Dr. Patrick French is a native of suburban Atlanta, having lived in Conyers, GA most of his childhood. He was inspired to pursue and practice dentistry after he shadowed an orthodontist while still in the 7th grade. Even at that young age Dr. French knew that he was making the right choice. After several moves with his family and having to leave friends behind, he was further inspired to follow his dreams. Dr. French places great importance upon family and friends, and to that end, he knew that building a successful dental practice would give him the opportunity to keep his family together in one place for many years to come, and to provide a service to a community that he once called home Snellville, GA. Before entering college, Dr. Frenchs last move with his family was to Snellville, where he completed high school. After completion of undergraduate school and dental school, Dr. French returned to Snellville, where today he owns Oak Road Dentistry and has practiced dentistry for 19 years.
Dr. French graduated from South Gwinnett High School, here in Snellville, and he received a diploma in Biomedical Sciences from Auburn University in 1998. He received his Doctor of Medical Dentistry degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 2002. Dr. French joined Oak Road Dentistry in 2004, purchased it in 2005, and through the years, he has molded the practice into his vision of how a dental practice should operate. He implemented the ideology of combining the art and science of dentistry, while treating every patient like family in a comfortable and relaxed environment. He has used this philosophy ever since.
When Dr. French is away from the office, he enjoys family time with his wife, his two boys and his dogs, Costa and Hobie. Always on the go, he enjoys soccer, biking, endurance sports, and attending Atlanta United games with his family. Dr. French is a two time Ironman Triathlete and he has run several marathons and ultramarathons. On the weekends, Dr. French will usually be found around the soccer fields cheering on his boys.
Dr. Clancy Poore was raised in Augusta, Georgia. He and his wife Elizabeth enjoy traveling and the outdoors. The son of a periodontist, Dr. Poore was introduced to dentistry at a young age and has always gravitated towards the arts and sciences. Originally pursuing a degree in medical illustration because of his love for drawing, he found that he ultimately enjoyed using his skills and interests in medicine to help people directly. Dr. Poore is passionate about providing exceptional dental care to patients.He understands that the dental office can be a stressful place for many patients and he strives to make patients feel comfortable.
Dr. Poore received his Bachelors Degree in Biology from Georgia College & State University in 2012. After graduation, he began dental school at the Dental College of Georgia and received his Doctor of Dental Medicine in 2017. After dental school, Dr. Poore completed a 1-year AEGD residency in implant dentistry, IV conscious sedation and treating medically complex patients.
Dr. Poore is a member of the American Dental Association, Georgia Dental Association and Hinman Dental Society. In dental school he received the Connie Drisko Memorial Award, Hinman Dental Scholarship, and GDA Board of Trustees Presidential Scholarship award.
When he is not seeing patients, Dr. Poore is spending time with his wife, dog, and family. He enjoys any opportunity to be outside whether it be hiking, golf, or photography. On weekends, Dr. Poore is usually trying to find the next best camping site or learning to fly fish.
Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss. Gum disease has two primary stages. If diagnosed and treated in the first stage, the condition can be reversed and tooth loss can usually be prevented. In order to prevent gum disease,practice good oral hygiene and visit your dentist for cleanings and check-ups twice a year.
This stage only affects the soft tissue of the gums, and the patient may not experience any discomfort. Although the symptoms may be very mild, it is important to diagnose gum disease in this early stage before it progresses to periodontitis.
Periodontitis is the name for more advanced periodontal disease and if permitted to progress to this point, not only the gums are affected but the bone structures supporting the teeth will be compromised.
A build-up of bacteria causes Gingivitis. In its early stages, inflammation around the gums is observable, with gum tissues appearing red and swollen. Gums that are easily irritated or that bleed during tooth brushing indicate the presence of Gingivitis. Removal of the plaque buildup is necessary to prevent the development of gum disease.
As the gums become more inflamed, they start to pull away from the teeth, forming spaces known as periodontal pockets. Food, bacteria, and plaque begin to collect in the pockets, leading to infection. The surrounding bone becomes damaged both by bacterial toxins and by the immune systemsresponse to infection.
