Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Karen Wolf.
Hi Dr.Karen, Thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My husband and I first met in 2014 during dental school at MUSC in Charleston, SC. I was a third-year dental student while he was a first-year. When I graduated, I worked as a general dentist in Beaufort, where I discovered my passion for working with children. I then pursued a pediatric dental residency in Naples, Florida. My husband was still in dental school, so we weren’t sure how our long-distance relationship would go, but it strengthened our relationship. Fast forward to today, and we have 2 kids, Harper and Bennett, and a boxer pup named Mimosa. Because Beaufort largely influenced my decision to specialize in pediatric care, my family and I moved here in 2023 to start Zest Pediatric Dentistry.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In 2018, our nephew was diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening immunodeficiency known as chronic granulomatous disease or CGD. While this completely upended my sister-in-law’s and brother-in-law’s lives, we did our best to support them during one of the most difficult times imaginable. During treatment- chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, we witnessed the profoundly transformative experience for their family that led to profound personal growth and resilience. For us, this shifted our perspective to what truly matters in life- personal relationships and family. We are happy that our nephew is now CGD-free and lives as a healthy 6-year-old!
Thanks – What else should our readers know about Zest Pediatric Dentistry?
Zest Pediatric Dentistry is a single-location private practice with Dr. Karen as the sole provider. Our mission is to recruit the most honest, authentic team we can find and to provide the most enjoyable patient experience possible. As a resident of Lady’s Island, Dr. Karen is actively engaged in the community through school visits, local fundraisers, and educational workshops. We pride ourselves on being a small, low-volume practice that establishes strong relationships with families. By educating patients and families on the importance of oral health, we emphasize preventive care and utilize conservative treatment that is personalized for each unique patient. Our holistic approach considers not only the physical aspects of dental care but your child’s emotional and psychological well-being. Dr. Karen feels her most impactful service is using laser therapy to release lip and tongue ties. This can often correct infants with difficulty feeding and often with sleep and speech development in older children. For Dr. Karen, having such a profound positive impact on a child’s life and future is highly gratifying.
What’s next?
Dr. Karen’s husband, Dr. Andrew Ply, is a board-certified orthodontist. We plan to include orthodontic services for our patients and parents, making it a one-stop shop for our wonderful families!
Contact Info:
- Website: zestpd.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/zestpediatricdentistry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Zest-Pediatric-Dentistry/100089474246463/
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@ZestPD
