Convenient Access from Lookout Mountain
Down the mountain, through St. Elmo and across the south side of town: in about 19 minutes you can travel from the Town Hall on Scenic Highway to Chattanooga Dental Arts. Our family practice is on Ringgold Road in Chattanooga, and it provides crowns, implants and the long-term care that keeps natural teeth working. Residents who want a dentist in Lookout Mountain, TN, with surgical and sedation training on staff will find our office a straightforward drive below the bluff.
Leave Lookout Mountain Town Hall at 710 Scenic Hwy and follow Scenic Highway (SR 148) to Forrest Avenue, then pick up Ochs Highway (SR 58) for the 2.6-mile descent. At the bottom, Tennessee Avenue becomes West 40th Street; continue east, jog briefly onto Alton Park Boulevard and turn onto West 38th Street, which turns into East 37th Street. From the roundabout, take 4th Avenue north, then East 28th and East 29th streets east to Ringgold Road.
Ringgold Road carries you the last 2 miles to 4207 Ringgold Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37412, just west of Tombras Avenue, for a total of 9.2 miles with no interstate. View our office on Google Maps before your first trip down. Our pages for St. Elmo and Southside describe the routes from the valley floor.
Why Lookout Mountain Households Value an Unhurried, Honest Practice
The Town of Lookout Mountain was incorporated on February 1, 1890, and today it covers about 1.3 square miles at roughly 1,850 feet above sea level. The 2020 census counted 2,058 residents. It is a quiet, residential town in Hamilton County, bordered to the south by its sister community of Lookout Mountain, Georgia.
Small towns run on trust, and we try to earn it the same way. We talk through findings in plain language, show you the x-rays and camera images, and never push treatment you do not need. When work can safely wait, we say so and keep an eye on it.
History is close at hand here. The Lookout Mountain Incline Railway has climbed from St. Elmo to the summit near Point Park since 1895, and the mountain's northern slopes saw the 1863 "Battle Above the Clouds." We aim to be the dental office that stays with families for generations, from a grandchild's first cleaning to a grandparent's implant crown.
Protecting Natural Teeth Through Every Stage on Lookout Mountain
Recent census estimates put the town's median age near 50. That stage of life brings particular dental needs: crowns that have reached the end of their service life, teeth weakened by large fillings, gums that have slowly receded and, sometimes, missing teeth that make chewing harder.
Our approach starts with saving what you have. Panoramic and CBCT x-rays show the roots and the bone around them, so we can judge whether a cracked tooth needs a crown, a root-level evaluation or replacement. When replacement is the right call, dental implants preserve the jawbone and feel closest to a natural tooth.
Comfort matters on longer visits. Nitrous oxide takes the edge off, and IV conscious sedation lets more involved treatment, such as an implant placement or several extractions, happen in a single relaxed sitting. Both are available in our office.
Receding gums deserve attention at this stage too. As gum tissue pulls back, root surfaces become exposed, more sensitive and more prone to decay. Careful cleanings, measured gum checks and early repairs of small root cavities help those teeth last. We would always rather treat a small spot this year than replace a tooth in five.
Younger families on the mountain have different priorities. Children at Lookout Mountain Elementary School on North Bragg Avenue need regular cleanings and gentle first visits, and parents appreciate booking siblings back to back to make a single trip down Ochs Highway count.
Treatments Chosen for Residents Who Need a Dentist in Lookout Mountain, TN
Restorative Dentistry
Crowns, bridges, partials and dentures rebuild worn or broken teeth. Our 3Shape intraoral scanner records digital impressions, so no tray of impression putty is needed.
Dental Implants
An implant replaces a missing tooth root and supports a crown, bridge or denture. CBCT imaging lets us plan placement around the bone you have.
Sedation Dentistry
IV conscious sedation and nitrous oxide help anxious patients and make long appointments far more comfortable. IV sedation was part of both doctors' general practice residencies.
Oral Surgery
Extractions, including wisdom teeth, are handled in our office. Keeping surgery and restoration under one roof shortens the path from a failing tooth to a finished smile.
Preventative Dentistry
Cleanings and exams protect both natural teeth and the investment in crowns and implants. Regular checkups catch problems around older dental work early.
Adults who have always wanted straighter teeth are never too old to consider aligners; our Invisalign® Overview explains how clear trays work for grown-up smiles.
Meet Your Chattanooga Dental Team
Dr. Jancy A. Parkerson-McGovern earned her DMD from The Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University and emphasizes surgical, sedation and cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Daniel McGovern trained in implant placement during his hospital-based residency and is a member of the Tennessee Dental Association. Together they handle complex cases in-house.
Insurance & Financing
We accept many insurance providers, including Delta Dental PPO and BCBS PPO, and our team helps you use your annual benefits wisely. Dental implants are available from $120/month with approved financing (see our implant financing special). Third-party financing comes through Cherry, Alphaeon and Sunbit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Chattanooga Dental Arts from Lookout Mountain, and how do I get there?
From Town Hall on Scenic Highway, the drive is 9.2 miles and takes about 19 minutes. You descend on Ochs Highway, cross south Chattanooga on West 40th, West 38th and East 37th streets and 4th Avenue, then finish on Ringgold Road. For residents comparing a dentist in Lookout Mountain, TN, the route avoids I-24 entirely.
What does senior dentistry focus on?
It focuses on problems that become more common with age, such as worn teeth, dry mouth, root cavities, gum disease and loose dentures. The goal is to keep natural teeth healthy as long as possible and to replace missing ones comfortably. The doctors also review medications, since many of them affect the mouth.
How long do dental crowns last?
Many crowns last 10 to 15 years or longer with good care. Grinding, chewing ice and gum disease around the edges can shorten that. Lookout Mountain patients with older crowns can have them checked at a routine cleaning, and the office takes digital impressions with a 3Shape scanner when a replacement is needed.
What are my options for replacing a missing back tooth?
The main choices are a dental implant, a bridge or a partial denture. An implant stands alone and helps preserve the jawbone, while a bridge relies on the neighboring teeth for support. A partial is removable and less involved. The right option depends on your bone, gums and the teeth around the gap.
Why do gums recede, and can it be stopped?
Gum disease, brushing too hard and grinding are the most common causes of receding gums. Lost gum tissue rarely grows back on its own, but treating gum disease, switching to a soft brush and wearing a night guard can slow it down. At each checkup, the doctors measure the gums and suggest a plan that fits.
Schedule Your Visit from Lookout Mountain
From the ridge to our chairs is under 20 minutes. Call 423-719-6485 to book with a dentist in Lookout Mountain, TN, who treats complex restorative cases with care and candor. Our Areas We Serve page lists every community we welcome, and our Dentist Chattanooga, TN homepage has more about the practice.