Meet Our Doctors
Dr. Phillip G. Swords
Dr. Philip Swords was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and moved to Coweta County, Georgia, in 1974. After attending East Coweta and Newnan High Schools, he graduated from Newnan High School in 1981. He earned an associate degree in biology from Clayton Junior College in 1983 and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Alabama in 1985. He went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1989, where he was recognized for outstanding student government leadership.
Dr. Swords returned to Coweta County in 1989 and has remained deeply involved in the community. He served on the Newnan City Council for 12 years and has contributed his time to the Coweta County Board of Health, the Bank of Coweta board, the EMC Nominating Board, the Landmark School board, and the Central Educational Center. He has also coached youth basketball, football, and soccer and was part of the founding family of Kids Kastle Park.
Professionally, Dr. Swords is a member of the American Dental Association, Georgia Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, and Academy of Osseointegration. He is also a life member of the MUSC Alumni Association.
Dr. Swords and his wife, Lorri, have four children: Conner, Annie, Emmy Rose, and Reeves. A member of Crossroads Church, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing basketball and soccer, boating, listening to music, and being outdoors.
Dr. Matthew G. Griffies
Dr. Griffies is a general dentist who has been in practice since 1994. Dr. Griffies was born and raised in Newnan, Georgia where he received his high school diploma from Newnan High School in 1986. He then went to the University of Georgia where he received his B.S. degree in Zoology. At UGA, Matthew was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.
He studied dentistry at the Medical College of Georgia and received his Doctorate in Dental Medicine in 1994. While at MCG, he married Sarah Ellen, who was also born in Newnan. Before coming back to his hometown to practice, Dr. Griffies joined the United States Public Health Service where he held the rank of Lieutenant. With the USPHS, he practiced dentistry at the Fort Hall Indian reservation outside of Pocatello Idaho. There he received extensive experience in dealing with dental emergencies.
Now, back in Newnan, Dr. Griffies is focusing his practice on the aspects of esthetic dentistry. He and his wife are members of the First United Methodist Church in Newnan and have two girls: Gray and Carly.
Dr. Griffies has worked for years with our Central Education Center. Click here to see WSB TV’s focus on “Our Schools, Our Kids, Our Future” with some excerpts from Dr. Griffies.
Achievements
- Served as a Board Member of The Central Education Center in Newnan
- Member of CEC Dental Assisting Advisory Board
- Served as a delegate for the Western District of the Georgia Dental Association
- Member of the Academy of General Dentistry
- Member of the American Dental Association
- Member of the Georgia Dental Association
- Founding Family of Kids Kastle Park
Dr. Nidhi S. Patel
Dr. Deema Raslan
Dr. Raslan was born and raised in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.
She received her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree from the University of Sharjah in 2017 and graduated with distinction.
She then completed an internship program in her alma mater focusing on Oral Surgery, Pediatric and Cosmetic dentistry.
Upon her arrival to the United States, she attended Boston University and graduated Magna cum Laude with a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) in 2020.
Post-graduation she relocated to West Central Georgia to be with her husband, Omar Raslan and her two dogs, Cub and Sky and chose Newnan as her new home.
Dr. Huang
Dr. Huang is a dedicated and compassionate dentist who is honored to serve the Newnan community. He earned his BS degree from Samford University and received his DMD from the UAB School of Dentistry. Following dental school, Dr. Huang served as an officer in the United States Navy for four years, where he provided dental care to service members and their families while gaining invaluable clinical experience and leadership skills.
With a warm and approachable style, Dr. Huang is committed to making every patient feel comfortable, understood, and confident in their dental care. He takes pride in offering personalized, high-quality treatment and building long-term relationships with his patients.
Outside the office, Dr. Huang enjoys spending time with his wonderful wife and their two daughters. He’s an avid sports fan and loves playing basketball and golf. He and his family are looking forward to getting involved in the Newnan community, and their Christian faith is a central and guiding part of their lives
Dr. Bryan Halstead
Dr. Halstead knew he wanted to be a dentist at an early age after spending hours and hours in a dental office with his mother who is a successful hygienist in South GA. He graduated from the Dental College of Georgia, where he enjoyed living close enough to walk to Augusta National. He then completed a General Practice Residency in Asheville, NC, where he was on call for facial and dental emergencies at the hospital’s trauma center. He also fine-tuned his restorative skills and hiked in the Blue Ridge Mountains on his days off.
After residency, he moved back to Georgia and began practicing at Coweta Dentistry. His biggest desire is to help you feel comfortable in the chair and confident in your smile. When he’s not at the office, you can find him spending time with his wife and three boys, usually outdoors. He also enjoys running and watching Formula 1.
In addition to general dentistry, Dr. Halstead is passionate about treating children and adults who struggle with their airway health. If you are interested in learning about how he can help you or your child with snoring, nocturnal bruxism, or sleep apnea, give our office a call for more information and to schedule a consultation!
Dr. Justin L. Grimes D.M.D
Dr. Justin Grimes is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon whose calm demeanor and sense of humor help patients feel at ease at Coweta Dentistry. He combines surgical expertise with clear communication and a personal approach to care.
An Alabama native, Dr. Grimes earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Arts and Literature from Samford University. He went on to earn a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Barry University and a Doctor of Dental Medicine from Nova Southeastern University. He completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg.
Dr. Grimes served as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and Martin Army Community Hospital in Georgia. He continues to serve in the Army Reserve and also volunteers on international medical missions.
He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, a Fellow of both the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the Georgia Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and a member of the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology.
Outside the practice, Dr. Grimes enjoys spending time with his wife, Joanna, and their four children—three daughters and one son. His longstanding love of diving led him to work as a scuba instructor on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and teaching diving remains a favorite pursuit. He also enjoys the outdoors, music, and amateur radio: he plays guitar and piano and holds an Amateur Extra radio license.
Dr. Paul Orr
Dr. Orr has a BS in Biology from GCSU in Milledgeville. He earned his DMD at Temple University in Philadelphia.
In his free time, Dr. Orr loves to spend time outside with his wife and sons, lift weights at the gym, play frisbee and basketball, and watch football.
Dr. Ashley Mathews
Originally from Orlando, Florida, Dr. Mathews earned her Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Central Florida before going on to receive her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from the University of Louisville.
Dr. Mathews has a passion for creating healthy, confident smiles and especially enjoys esthetic dentistry and oral surgery. She also looks forward to expanding her expertise in sleep dentistry in the future.
What truly sets Dr. Mathews apart is her commitment to making every patient feel comfortable, heard, and well-informed. She believes that taking the time to build genuine relationships and educate her patients leads to the very best care.
When she’s not in the office, you’ll likely find her enjoying a walk, relaxing by the pool with a great summer read, or spending time with her soon-to-be husband and their cat, Aponi.
Dr. Mathews is thrilled to call Newnan home and looks forward to serving our community for many years to come.