Choosing a family dentist in Central Georgia means weighing license verification, the range of general versus specialty care a practice handles in-house, sedation options for anxious patients, and the continuity that comes from a household seeing the same provider over years. The three Macon dental practices profiled below each carry decades of documented local operation, publish their dentists, services, and contact information on their own websites, and serve general and family patients across Bibb County and the surrounding counties. Patients comparing options should confirm the treating dentist’s current Georgia license, ask which procedures are handled on site versus referred, and clarify insurance and payment terms before scheduling a first visit.
The American Dental Association has set professional standards for dentistry since 1859, and every practicing dentist in Georgia must hold a current license issued by the Georgia Board of Dentistry. The two standard dental degrees, Doctor of Dental Surgery and Doctor of Dental Medicine, are equivalent qualifications awarded by accredited dental schools, including the Dental College of Georgia at Augusta University, the institution historically known as the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry. General and family dentists provide routine, preventive, and most restorative care for patients of all ages, while areas such as orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, and oral surgery are recognized specialties that involve additional training. The Academy of General Dentistry recognizes advanced continuing education through its Fellowship and Mastership credentials, the latter abbreviated MAGD, and sedation services in Georgia require specific permits from the state dental board.
Quick Comparison #
| Practice | Credentials | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| North Macon Dental Associates | Founded by Dr. J. Lee Stockslager; reports 40-plus years; multi-dentist group practice. | Full-service general and family dentistry, including implants, Invisalign, and TMJ care. |
| Family Dental Center of Macon | Owner Dr. Jenn Dixon, DMD (Medical College of Georgia, 2000); practice dates to 1989. | Single-owner general and family dentistry with cosmetic, restorative, and sedation options. |
| Howard D. Booth, Jr., DDS, MAGD | Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry; in Macon since 1983; multiple academy memberships. | Family and cosmetic dentistry with restorative, pediatric, and dental sleep medicine services. |
1. North Macon Dental Associates #
Long-Established North Macon Group Practice With Multi-Dentist, Full-Service Range #
North Macon Dental Associates operates from 4020 Elnora Drive in north Macon and was founded by Dr. J. Lee Stockslager, who built the practice into what the company describes as more than 40 years of continuous dental care for Middle Georgia families. The practice has operated as a multi-dentist group rather than a solo office, and its website identifies Dr. Jordan Baker-Anday as the current owner following an ownership transition.
The practice publishes a broad general and family dentistry service list that includes preventative care, composite fillings, crowns and bridges, dental implants and full-mouth restoration, Invisalign clear aligners, emergency dental care, and pediatric dentistry, alongside treatment for TMJ disorders and sleep apnea management. That range reflects its positioning as a single location where a household can address routine cleanings and more involved restorative work without a referral elsewhere for most needs.
Because North Macon Dental Associates presents itself as a group practice, prospective patients should ask which dentist they will be scheduled with and confirm that dentist’s current Georgia license, particularly given the practice’s ownership transition. Any Georgia dental license can be verified directly through the Georgia Board of Dentistry.
Address: 4020 Elnora Drive, Macon, GA 31210
Phone: (478) 477-1228
https://www.northmacondentalassociates.com/
2. Family Dental Center of Macon #
Downtown Macon Family Practice Under a Single Owner-Dentist #
Family Dental Center of Macon operates from 155 College Street in downtown Macon and markets quality family dental care dating to 1989. The current owner is Dr. Jenn Dixon, DMD, who acquired the practice in 2020 and relocated it to its downtown College Street location in 2023. Dr. Dixon earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia in 1996 and a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry in 2000, and she states that she has practiced in the Macon area since that year.
The practice offers general dentistry as its foundation, paired with cosmetic services such as teeth whitening and porcelain veneers, restorative work including tooth extractions and implant restoration, and emergency dental care. Dr. Dixon also introduced oral conscious sedation at the practice, an option aimed at patients who experience dental anxiety or who want longer restorative procedures handled in fewer visits.
Because Family Dental Center of Macon operates under a single owner-dentist, patients have continuity with one provider, which suits households that value seeing the same dentist over years. Patients considering oral conscious sedation should ask which sedation permit the practice holds with the Georgia Board of Dentistry and how patients are monitored during treatment.
Address: 155 College Street, Macon, GA 31201
Phone: (478) 474-2557
https://familydentalcenterofmacon.com/
3. Howard D. Booth, Jr., DDS, MAGD #
Veteran Macon Family and Cosmetic Practice Led by a Mastership-Credentialed Dentist #
Howard D. Booth, Jr., DDS, MAGD has practiced family and cosmetic dentistry in Macon since 1983, operating today from 4705 Northside Drive in north Macon. Dr. Booth graduated from Emory University’s dental school in 1977, served four years as a general dentist in the United States Army, opened a private practice in Atlanta in 1982, and relocated to Macon the following year.
Dr. Booth holds a Mastership in the Academy of General Dentistry, the MAGD credential, which the Academy awards to general dentists who complete more than 1,100 hours of continuing education. He reports earning the Mastership in 2004 and states that it places him among less than one percent of general dentists. He also lists membership in the American Dental Association, the Georgia Dental Association, the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, the American Academy of Facial Esthetics, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
The practice describes a one-stop approach that spans family and preventive dentistry, cosmetic work including ZOOM whitening, restorative dentistry with dental implants, pediatric care, oral cancer screenings, and dental sleep medicine for obstructive sleep apnea, with nitrous oxide sedation available. Patients drawn to the breadth of cosmetic and sleep-related services should confirm during the first visit which treatments are handled in-house and which involve referral, and should verify the current Georgia dental license as with any practice.
Address: 4705 Northside Drive, Suite 200, Macon, GA 31210
Phone: (478) 471-8103
https://www.drhowardbooth.com/
Selecting Among These Three Macon Dental Practices #
All three practices profiled here are established Central Georgia general and family dental offices with verifiable Macon addresses, named dentists, and decades of local operation. The practical difference is structure. North Macon Dental Associates is a multi-dentist group practice with the broadest single-location service list, which suits households that want routine and restorative care under one roof and do not mind seeing more than one provider. Family Dental Center of Macon runs under a single owner-dentist, which favors patients who value long-term continuity with the same person. Howard D. Booth, Jr., DDS, MAGD pairs more than four decades in Macon with an advanced continuing-education credential and a cosmetic and dental sleep medicine emphasis. Patients should treat the first visit as a working interview: confirm the treating dentist’s Georgia license, ask which procedures are handled in-house, clarify insurance and payment terms, and ask how the practice handles emergencies outside office hours. The right match is the practice whose structure and service range fit the household, not the one with the longest procedure list.
Selection Methodology #
The three practices above were selected from the broader Central Georgia dental field using these filters: a verifiable physical street address visible on the practice’s own website, a documented multi-year record of continuous local operation, named dentists with stated credentials, a published and specific service scope, and contact information that resolves to the named practice. Dental degree and licensure through the Georgia Board of Dentistry, Academy of General Dentistry credentials, and professional academy memberships were treated as supporting signals. Practices without a verifiable street address, template websites with placeholder content, and national rollups without local lineage were excluded. The order of the profiles is editorial and does not represent a ranking or a clinical judgment. This guide is informational and is not medical or dental advice.
Frequently Asked Questions #
Q: How can I confirm a dentist is licensed in Georgia?
A: Every practicing dentist in Georgia must hold a current license from the Georgia Board of Dentistry, which maintains a public license verification system. Ask for the treating dentist’s full name and confirm the license before a first appointment, especially at a group practice where you may not know in advance which dentist you will see.
Q: What is the difference between a general or family dentist and a specialist?
A: A general or family dentist provides routine, preventive, and most restorative care for patients of all ages, while specialties recognized by the American Dental Association, such as orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, and oral surgery, involve additional training. Ask each practice which procedures it handles in-house and which it refers to a specialist.
Q: Are any of the three practices paid placements?
A: No. The three profiles above are editorial selections drawn from publicly verifiable sources. No practice sponsored placement.
Q: What should I ask before scheduling a first appointment?
A: Ask whether the practice is accepting new patients, what a first visit includes, which insurance plans and payment options the practice accepts, and how the practice handles dental emergencies outside office hours. If sedation is relevant to your care, ask which sedation permit the practice holds and how patients are monitored.
Editorial Note #
This guide was published on 2026-05-17 and reflects research current as of that date. It is informational and not medical or dental advice. Verify licenses, phone numbers, and current business status before engaging any practice.