Meet Your Doctors

Dr. Deborah J. Aten, Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry

Dr. Deborah Aten received her Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from The Ohio State University in 1993. While at Ohio State she was selected to be the Team Dentist for The Ohio State Athletics Department. She then continued her two year post graduate training at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC by earning certification in a general practice residency.

Following the completion of the residency training, Dr. Aten joined the faculty at Carolinas Medical Center in the Department of Oral Medicine and served as the GPR Assistant Program Director for many years. After several years as an associate in a busy dental practice in Charlotte, Dr. Aten opened Aten Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in 2001 in the Ballantyne area.

Dr. Aten continues to focus on post graduate education by attending numerous continuing education courses focusing on comprehensive cosmetic, reconstructive, and preventive dentistry . Her professional memberships include: American Dental Association, North Carolina Dental Society, Charlotte Dental Society and the Outer Loop Education Study Club. She is the Past President of the Second District Dental Society and recently served as the Chairman of the North Carolina Dental Society Annual Session.

Dr. Aten and her husband, Jeff, have two daughters. In her free time she enjoys family vacations, golf, skiing, and cheering for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Heather R. Dowlin, Cosmetic Dentistry and Invisalign

Dr. Heather Dowlin received her degree from Temple University School of Dentistry in 2007, before joining the team at Aten Family Dentistry. During her years at Temple, she received the Pierre-Fauchard Leadership Award and was actively involved in student government. Dr. Dowlin has served on mission trips to Haiti, providing dental care to poverty stricken areas. She is an active participant and dedicates many hours to the continuing education groups in the Charlotte area including the Outer Loop Education through the Seattle Study Club, Center City Study Club and an implant focused study club. She is a certified Invisalign® provider which shows her commitment to comprehensive dental care.

Dr. Dowlin is affiliated with the American Dental Association, the North Carolina Dental Society, Charlotte Dental Society and the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Dowlin is a native of Downingtown, Pennsylvania and attended Shippensburg University where she earned All-American honors in field hockey. She completed the Chicago Marathon in 2005 and the Charlotte Thunder Road Half Marathon in 2009. Dr. Dowlin lives in south Charlotte with her husband and two daughters. In her free time she enjoys both, participating and watching sports, as well as getting together with friends and family.