The OfficeOur office is a former residence we converted into a dental facility to provide gentle dental care in a home-like setting. (We even have cable TV and DVDs in every room.)
Our office is a general dental practice for the entire family. Our web site emphasizes patient education. Thanks for visiting, and please take your time looking around. Don't hesitate to call us if you have any questions. We look forward to being of service to your family.
The Office
Our office is a former residence we converted into a dental facility to provide gentle dental care in a home-like setting. (We even have cable TV and DVDs in every room.)
Office Hours
Monday through Thursday 9AM - 5PM
Closed Friday
Open every other Saturday 9AM - 2PM
The Doctor
Dr. Zoe Yang Pilgrim was born in Guangzhou, China, and lived there before immigrating to the United States in 1985. Upon completing her dental training in China, Dr. Pilgrim was appointed to the faculty of the dental school of Jinan University. From 1985 to 1987, she completed two years as a general practice resident at the Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, New York. From 1987 to 1990, Dr. Pilgrim completed a three-year postgraduate program in oral pathology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1992 she obtained another D.D.S. degree at Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, Nebraska. Dr. Pilgrim is a fellow of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, and a member of the Academy of Laser Dentistry.
Dr. Pilgrim is married to a native Georgian, and they have two children.
"; var highLaserPage = "
Our office utilizes two different types of lasers, one which is designed to treat soft tissue (i.e., your gums) and one which is used to remove tooth decay. Anesthesia is not usually necessary for treatment performed with either laser!
1. With procedures performed with thesoft tissue laser, there is little or no bleeding; there usually is no need for stitches; and healing occurs much faster than with conventional treatments. The following pictures show the dramatic results possible with laser surgery.
The soft tissue laser we use is the Pulsemaster 600 IQ, manufactured by American Dental Technologies. It is a pulsed laser designed specifically for dentistry. In addition to periodontal treatment, the Pulsemaster is effective for gingivectomies, tissue retraction for impressions, mouth ulcer treatment, and removal of fibromas.
2. Dental soft tissue lasers have been in use since the early 1990's, but hard tissue lasers that 'vaporize' tooth decay--- in most instances without any need for anesthesia--- first became available in the late 1990's.
The hard tissue laser works by emitting a specialized light that targets and destroys tooth decay. Lasers are not useable on all cavities but they may be used to treat a wide range of dental caries (decay). Drills are very powerful, and the vibration and large hole produced can cause discomfort, making some type of anesthesia almost always necessary. The hard tissue laser instead removes the decay with no uncomfortable tooth vibration. Additionally, because the laser is so precise, only the decayed part of the tooth is removed, leaving more of the healthy part of the tooth. Rather than the loud drilling sound, you hear only a gentle tapping. Clinical studies show approximately 96 % of all patients, both adults and children, require no anesthesia when the hard tissue laser is used to treat decay. Another benefit of the laser is no time spent waiting for Novocain to take effect of to wear off. Multiple teeth can be worked on in ONE sitting instead of having to return multiple times to have cavities filled.
Our office uses the DELight erbium laser manufactured by Continuum Biomedical, one of the world's leading manufacturers of medical lasers.
"; var highAirPage = "
Since 1996 our office has extensively used another technology called air abrasion that literally sprays away tooth decay with a fine powder found in common toothpaste. Most patients require no anesthesia. After the decay is removed, the tooth is then restored with a tooth-colored composite filling. Our patients love this alternative to the dental drill and needle for two good reasons: air abrasion is comfortable and it removes much less healthy tooth structure than using a dental drill. The following photos show the progression of treatment with air abrasion. 
The air abrasion system we use in our office is the KCP 1000 PAC, manufactured by American Dental Technologies.
Now you have a choice! Instead of metal fillings that look ugly and break down, you can now have your teeth restored with porcelain pieces that will make you look and feel almost as if you had your original teeth back.
Our office now features CEREC technology to design, mill, and place porcelain inlays, onlays, full and partial crowns in one appointment. And for those individuals whose busy schedules make it difficult to arrange multiple visits to a dentist office normally required for inlays, onlays, and crowns, the convenience of the 'one appointment' CEREC restoration can't be beaten.
How Does It Work?
How does CEREC work? First, we prepare the damaged tooth by applying a thin layer of reflective powder directly on the tooth's surface. Using a special camera, we then take a picture of the tooth. Computer Aided Design technology helps us design the restoration from that pin-sharp optical impression of the tooth. You can actually watch us design your new restoration on a full-color monitor right before your eyes. Then CEREC creates an extremely precise restoration. Two high speed diamond burs work simultaneously to mill the restoration out of a solid block of ceramic material. Finally, we bond the porcelain restoration to your tooth.
Click Here to View the CEREC Flash Presentation
"; var highXrayPage = "
Modern conventional dental x-ray systems are safe and we occasionally use conventional x-rays. But our office primarily employs a computerized x-ray system that uses up to 90 percent less radiation than conventional systems. Computerized x-ray also instantly produces the images on a monitor for you to see, and the images can be be enhanced---and even colorized---for better diagnostics. See for yourself! 
Intraoral Cameras
Since 1994, during the oral examination of your teeth, our office has utilized intraoral video cameras that show your teeth greatly magnified on a monitor. These video cameras allow you to see for yourself the condition of your teeth and gums.
"; var cosmeticPage = "CERECTM Video Procedure
| Real Player | Windows |
Laser Dentistry Procedure
Real Player | Windows Media |
| Name | Date | Author | Size | DL's | Rating | Get |
| Macromedia Flash Player | 03 May : 21:00 | Macromedia | 405K b | 66 | Not rated |  |
| Real PLayer | 01 Aug : 11:02 | Real Media | 10MB b | 66 | Not rated | |
| Windows Media Player | 23 Jul : 20:20 | Microsoft | 9.6MB b | 64 | Not rated | |