Dentist in Chattanooga

June 14, 2026

A local dentist offers care that remote or mail-order alternatives cannot replicate: hands-on examinations, diagnostic imaging, professional cleanings, and quick attention to emergencies such as a broken tooth or sudden pain. Cavities, gum disease, and bite problems are identified through direct examination, and an ongoing relationship with one practice gives the dental team a continuous record of a patient’s history that informs preventive, restorative, and cosmetic decisions over time. For Chattanooga families, a nearby office also makes recurring visits more manageable and builds trust for children and older adults.

Chattanooga is among Tennessee’s largest cities, with a population of roughly 185,783 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and it anchors a metro area in southeast Tennessee that supports a varied field of dental practices. Patients can choose from general and family offices, cosmetic-focused practices, and larger multi-dentist groups, with locations spread from the Shallowford Road corridor to downtown along the riverfront. That range gives residents options by neighborhood, service mix, technology, and the kind of relationship they want with their dental team.

Dentists in Tennessee are licensed and regulated by the Tennessee Board of Dentistry, which operates under the Tennessee Department of Health among the state’s Health Related Boards. The Board establishes licensure requirements, reviews applicants, and enforces the rules of dental practice, and it investigates complaints involving substandard care, unprofessional conduct, unlicensed practice, and similar violations. Patients in Chattanooga can confirm a dentist’s credentials through the Department of Health’s online license-verification system, which draws on primary sources and is updated regularly. The same regulatory framework also covers the dental hygienists and dental assistants who support licensed dentists.

Dental care available in Chattanooga spans preventive and general dentistry (exams, cleanings, fillings, and emergency visits), restorative work (crowns, bridges, dentures, root canals, and implants), cosmetic services (whitening, veneers, bonding, and smile makeovers), orthodontics including clear aligners, and pediatric care, with some practices also addressing TMJ and bite-related concerns. Before beginning treatment, a patient can verify a dentist’s license through the Tennessee Department of Health license-verification system, and anyone with a concern about care from a licensed dentist can file a complaint with the Department of Health, which houses the Board of Dentistry. These clinical and professional-conduct complaints are handled through the Health Related Boards channel rather than a general consumer-affairs office.

Top Dentist Providers in Chattanooga

1. McOmie Family Dentistry

Address: 5999 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 899-1112
Website: https://mcomiedentistry.com
Services: cosmetic dentistry (teeth whitening, veneers, bonding, gum contouring, Invisalign, smile makeovers), restorative dentistry (implants, crowns, bridges, dentures, inlays and onlays, fillings, bone grafting, TMJ and TMD treatment), general dentistry (emergency care, extractions, wisdom teeth removal, root canals, oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontics), preventive dentistry (checkups, cleanings, sealants, oral cancer screenings, fluoride treatments)
Description: McOmie Family Dentistry is a general, cosmetic, restorative, and preventive practice on Shallowford Road in Chattanooga, led by Dr. Mark D. McOmie, DMD, and Dr. Caleb Canada, DDS. The single-location office serves the whole family across four broad categories of care, from preventive checkups and cleanings to cosmetic work such as veneers, bonding, gum contouring, Invisalign, and smile makeovers, and restorative treatment including implants, crowns, bridges, dentures, and TMJ and TMD care. The practice has been recognized in the Chattanooga Times Free Press Tennessee Valley’s People’s Choice Awards, including as a cosmetic dentist for several consecutive years and for dental implant work.

2. Shallowford Family Dental Group

Address: 6101 Shallowford Rd, Suite 103, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 892-4477
Website: https://www.shallowfordfamilydental.com
Services: general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry (veneers, teeth whitening), restorative dentistry (dental implants, dentures, partials), pediatric dentistry, periodontics, root canals, TMJ treatment, tooth extractions
Description: Shallowford Family Dental Group is a multi-dentist family practice on Shallowford Road in Chattanooga, founded in 2002 by Dr. Tom Gardenhire and operating from a single location. The team includes Dr. Charles Ankar, DDS, Dr. Tom Gardenhire, DDS, Dr. J. David Lewis, DDS, Dr. Dan Edwards, DDS, and Dr. Rick Ratchford, DDS, offering general, cosmetic, restorative, and pediatric dentistry for patients of all ages. Services range from veneers and teeth whitening to dental implants, dentures, and partials, along with periodontics, root canals, TMJ treatment, and extractions. The practice emphasizes patient education and ongoing continuing education among its dentists.

3. Holliday Cosmetic & Family Dentistry

Address: 951 Riverfront Parkway, Suite 203, Chattanooga, TN 37402
Phone: (423) 756-4448
Website: https://www.paulhollidaydds.com
Services: general and cosmetic dentistry, veneers, white fillings, porcelain inlays and onlays, bridges, CEREC one-visit crowns, dental implants, SureSmile clear aligners, Botox, splints, nightguards, snoring devices, extractions, dentures and partials, root canals, cleanings, periodontal therapy
Description: Holliday Cosmetic & Family Dentistry is a general dentistry practice in downtown Chattanooga on Riverfront Parkway, led by Dr. Paul M. Holliday, DDS, FAGD, a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. The office combines cosmetic and family care with a focus on efficiency and technology, offering CEREC one-visit crowns and SureSmile clear orthodontic aligners alongside veneers, white fillings, porcelain inlays and onlays, bridges, and dental implants. The practice also provides splints, nightguards, and snoring devices, along with extractions, dentures, partials, root canals, cleanings, and periodontal therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dentist in Chattanooga

Q: Who licenses and regulates dentists in Chattanooga?

Dentists in Chattanooga and throughout Tennessee are licensed and regulated by the Tennessee Board of Dentistry, which operates under the Tennessee Department of Health as one of the state’s Health Related Boards. The Board sets licensure standards, reviews credentials, and enforces the rules governing dental practice for dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants.

Q: How do I verify that a Chattanooga dentist is licensed?

You can confirm a dentist’s license through the Tennessee Department of Health’s online license-verification system, the official verification tool of the Health Related Boards. The system allows searches by name, license number, or location, and its data comes from primary sources, so it reflects the current status of a license.

Q: How do I file a complaint about a dentist in Chattanooga?

Complaints about care or professional conduct by a licensed dentist are filed with the Tennessee Department of Health, which houses the Board of Dentistry. Board staff review each complaint and may open a formal investigation, request records, and convene a hearing if the evidence warrants it. These clinical and conduct complaints go through the Health Related Boards channel rather than a general consumer-affairs office.

Q: What types of dental care can I find in Chattanooga?

Chattanooga practices offer preventive and general dentistry (exams, cleanings, fillings, and emergency care), restorative dentistry (crowns, bridges, dentures, root canals, and implants), cosmetic dentistry (whitening, veneers, bonding, and smile makeovers), orthodontics such as clear aligners, and pediatric and family care. Some offices also address TMJ and bite-related concerns.

Q: How often should I see a dentist?

Many dentists recommend a routine checkup and professional cleaning about every six months, though the right interval depends on a patient’s individual oral health, history, and risk factors. A dentist can recommend a personalized schedule after an examination. This article is informational and is not a substitute for professional dental advice.

Q: What is a one-visit crown, and which Chattanooga practices offer it?

A one-visit crown, often produced with CEREC technology, is designed and milled in the office during a single appointment, so a patient may avoid a temporary crown and a second visit. Availability varies by office and by case, and a dentist can confirm during an examination whether a same-day crown is appropriate for a particular tooth.

Q: What should I bring to a first dental visit in Chattanooga?

Bring a photo ID, your dental insurance information if you have coverage, a list of current medications, and any prior dental records or recent X-rays a previous office can transfer. Arriving a few minutes early to complete new-patient paperwork lets the appointment focus on the examination and a discussion of treatment options.