Both doctors practice all phases of family and general dentistry. Their office utilizes new technologies in dentistry and the latest techniques. They attend continuing education courses regularly as does their staff. They utilize specialists in the community for levels of expertise they believe patients may sometimes require and will discuss these options if the need arises.

Dr. Robert G. Plage received an undergraduate degree in biology from Wake Forest University and went on to get his DDS degree from Georgetown University School of Dentistry. He has lived in Wilmington for over 35 years.

Throughout his career, Dr. Plage has been an advocate for the underserved populations living in our area. He has been very involved with the NC Mission of Mercy (MOM) dental program a free, traveling dental clinic that operates to reach the underserved in our state. He has been active in the MOM clinics both locally, serving as local chair for 10 years, and on the state level. In addition to serving the public, Dr. Plage has served his profession. He has been active in the North Carolina Dental Society as well as the American Dental Association. He is also a fellow in the American College of Dentists, an organization dedicated to dental ethics, education and professionalism.

Dr. Plage has been married to his wife, Anne, for 41 years. They have two children, Cait and Michael. Cait and her husband, Joel, live in Nashville, TN. Michael is a graduate of UNC School of Dentistry, married to Dr. Nataleigh Hitt Plage and is a partner in Plage Dentistry.

Dr. Michael R. Plage is a native of Wilmington and a graduate of John T. Hoggard High School. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for both his undergraduate degree in psychology and his DDS degree.

Dr. Plage is an Eagle Scout. His Eagle Scout project involved planning and implementing Wilmingtons first Mission of Mercy free dental clinic in 2004. He has volunteered at many free dental clinics around the state and is a member of both the North Carolina Dental Society and the American Dental Association.

Dr. Plages interests include running, surfing, snowboarding and watching all kinds of sports, especially the UNC Tarheels. He is married to Dr. Nataleigh Hitt Plage who is a practicing dentist for CommWell Health in Penderlea.

Dr. Eglinton was born in New Bern, NC. He attended North Carolina State University and graduated in 2009. In between undergraduate studies and dental school, he worked with the North Carolina Missions of Mercy Clinics as their Supply Coordinator. He was provided the opportunity to travel all around North Carolina staffing the clinics with 4 other individuals. He began dental school at East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine in 2012 and graduated in 2016. He then completed a 1-year AEGD program at the East Carolina School of Dental Medicines Elizabeth City campus and in 2017, moved to Wilmington with his wife, Patrice. Patrice is a Family Medicine Physician with New Hanover Regional Medical/Novant. He and Patrice have a 4-year-old golden retriever, Oskar. In their spare time, they enjoy taking Oskar places, including the many parks we have in Wilmington. They also enjoy traveling, hiking, and socializing with friends.

Susan is originally from Charleston, West Virginia, and moved to Wilmington with her family in 1985. She has two sons that are 17 and 25. Susan began working as a scheduling coordinator in orthodontics in 2011, then worked with foster children and families for a few years, and found her way back to a dental career. She enjoys watching college basketball and the NFL. Hobbies include reading, gardening, and spending time with her family and dog, Penny.

Tristen is from Fayetteville, North Carolina. He will be graduating from UNCW in May 2019 with a degree in Biology and a minor in Computer Science. Tristen began his journey for dentistry his sophomore year of college and continues to prepare for the rigors of the dental school application process. Tristen has one little sister and a precious puppy. When not in the office, he enjoys playing beach volleyball, flying, swimming, and programming.

Suzanne is originally from Rhode Island and moved to North Carolina with her family in 2013. She joined Plage Dentistry in 2019. She has over 20 years of experience in finance, as well as medical and dental administration. When Suzanne is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family her furry family too! She also likes to travel and loves to cook.

Susie is originally from Crystal Lake, IL. She and her husband, Mike, moved to Wilmington in 2017. They have two married sons and one granddaughter who all live out in Eagle, CO. Susie enjoys hiking, cycling, tennis, yoga, and settling down with a good book. Her favorite aspect of Plage Dentistry is the feeling of being part of a big family. Susie has been in the dental profession for over 30 years.

Anne is a native of Boone, NC and has lived in Wilmington for 35 years. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University, where she met her husband. She has two grown children; her daughter now lives in Nashville, TN and her son lives here in Wilmington with his wife. Anne enjoys reading, traveling, playing tennis and relaxing in her beach chair at Masonboro Island. Her favorite part of working at Plage Dentistry is the relationships we have built with our patients. She has been in the field of dentistry for 26 years and has worked in this practice for 24 of them.

Helen has been a practicing hygienist for over 35 years. She started her career in a pediatric practice and soon discovered her special talent for introducing children to the world of dentistry. While she enjoys all her patients here at Plage Dentistry, she particularly enjoys getting to work with the younger kiddos. Helen joined our practice in 2003 after moving to Wilmington from New York. In her freetime she enjoys spending time at the beach, photographing sunrises and sunsets, watching sports and trying new restaurants with her husband John.

Mary was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She earned a B.S. degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Maryland Dental School and has been practicing for over 20 years. She and her family relocated to Ocean Isle Beach together in 2005 and she started working at Plage Dentistry in 2011. Her husband is a general contractor in Brunswick county and her daughter is a senior in high school. Marys interests include boating, beaching, music, theater and reading. However, she most enjoys spending time with her daughter before she leaves for Appalachian State University next year.

I knew at a very early age that I wanted to work in dentistry and I have been a dental hygienist since 1993! I earned my degree in dental hygiene at East Tennessee State Univeeristy in Johnson City, Tennessee. After living my wild life in the beautiful mountains of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee my husband (Shane), daughter (Tessa), two dogs (Sophie & Jasmine), and I relocated to Wilmington, North Carolina in 2014, and we absolutely love the salt life! When I am not at work making smiles beautiful, you can find me on Carolina Beach with a good book and toes in the sand. Shane, Tessa, and I also love to travel, but we always look forward to getting back to our beach home.

I am honored to be a member of the team at Plage Dentistry. Im excited to join a family owned practice that provides quality care for each and every patient. Although I consider myself an experienced dental hygienist, I value learning new skills, and expanding my knowledge every day!

Reyna completed her dental education at Cape Fear Community College. She first became a certified dental assistant (CDA) in 2016. Then, three years later, she went back to CFCC for dental hygiene. She enjoys educating and helping her patients achieve a healthy smile.

Sabrina is a small-town girl, born and raised in Elizabethtown, NC. The dental field has always been an interest of Sabrina ever since she was a small child. Following high school, she obtained an associates degree in Dental Assisting at Miller-Motte. Sabrina has six years of experience in the dental field and is always eager to learn something new. Regardless of what procedure Sabrina assists with, she cherishes the relationships she can build with her patients.

When not in the office, you can find her on the beach with her daughter, Aubree. The hobbies of Sabrinas are gardening, sightseeing, trying new restaurants, and going on trips. Just like a sunflower, Sabrina looks forward to brightening someones mood.

Jody was born and raised in Easton, PA. She has been a dental assistant since 1989. Jody has one son. She and her boyfriend moved to Wilmington in May 2021 with their dog Murray. In her spare time, Jody enjoys long walks, swimming, and volleyballalthough baking is her true passion.

Sandy is from Greensboro, North Carolina. She attended Guilford Technical Community College where she earned her certification in dental assisting in 1972. She is our longest standing employee, having worked with Dr. Robert Plage for over 30 years. Sandy is blessed to have her wonderful sister and two brothers as well as all her friendly fur babies that she takes care of. She noted that her family, animals and working in the dental field is what brings her joy and keeps that jovial smile on her face every day.

Kerri is from a small town right outside of Wilmington, North Carolina. She and her husband have two children and a number of animals which she considers her extended family. In her free time, Kerri enjoys reading and spending time with her family. Her favorite part of working at Plage Dentistry is talking with her patients and being able to help meet their dental expectations. Kerri has been a certified dental assistant since August 1998 and has been working with Dr. Plage since December of 1998.

Food particles are naturally attracted to a tooths enamel by a certain protein. Products like coffee and tea, berries and soy sauce are notorious for staining teeth. Over time, teeth actually become more absorbent and vulnerable to staining from food and other substances.

One type of staincaused by traumatic injuries, medications and fluorosisactually begins inside the tooth; brushing and flossing dont help. Another type of stainone that can be more easily attacked by brushing, flossing and rinsingis caused by external factors such as foods.

Some commercially available whitening toothpastes can be somewhat effective at removing stains and making teeth a few shades brighter. However, many of these products have abrasive substances that can actually wear away your tooths enamel.

Whitening agents actually change the color of your teeth, but only are effective on certain types of stains. For example, bleaching agents have a difficult time removing brownish or grayish stains. These products also are not as effective on pitted or badly discolored teeth, or on restorations such as crowns, bridges, bonding and tooth-colored fillings (porcelain veneers or dental bonding may be more appropriate in this case).

Professional whitening performed by our office is considered to be the most effective and safest method; done properly, tooth whitening can last as long as five years. Over-the-counter whitening systems are somewhat effective as long as they are monitored and directions followed closely.

Dental emergencies happen, often seemingly out of nowhere. Any dental emergency is potentially serious and should be treated as such; its important to find appropriate medical care as soon as possible. Time lost can lead to further damage including lost teeth. While dental emergencies can take a variety of forms, here are some of the most common and how to treat them until you can reach professional help.

Again, please err on the side of caution. If bleeding or severe pain are present, please contact the emergency room or our office. For less serious issues, please contact Plage Dentistry as soon as possible to get scheduled.

Implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. Implants are anchored to the jawbone or metal framework on the bone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases, implants can be used to attach dentures.

Not everyone is a candidate for a dental implant, however. For a successful implant to take hold, a candidate must have proper bone density and have a strong immune system. In all cases, dental implants require strict oral hygiene.

Surgery is necessary to prepare the area for an implant and place the implant in the mouth. Following the procedure, a period of time is required for the implant to take hold and for bone tissue to build up and anchor the device. In some cases, metal posts are inserted into the implant during a follow-up procedure to connect the tooth.