Meet Our Doctors
Dr. Nidhi S. Patel
Dr. Warren Rivera
- Warren Rivera, DMD, MS, AQH
- Former Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
- Former Diplomate, American Academy of Pain Management
- Current holder of AQH (Added Qualification in Headache Medicine) from the National Headache Foundation.
Dr. Rivera received his dental degree from the University of Puerto Rico in 1982 and completed his residency in prosthodontics at the University of Iowa in 1984, and his fellowship in orofacial pain at the State University of New York in Buffalo in 1988. Dr. Rivera, his wife and three daughters are pleased to make Peachtree City their home. Prior to moving to Peachtree City in 2000, Dr. Rivera was a faculty member at the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry for eleven years. While at MCG, he was very active in the faculty practice, concentrating his interest in the treatment of complex prosthodontics patients and patients with temporomandibular disorders as a member of the faculty practice orofacial pain team. During that time, he was also a director of the Prosthodontic Residency TMD clinic. Dr. Rivera was Board Certified in prosthodontics. The American Dental Association recognized Orofacial Pain as a dental specialty in 2020. Dr. Rivera is a specialist in Prosthodontics and also Orofacial Pain. He is fluent in English and Spanish. Since 2021, Dr. Rivera has limited his practice to the treatment of Orofacial Pain, including temporomandibular disorders, and headache, and the fabrication of oral appliances to treat obstructive sleep apnea.
In September 2023, Dr. Rivera earned the “AQH” (Added Qualification in Headache Medicine) by passing a competency exam administered by the National Headache Foundation.
The AQH was originally created in 2000 to recognize physicians with an advanced level of experience in headache medicine. In 2005, board certification in headache medicine was established by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS), and the AQH program became dormant
In 2012, the Board of the NHF recognized the growing number of allied health care practitioners along with primary care physicians, who had gained experience in the diagnosis and treatment of headache. They also determined, as a service to those experiencing headache, that the NHF-endorsed AQH should be reinstated. The goals are to establish the standards for headache practice and assist those with headaches in locating clinicians who could provide optimal headache-related health care.
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. Phillip G. Swords
- Born in Birmingham, AL 1/16/63
- Located to Raymond, GA (Coweta Co.) in 1974
- Attended both East Coweta and Newnan High School
- Graduated from Newnan High School in 1981
- Accepted scholarship from Clayton Jr. College and Graduated w/ an A.S. in Biology in 1983
- B.S. in Biology from the University of Alabama in 1985
- D.M.D. from Medical Univ. of Southern Carolina in 1989 (recognized as most outstanding student government
- leader in 1989)
- Returned to Coweta County in 1989
Achievements
- Coweta County Board of Health
- Served on Bank of Coweta Board
- Served on EMC Nominating Board
- Served on CCCUB
- Served on the Newnan City Council for 12 years
- Member of Crossroads Church
- Landmark School Board Chairman
- Basketball, football and soccer Coach
- Member of ADA, GDA and AGD
- Life member of MUSC Alumni
- Founding Family Kids Kastle Park
- Member of Academy of Osteointegration
- Married to Lorri Seals Swords
- 4 children: Conner, Annie, Emmy Rose, Reeves
- Dr. Philip Swords has worked for years with our Central Education Center. Lt. Gov. Cagle’s focus on Georgia Career Academies with some excerpts from Dr. Swords
Hobbies
- Community Involvement
- Playing B-Ball, Soccer
- Outdoors
- Boating
- Playing with my family
- Music
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. Bryan Halstead
Dr. Justin L. Grimes D.M.D
Dr. Hunter Chastain
Dr. Chastain grew up here in Newnan and was a patient here at Coweta Dentistry. Since then, he has earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine Degree at University of Mississippi School of Dentistry. He started with Coweta Dentistry in August 2022. In his free time he likes to be outdoors, travel, and spend time with family and friends.
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.
