Convenient Access from Destin
Head west from Destin on US 98, across East Pass and Okaloosa Island, and Shoreline Dental Studio in Fort Walton Beach is about 14 minutes away. Year-round residents who want a dentist in Destin, FL get one consistent dentist, Dr. Ashley Dubois, whose training spans cosmetic dentistry, dental implants and restorative care. The office sees patients Monday through Thursday.
Leave the Destin Harbor Boardwalk on Harbor Boulevard (US 98) heading west. Cross East Pass on the Marler Bridge, continue across Okaloosa Island, and take the Brooks Bridge into Fort Walton Beach. Turn right on Perry Avenue SE (SR 145) for about half a mile, go north on Eglin Parkway (SR 85) for roughly 0.6 mile, then turn left onto Walter Martin Rd NE.
You'll arrive at 34 Walter Martin Rd NE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, about 7.3 miles from the harbor, right by Uptown Station and the post office. The route skips the tolled Mid-Bay Bridge, but the Brooks Bridge replacement is under construction, so allow extra time. Open our listing on Google Maps for live directions, and see our pages for Okaloosa Island and Downtown Fort Walton Beach if you pass through them often.
Why Destin Residents Cross the Pass for Dental Care
Destin sits on a peninsula between the Gulf and Choctawhatchee Bay, separated from Okaloosa Island by East Pass, the bay's only outlet to the Gulf. The city takes its name from Leonard Destin, a New London, Connecticut fishing captain who settled here between 1845 and 1850. It was incorporated in 1984, and it still calls itself the World's Luckiest Fishing Village, home to Florida's largest fleet of fishing vessels.
The Destin Harbor Boardwalk stretches nearly a quarter mile along the harbor and was completed in June 2012, with Captain Royal Melvin Heritage Park along its length. Henderson Beach State Park covers about 228 acres, with room for beach days, camping, fishing and hiking. The city library on Sibert Avenue traces its roots to 1940 and is part of the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative.
Behind the vacation rentals is a full-time community of almost 14,000 people at the 2020 census. More than half of the city's housing units sat empty on census day, which says a lot about how many are second homes and rentals. The people who live here year-round tend to be a bit older, with a median age in the low 40s and about one resident in five aged 65 or older.
Those year-round residents want a dentist who will still be there next season. Shoreline Dental Studio opened in 2022 under Dr. Dubois, who grew up in Fort Walton Beach and chose to build her practice on the Emerald Coast.
Sun, Salt Air and Restorative Needs: Dental Notes for Destin
An older full-time population brings its own priorities. Large fillings placed years ago begin to crack, crowns reach the end of their life, and a missing back tooth starts to shift the bite. Catching these changes at regular checkups keeps repairs smaller and more predictable.
When a tooth is lost, an implant replaces both the root and the visible tooth. Dr. Dubois is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and Membership Plan patients save 10% on dental implants. For those not ready for implants, crowns and bridges remain dependable options.
Plenty of Destin residents also care about how their smile looks in photos on the water. Zoom whitening brightens teeth with visible improvement the same day, while a planned smile makeover can combine whitening, veneers and crowns into one coordinated result.
Coffee, iced tea and red wine all stain enamel over time, and sports drinks on long days in the sun add acid. Rinsing with water after these drinks, brushing twice daily and keeping up with cleanings go a long way toward a healthy, bright smile.
Treatments for Anyone Choosing a Dentist in Destin, FL
Cosmetic Dentistry
Veneers, whitening and smile makeovers improve teeth that are stained, chipped or uneven. Dr. Dubois earned Honors in Aesthetic Dentistry at NYU and keeps studying functional smile design.
Dental Implants
Fixed replacements for one tooth or several, with CBCT 3D imaging available in the office. Implants also do away with the metal clasps of a removable partial.
Restorative Dentistry
Fillings, crowns, bridges and dentures rebuild worn or damaged teeth. Immediate dentures can be placed the same day the remaining teeth are extracted.
Emergency Dentistry
Broken teeth and sudden pain don't follow a schedule. Call for a same-day evaluation of a dental emergency, and new and uninsured patients can start with the $59 exam and x-ray offer.
Family Dentistry
Cleanings, exams and oral cancer screenings for adults, plus care for children and grandchildren. Destin households can keep everyone's records with one dentist.
Meet Your Dentist, Dr. Ashley Dubois
Cosmetic detail runs through the training of Dr. Ashley Dubois, who earned her DDS from New York University in 2015 with an Honors concentration in Aesthetic Dentistry. Today she continues that work through Clinical Mastery Series courses in functional smile design, which looks at how a smile works as well as how it looks. Outside the office, she and her family enjoy the outdoors along the coast she grew up on.
Insurance, Membership & Financing
Retirees and self-employed residents without dental insurance can join the Adult Membership Plan at $429 a year, which includes cleanings, exams, x-rays and discounts on other treatment. Cherry financing helps spread out larger work such as implants. If you do have coverage, the team handles claims and explains costs before treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Shoreline Dental Studio from Destin, and how do I get there?
The office is about 7.3 miles from the Destin Harbor Boardwalk, typically a 14-minute drive. Take US 98 west across the Marler and Brooks bridges, then Perry Avenue SE and Eglin Parkway to Walter Martin Rd NE. Anyone comparing a dentist in Destin, FL with this short trip into Fort Walton Beach can make the drive without paying a toll.
What should I do if a crown or filling falls out?
Call the office and keep the crown if you still have it. A lost crown or filling leaves the tooth exposed, so it can feel sensitive and is more likely to break or decay. Avoid chewing on that side, and the team will arrange a same-day evaluation if the tooth is painful or damaged.
Does insurance usually cover cosmetic dentistry?
Usually not, because most dental plans treat whitening and veneers as elective. Treatment that also restores function, such as a crown on a broken tooth, may qualify for some coverage. The team will give you a detailed cost breakdown before treatment, and Membership Plan savings or Cherry financing can help with the cosmetic portion.
What is a smile makeover?
A smile makeover is a treatment plan that combines several cosmetic and restorative procedures to change how your smile looks as a whole. It might include Zoom whitening, porcelain veneers, crowns or fillings, depending on your goals. Dr. Dubois starts with your concerns and an exam, then lays out the steps, timing and cost.
Can a chipped front tooth be repaired?
Yes, in most cases. A small chip can often be repaired with a filling, while larger breaks are often covered with a porcelain veneer or a crown to restore the shape and strength of the tooth. Dr. Dubois will look at the size of the chip and the bite before recommending the most conservative option.
Schedule Your Visit from Destin
A healthy, confident smile is a short drive west across the pass. Call 850-318-3823 to book with a dentist in Destin, FL residents can reach in about 14 minutes. Explore more communities on our Areas We Serve page or visit our Dentist Fort Walton Beach, FL homepage.