For Celia Davenport, dentistry runs in the family.
Her father was a dentist. His grandfather was a dentist. In fact, her family has had a dentist in the family since the 1890s.
Celia, therefore, always knew she wanted to be a dentist. She came to Birmingham for dental school and fell in love with the city. After finishing a residency at the VA Hospital, she opened her own office in the Lakeview district.
“I wanted to own my dental office so that I could make my own decisions about what is best for the patient,” she said.
As owner of Davenport Dental & Wellness Center, she is the first female dentist in the family. She said she was knowledgeable about dentistry when she started the practice; however, learning the business side of the practice was a steep learning curve. They don’t teach business loans, insurance, marketing and more in dental school.
As she encountered business challenges and learned from them, though, she wrote about them in her journals. She hopes to someday share these tips and tricks with others who dream of someday owning their own business.
“My No. 1 piece of advice for those looking to open their own practice is to set specific goals and plan ahead,” she said. “Opening a practice takes a lot of time and hard work. But the first time a patient tells you how comfortable and clean you made them feel, you know it was so, so worth it.”
Celia prides her practice in being led by a dentist. A growing number of dental offices aren’t actually owned by dentists — instead, they’re owned by private equity groups. So Celia wanted an office that held oral health to the highest priority and focused on its relation to a person’s overall health.
“Inflammation in the mouth can lead to inflammation throughout the body,” she said. “Oral disease is linked to diabetes, Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, and preterm birth. Having an autoimmune disease myself, I am dedicated to helping people achieve their best oral health and overall systemic health.”
It’s not just led by a dentist, though — it’s also female owned and operated. Celia has several small children, as do many of the employees at Davenport Dental, so Celia made sure to include a children’s room in the office for all of the staff and their families to use.
“The balance between full-time work and parenting is always a challenge, and I try to help in any way I can,” Celia said.
The office overall is a warm and comfortable environment so that all clients enjoy going to the dentist. When children experience anxiety about their dental appointment, they’re able to have Celia’s therapy dog, Pepper, sit on their lap during their procedure.
“Pepper is so great with our clients,” Celia said. “I’ve seen children’s faces completely light up when they see her. It definitely makes them look forward to getting their teeth cleaned!”
Patients can also trust that they get the best care possible at Davenport Dental, where the dentists use state-of-the-art technologies in all procedures.
“These new technologies allow us to detect dental concerns at early stages, treat your oral health needs with precision, and provide stunning and customized restorations,” Celia said.
Dental services include crowns and bridges, dental fillings, root canals, teeth whitening and more. The office also has an esthetician on staff to offer services such as botox, dermal fillers, hydrafacials and more.
“Dentists are very knowledgeable on the anatomy of the head and neck,” Celia said. “This makes us great providers for services such as botox and fillers.”
They will always be a dental office first, Celia said, but offering these services ensures that “you as a whole are healthy.” The aesthetics become part of that because it can improve one’s confidence and self-esteem.
Celia recommends patients regularly see their dentist once every six months for a dental cleaning. Did you know that during these appointments, dentists like Celia and her team at Davenport Dental will check for signs of oral cancer?
“When we look at the inside of your mouth, we check your gums, tongue, insides of your cheeks and more for discoloration or other signs of oral cancer,” Celia said. The dentists also can catch signs of heart disease, diabetes, sleep disorders and eating disorders.
“A lot of people think they can skip their regular dental appointment just because their teeth ‘look fine.’ But it’s so much more than just a teeth cleaning — we’re making sure your overall health is in tip top shape.”
If you want a dental office owned by an actual dentist who prioritizes your overall health, then Davenport Dental and Wellness Center is for you. Celia works hard to provide the best treatment for her patients and to make her patients’ experiences as comfortable as possible.
Davenport Dental is located at 2940 Clairmont Avenue South in Lakeview. When you see the giant tooth out in front, you’ll know you’ve made it to the right place.
Visit davenportdentalandwellness.com to make an appointment.
