Meet Our Dental Team

Gene Grace, DDS

Dr. Gene Grace graduated from Wofford College and is a 1973 graduate of Emory University School of Dentistry. He has practiced dentistry in Beaufort since that time. He has taken hundreds of continuing education hours from the gurus of dentistry: Gordon Christensen, Peter Dawson and Bill Strupp. Most importantly, he is a graduate of the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, the world’s leader in neuromuscular and cosmetic dentistry. To understand what it means to be a Las Vegas Institute graduate, we invite you to check out our web link at www.lviglobal.com. Dr. Grace and his bride, Beth, of over 40 years have two daughters, one of which is his dental partner, Katherine.

Katherine Grace Hefner, DMD

If you lived in Beaufort in the 1990s, you will no doubt recognize Dr. Hefner as Katherine Grace, who excelled in basketball, tennis and academics at Beaufort Academy. She graduated from the University of North Carolina and was an honor graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine in 2003.

Not long ago, when one of the Medical University of South Carolina School of Dentistry’s most prominent professors lectured to the Beaufort Lowcountry Study Club, guess whose cases he brought to show the audience? Dr. Hefner’s!

Dr. Hefner has also attended the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. She practices almost all phases of dentistry, especially enjoying the cosmetic and pediatric aspects of dentistry. Katherine is married to Ashley Hefner, a local architect, and they have three boys: Vann, Ford and Bray.

Meet Our Team

Our office is a family practice, starting with our father-daughter dentists and extending to our team and patients. You will feel right at home and like a family member on your very first visit to our dental office in Beaufort, South Carolina! We are waiting to welcome you to Aesthetic Dentistry. Take a few minutes to meet our team and then call 843-524-6410 and we will help you get ready for your appointment.

Kim – Business ManagerKim joined our team in 2018. In addition to her other skills, Kim has her life and health insurance license. Kim likes the fact that everyone at Aesthetic Dentistry treats each other and the patients like family. She does her best to make all of our patients feel comfortable, welcome and at home. She wants our patients to feel like they are in the best hands when it comes to dental health, insurance and billing inquiries.

Kim has two children in Wilmington, North Carolina, Evan and Emily. She is looking forward to her life with her new husband and her stepsons, Brodie and Ethan. When she is not at the office, Kim loves spending time on the water and playing tennis. She would also like to learn to play golf.

Margarita – Patient Coordinator/Front DeskMargarita has been in the United States Army Reserve since 2013. She graduated from the Dental Assisting Training School of South Carolina in 2015. In 2019, Margarita joined us at Aesthetic Dentistry, where she loves the great family environment and fun atmosphere. Margarita is engaged to Chris. They have three children and a German Shephard named Isabella. In her spare time, Margarita loves doing photography.

Sarah – Registered Dental Hygienist Sarah was born in Amarillo, Texas. In 2009, she graduated from Amarillo College with an associate degree in dental hygiene. She is currently enrolled in the bachelor completion program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She will graduate in May 2020 and will then pursue a master’s degree in dental hygiene. Sarah became a part-time Aesthetic Dentistry team member in 2018 and moved to full time in 2019. Sarah provides each patient with quality dental care and loves connecting with them by educating them about enhancing their oral hygiene and overall health.

Sarah’s husband, Chris, is a professor at the South University School of Pharmacy in Savannah, Georgia. They moved to Lowcountry in July 2016 when Chris started teaching. They have 3 Yorkies: Cooper, Emmy and Chloe. When she is not working or studying, Sarah enjoys arts and crafts, DIY projects, working out, and going to the beach.

Terry – Registered Dental HygienistTerry has been with Aesthetic Dentistry since 1983. She graduated from Battery Creek High School in 1975 and from Wayne State College and Armstrong State College in 1983. Terry has lived in Beaufort since 1973. She loves meeting new people and has seen multiple generations of patients from the same family at our office!

Terry has been married since 1977 and has two sons. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling.

Becki – Certified Dental AssistantBecki has been a part of Aesthetic Dentistry for over 10 years and has been in the dental field since 2005. She graduated from Bellows Falls Union High School in Vermont. Becki enjoys the great family-friendly work environment at our office. She always comes to work with a smile and enjoys being a part of a very caring staff.

Becki is a wife and mom of two boys who enjoys running, camping and traveling.

Marti – Certified Dental AssistantMarti has been a part of the Aesthetic Dentistry team since 2008. She is a graduate of West Ottawa High School in Holland, Michigan, and Stanley Harris School of Cosmetology. She keeps her cosmetology license current. She also completed the American Red Cross dental assisting course. Marti brings her cheery disposition with her to work every morning and enjoys the flexibility she has to work full time and still raise a young family.

Marti is married and has one son, a stepdaughter and two puppies. She loves doing anything family related and being surrounded by loved ones. Marti also enjoys spending time reading.