Voorhees alumna opens her own dental practice

Denmark, S.C.- After practicing dentistry for 5 years, Voorhees College Alumna Dr. LaTonya Gillespie is now the proud owner of her own practice,Southern Pearl Dentistry, for which she recently had a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Gillespie said since high school she knew she wanted to be a dentist after interning with her neighborhood dentist. “Because we did not have insurance,she did all my dental care for free. My parents divorced when my siblings and I were really young, so my mother did the best she could to raise three children on minimum income.” Gillespie said. “It was my dentist’s selfless efforts that inspired me to give back to my community and help people who struggled like I did to afford care.”

Southern Pearl Dentistry gets its first name from its internal and external Southern belle charm. “My sorority influenced the pearl because the office is a classy establishment with a touch of elegance. I created the ambiance because the dentist scares many people. When my clients walk in, I want them to feel at ease. Our motto is ‘Your smile is worth our time.’”

The Atlanta native earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Voorhees in 2009 and a doctorate of dental surgery degree from Marquette University in 2014.

While at Voorhees, she was a member of the Eta Nu Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., the Lady Tigers Basketball Team, and The Voorhees College Track and Field Team. Gillespie also served as Miss Voorhees College 2008-2009.

In 2018, Gillespie was inducted into the Voorhees College Young Alumni 10 Under 40 Program for her countless contributions to her organizations and to the community. She is also a member of American Dental Association, Georgia Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, and the National Dental Association.

Southern Pearl Dentistry is located at 1883 McDonough Rd. Suite 100 D Hampton, Ga. 30228. To learn more about the services or to schedule an appointment please call (678) 990-3364 or visit the website atwww.southernpearldentistry.com