LOWCOUNTRY FAMILY DENTISTRY

July 1, 2021 bftlifestyle 1540 Views

Best in Patient Comfort and Superior Dental Care

story by JENNIFER BROWN-CARPENTER
photos by JOHN WOLLWERTH

If you are looking for a general dentist office that will have your best interest at heart on Lady’s Island in Beaufort, SC, you don’t have to look any further than Lowcountry Family Dentistry. Dr. Ashley Covington and Dr. Perry DuRant have one goal in mind: to meet the dental health needs of their patients with conservative, comprehensive care using the latest dental technology.

Dr. Ashley Covington grew up in Charleston, SC, and graduated from The College of Charleston. After attending the Medical University of South Carolina, she worked as an associate dentist in Bluffton for two years while living in Beaufort. This gave her and her husband, Todd, the opportunity to fall in love with Beaufort and all that the Lowcountry has to offer.

After working as an associate dentist, Dr. Covington was ready to branch out on her own. She purchased an office in Florence, SC and, while the practice was very successful, she and her husband missed living in the Lowcountry. When the opportunity came about to join Dr. Perry DuRant’s practice on Lady’s Island, she and her husband were excited to get back to a place they had already fallen in love with: our unique coastal town. She acquired the office in December of 2016, almost five years ago. Dr. DuRant welcomed Dr. Covington in and has been a mentor to her. Dr. DuRant has continued to work in the practice, coming in every Tuesday.

Foremost for Dr. Covington has always been to provide excellent dental care, but she also wanted to enhance the patient experience as much as possible. This includes ongoing office renovations, both internally and externally, to the practice. In addition to the upgrades, Lowcountry Family Dentistry has purchased new equipment, extended their hours, and continued staff education to provide the best possible experience to their patients.

Some of the office renovations included replacing the doors, windows, lighting, and flooring throughout. It was important for Dr. Covington to have a welcoming environment where patients feel comfortable and at ease. The practice aesthetic is incredibly calming, with craftsman-style doors, crown molding throughout, new cabinets with quartz countertops, and sleek machinery.

In 2019, the office added a CEREC machine that allows the dentist to create crowns on the same day for patients in need. The practice also boasts a state-of-the-art CBCT machine. The CBCT system captures data using a cone-shaped X-ray beam to reconstruct a three-dimensional (3D) image of a patient’s dental anatomy. Dr. Covington and Dr. DuRant use the CBCT system for various clinical applications, including dental implant planning, visualization of abnormal teeth, evaluation of the jaws and face, diagnosis of dental caries (cavities), endodontic (root canal) diagnosis, and diagnosis of dental trauma.

Dr. Covington’s approach to dentistry has always been based on a conservative philosophy. She believes natural enamel and natural dentin are still the best dental materials in existence. Thus, minimally invasive procedures that conserve more of the original, healthy tooth structure are preferable. The preservation of the healthy tooth structure of each patient is the primary goal for both dentists at Lowcountry Family Dentistry.

The Covington Family: Todd, Ashley, Walker and Riley

Dr. Covington is focused on giving back, not only to her patients but to the community. She is a proud member of the Sea Island Rotary Club, The Smile Mobile, which serves the dental needs of the underprivileged, is one of many Rotary community service events Dr. Covington participates in. Additionally, every year during Children’s Dental Health Month in February, Dr. Covington enjoys visiting the local schools to pass on dental education to the children, especially with two young children of her own. Recently, Dr. Covington has spent many of her weekends attending continuing education classes to utilize the new technology that the office boasts.

When Dr. Covington is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Todd, and their two children, Riley and Walker. They enjoy boating, going to the beach, and swimming at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club.

Lowcountry Family Dentistry offers a wide range of services, including:

• Composite fillings
• Crowns
• Veneers
• Bridges
• Implants
• Dentures
• Extractions
• Root canals
• Whitening
• Bonding