and 3 children, and she loves to garden, hike and sail.

I enjoy learning the details of dentistry, each patient is completely unique and has different needs. Dr. O'Neal and our team are very compassionate and committed to helping our patients restore their dental health.

Stacey joined the dental profession and our team in 2020. Dentistry can be very technical, and Stacey ensures that our patients our guided through each step of their care with a personalized approach and warm smile.

Dentistry has been such a great opportunity for me over the years! I really enjoy getting to know our patients and building relationships with them. It is a great feeling when I can help a patient get past their fears or confusion about dentistry.

Delivering quality care and doing it with integrity and kindness is the heart of our practice philosophy. Each member of our O'Neal Periodontics team is always willing to go the extra mile to serve the needs of our patients.

A member of the dental profession since 1990, Kay is a wealth of experience and knowledge. In addition to her dental assistant training and certification, Kay has also completed Sedation Certification for Dental Assistants. Kay joined our practice in 2019. She loves spending time in the great outdoors!

Marsha has vast experience in the business side of dentistry; she joined our profession in 1970 and has been a member of the O'Neal Periodontics Team since 2000. Her personal interests including spending time with her beloved children and grandchildren and staying in touch with friends from school. She also enjoys sculpting, sewing and making gifts for others.

I love working with our referring dentists and patients to ensure that our patients receive the best dental care. Through their collaboration, Dr. O'Neal and her colleagues, including restorative dentists and other dental specialists, can literally rebuild a patient's smile. That is amazing!

Wendy is originally from Maine and has been with the practice since 1997. She has had a long history in the dental field, working as dental assistant and a front office coordinator since 1989. In her free time, she enjoys reading and watching Oklahoma football.

Marietta Periodontist Dr. Cheria O'Neal utilizes dental laser technology for the treatment of periodontal disease and other periodontal procedures, including laser-assisted periodontal surgery, crown lengthening, soft tissue sculpting and treatment of peri-implant disease.

Dental laser technology combines laser energy with water and air to replace traditional dental cutting instruments. The dental laser is shaped much like a small dental instrument; Dr.O'Neal guides the fine tip of the laser through the treatment area to re-shape bone or soft tissue, remove hard calculus deposits and reduce bacterial levels.

Your dentist and Dr. O'Neal measure your gums at each hygiene visit to gauge the depth of periodontal pockets between the teeth and gums. Signs of periodontal disease include deep pocketing, bleeding or receding gums, and bone loss which is revealed by taking dental x-rays.

If diagnosed in the early stages, periodontal disease can be treated with non-surgical procedures. Root planing, a treatment that involves removal of bacteria, hard deposits and toxins from the teeth and tooth root surfaces is often performed to remove infected tissue and help stimulate the healing process.

Dr. O'Neal uses the dental laser in periodontal treatment to remove hard deposits and destroy bacteria. With clean, smooth tooth root surfaces, reduced inflammation and bacteria levels, the soft tissue has the opportunity to heal and regenerate, encouraging the growth of healthy tissue.

Dr. O'Neal may recommend periodontal surgery (gum surgery) when the progression of periodontal disease has extended below the gum line and bacterial infection has begun to surround the tooth and penetrate into the supportive bone. If the periodontal infection is not treated, the bone around the tooth will be destroyed, and soon the tooth will become loose and eventually be lost altogether.

Traditional periodontal surgery involves performing a flap procedure in which an incision is made into the gum tissue around the affected area and the soft tissue is laid back in flap fashion to expose the tooth roots and bone. This gives the periodontist access to these critical areas to remove diseased tissue and initiate the regenerative process.

The tiny tip of the laser provides fine instrumentation for Dr.O'Neal to perform periodontal surgical procedures. In many cases, she is able to avoid traditional periodontal flap surgery and instead, insert the laser tip into the areas between teeth and along the tooth roots to destroy infection and stimulate healing.

A common condition known as tongue-tied (ankyloglossia) occurs when the frenum from the base of the tongue to the floor of the mouth is overly restrictive and interferes with speech, swallowing or the development of the teeth and gums.

Being lip-tied (lip adhesion) can also interfere with speech development and make it difficult to clean the teeth and gums properly. On the lower arch, a lip-tied frenum can pull the gum tissue away from the teeth and cause gum recession.

Some medications cause overgrowth of gum tissue, which can make the affected areas difficult to keep clean, or, interfere with proper eating and chewing. Dr.O'Neal can use the dental laser to remove and shape this tissue to give the patient the ability to eat normally and clean their teeth properly with brushing and flossing.

Gingival contouring procedures may be recommended by Dr.O'Neal and your restorative dentist in conjunction with dental veneers or crowns, or to correct a gummy smile. Using the dental laser, Dr.O'Neal can sculpt a smooth, symmetrical gum line to give the teeth a more uniform, natural appearance.

A dental biopsy is performed when there is an abnormal growth, bump or sore on the soft tissue that requires further testing. Dr.O'Neal can use the dental laser to partially or fully remove the tissue and send it to a dental pathologist laboratory for a diagnosis. Dental biopsies are generally performed to rule out oral cancer, or to identify a condition that is causing the growth, such as a fungus or infection.

Patients that suffer from cold sores and mouth ulcers can sometimes obtain pain relief from dental laser treatment. The laser disinfects and cauterizes the area, creating a laser bandage to halt the blistering process and reduce inflammation and discomfort.

A crown lengthening procedure is recommended when a tooth requires a dental crown to restore it to full function, however the tooth structure needed to support the crown is obstructed by soft tissue or bone.

Dr. O'Neal uses the dental laser to gently remove the overlying tissue and bone to reveal the tooth surface. This gives the restorative dentist enough tooth surface area to properly fit and retain a dental crown restoration.

Tooth extractions are sometimes necessary when a tooth becomes badly damaged or decayed and is non-restorable. In the case of wisdom teeth (third molars), there is typically not enough space in the mouth for the tooth to erupt, making them difficult to keep clean. As a result, wisdom teeth are prone to infection and decay; extraction is commonly recommended to prevent further problems.

Dr. O'Neal also performs tooth extractions routinely in cases of advanced periodontal disease. She uses the dental laser to assist in the process by easing the soft tissue and bone attachment to the tooth just before extraction. This helps make the procedure more tolerable for the patient and reduces post-surgical discomfort.

A dental implant is a restorative device placed by Dr.O'Neal or another dental surgeon to replace the function of a missing tooth. It is completed with a dental crown, bridge or denture by a restorative dentist.

The process of integration of a dental implant occurs when the bone and soft tissue around the implant grows and fuses to the body of the implant. This healing allows the implant to stay firmly in place and retain the dental restoration.

Peri-implant disease is a condition in which inflammation and infection occurs around the dental implant. Like periodontal disease, if not treated, the bone support for the dental implant can be compromised and the implant may lose retention and become loose, requiring removal of the implant.

The goal treatment of Peri-Implant Disease (LAPIP) is to prevent loss of the implant and to protect the patient's investment in their oral health. The dental laser may be used to counteract the infection around an implant affected by peri-implant disease by treating the inflammation and lowering bacteria levels to facilitate healing.

Periodontist Dr. Cheria O'Neal utilizes WaterLase Dentistry for periodontics and Laser-assisted new attachment procedure (LANAP) protocol for the treatment of periodontal disease, dental implant health maintenance and support of restorative dental treatments.

Dental implants are made possible through a process known as osseointegration. The term osseo refers to bone; after the dental implant is placed, the body's systems trigger the healing process and react by growing bone and soft tissue around the implant. This helps to anchor the implant firmly in place and provide stability for the final restoration.

Prior to placement of the dental implant, Dr.O'Neal will review dental x-rays to evaluate the surgical area. She may recommend 3D radiographic imaging to evaluate the health and depth of the jawbone structures.

Dental radiographic imaging also makes it possible for Dr.O'Neal to design a surgical guide for use during implant surgery to map the exact location of the dental implant. A surgical guide is sometimes used in placement of full mouth dental implants or when the implant location requirement is very specific for the planned restoration.

Each tooth holds a vital position in the jaw and has a specific job, such as molars for grinding food, front teeth (incisors) for biting, etc. With the exception of third molars (wisdom teeth), the loss of one or more functional teeth can make it difficult to eat and chew properly, as well as lead to tooth pain or damage to other teeth.

Replacement of missing teeth is important to preserve the patient's health and quality of life. Dental implants not only replace missing teeth, they can actually help retain existing bone and encourage the growth of new bone.

A dental implant crown restoration has become a standard recommendation for replacement of a single missing tooth. Dr.O'Neal places the dental implant in the location of the missing tooth, and after the implant has integrated, the restorative dentist will add a dental crown to create a natural-looking result.

Replacing a single missing tooth with a dental implant crown can typically be accomplished without disturbing adjacent teeth, unlike a traditional dental bridge. A dental bridge requires crowns on the teeth on either side of the replacement tooth to serve as abutments for support. There are cases, however, in which a bridge might be the best option based on the location of the missing tooth or due to cosmetic challenges. Dr.O'Neal will work closely with your general dentist to provide you with the best recommendation for yoursmile.

Implant-Supported Bridge In the case of multiple missing teeth in the same area, it may be possible to replace the teeth with a fixed dental bridge supported by dental implants. Generally, one implant is placed for each missing tooth.

For an implant-supported bridge, Dr.O'Neal will place the implants and monitor healing, and the restorative dentist will create a dental bridge to attach to the implants. Like an implant crown, the use of dental implants to anchor a bridge does not require making changes to adjacent teeth.

Full Mouth Dental Implants Dental implants also offer options to replace all of the teeth in an arch (upper or lower). Known as all on six, or all on four, Dr. O'Neal will place 4, 6 (ormore) dental implants to create support and stability for the planned restoration.

After the implants have integrated into the jawbone, the restorative dentist will attach the final restoration - a fixed dental appliance designed in natural-looking materials to restore the appearance and function of the entire arch ofteeth.