Visit Palmetto Periodontics in Columbia, SC, and meet our dedicated team, led by Dr. James P. Wilson. We are committed to providing exceptional periodontal and implant care, ensuring each visit is both effective and comfortable. Our team of highly trained professionals is here to support your dental health journey with expertise and compassion.

Located at 124 Alpine Circle, Columbia, South Carolina 29223, our office is just a short drive from downtown Columbia. We serve patients from across the Midlands, including Richland County, Lexington, and Kershaw County. Call us at (803) 788-0900 to schedule your visit and experience firsthand the comprehensive care and community-focused service that set us apart.

Kate Gafgen

Practice Administrator

Hometown or city of residence: Elgin, SC

Personal or professional goals: My goal is to cultivate a positive company culture, optimize operational efficiency and enhance the patient experience.

Mission statement and values: I want to offer support and inspiration to others through leadership and subject matter expertise.

Skills and expertise: I am skilled in team management, problem solving, process improvement, staff training and development, leadership and dental practice operations.

Interests and hobbies: I enjoy hiking, painting, and spending time with my family and pets.

Neida E. Rodriguez

Registered Dental Hygienist

Hometown or city of residence: From Puerto Rico, lives in Chapin, SC

Personal or professional goals: Professional goals: provide specialized treatment that includes educational, preventive, and therapeutic services and maintain oral health.

Mission statement and values: My mission as part of a dental team is to work together as unit to provide the best dental care and values and empathy for our patients and do what is best for them.

Skills and expertise: Communication, collaboration, empathy and compassion, critical thinking, knowledge of dental conditions, attention to detail, strong motor function, visual observation, organization and time management, speak Spanish and English languages.

Interests and hobbies: My interests are cooking, traveling, reading and Christmas music. My hobbies are camping, hiking, gardening, kayaking and swimming.

Chelsea Gooding

Registered Dental Hygienist

Hometown or city of residence: Bishopville, SC

Personal or professional goals: Practice dental hygiene until retirement, then enjoy all of my time traveling and seeing family.

Mission statement and values: Trust in the Lord and allow others to see Jesus through me.

Skills and expertise: Provide excellent care to all patients and teach them the importance of oral care.

Interests and hobbies: Spending time with my husband (Zach) and two sons (Mason and Myles), going to the beach and lake on occasion, going to church and helping with the children's ministry.

Tori Blanchett

Certified Dental Assistant, Expanded Duty Dental Assistant

Hometown or city of residence: Winnsboro, SC

Personal or professional goals: I plan to work in the dental industry for 20 - 30 more years caring for my lovely patients. Once that time span has passed, I would like to retire and travel, care for my grandbabies, if I am blessed to have them!

Mission statement and values: Put the Lord above all else. I strive to live a life that honors the Lord at home and in my career through faith and service. I choose to appreciate all his many blessings in my life. I value working hard, integrity, love, laughter, and kindness in all I do.

Skills and expertise: Graduated Midlands Technical College Expanded Duty Dental Program in 2014 becoming a Certified Dental Assistant with the ability to perform expanded duty functions. I have worked as a surgical periodontal dental assistant for 10+ years.

Interests and hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my husband and three children. We love being outdoors and traveling.

Morgan Banks

Dental Assistant

Hometown or city of residence: White Oak, SC

Personal or professional goals: One of my top goals currently is to return to school and complete the dental hygiene program to become a dental hygienist!

Mission statement and values: "The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me."

My core values consist of divine faith, family, authenticity and perseverance and in that exact order!

Skills and expertise: I wholeheartedly believe that I have a strong work ethic and have always strived to be a reliable team player and active listener. I adapt well to new and different environments and always have a willingness to learn attitude!

Interests and hobbies: In my spare time, I really enjoy spending time quality time with family and friends. Laughing and bonding, creating memories that'll last a lifetime! I also love to travel to new places and experience new foods and cultures.

Rachael Wagner

Dental Assistant

Hometown or city of residence: Born in Cheyenne Wyoming, Raised in Blackfoot, ID and live in Columbia, SC

Personal or professional goals: My Personal goal is to raise my children to become better than me. My professional goals are to get to a place where I feel that I am not only secure in my position, but also part of a working family. Having a place to work where I feel safe and am happy is very important to me and I have found that here.

Mission statement and values: To be a loving a present parent, guiding my children on their spiritual journey and see the sacredness in all of creation, treating every being with respect and reverence.

Skills and expertise: I have received my associate's in applied sciences, pre-healthcare certification, special education certification. I also did gerontology in my senior year of high school and became and LPN. I have been a dental assistant since 2022, working in the specialty of endodontics, prosthetics/implants and periodontics. I plan to continue my dental education, so I am able to continue to give excellent care to each patient.

Interests and hobbies: I love spending time with my family playing games, puzzles, creating things with crochet, knitting, or tatting (homemade lace).

Tarsha McBride

Treatment Coordinator

Hometown or city of residence: Columbia, SC

Personal or professional goals: Effectively communicate information regarding procedures, treatment plans,  payment options and scheduling to patients.

Mission statement and values: Kindness, it cost nothing but means everything.

Skills and expertise: I have worked in healthcare for over 21 years, joined Palmetto Periodontics in January 2024.

Interests and hobbies: Enjoy game nights and spending time with my family.

Megan Pershing

Hygiene Coordinator

Hometown or city of residence: Elgin, SC (originally Hoosier)

Personal or professional goals: To try and make our patient's visits as pleasant as possible.

Mission statement and values: To continue to learn what my best God given talents are and use them to make a positive difference.

Skills and expertise: 10 years of front desk and 20 years of teaching. Teamwork, integrity, people person

Interests and hobbies: reading, loving on my dogs/fur babies, cooking, dreaming of traveling more and seeking volunteer work.

Hannah Rose

Insurance Coordinator

Hometown or city of residence: Lexington, SC

Personal or professional goals: Keep learning more about the different roles in a periodontal office.

Mission statement and values: To keep helping patients understand dental insurance. Also to work diligently on patient's claims so they are processed in a timely manner.

Skills and expertise: Working with insurance. I have worked with insurance and authorizations since graduating college.

Interests and hobbies: Playing video games or reading a good book. I also love spending time with my husband and our three dogs Sadie, Remi and Huntleigh.

Keyanna Addison

Front Desk Associate

Hometown or city of residence: Columbia, SC

Mission statement and values: We are here to serve, so why not with greatness.

Skills and expertise: Great patient and customer service is the #1 goal. I have 10 years of experience in the dental field from general dentistry to orthodontics as well as expanded services as a patient coordinator.

Interests and hobbies: I enjoy reading, hiking and exploring different varieties of restaurants, but mostly enjoying family time.

Want to schedule an appointment?