Her story began in a high school chemistry class, where a love for science sparked the idea of dentistry. Encouraged by her childhood dentist and a supportive hygienist, Lanette Sikes set her sights on dental school. She loved it from the start. The journey wasn’t easy; two rejections tested her resolve, but her father’s unwavering support kept her going. On her third attempt, she was accepted and, in 1999, graduated as class historian. Dr. Lanette Sikes, D.D.S., would later serve as national president of the American Association of Women Dentists.
Does it make sense that a dentist's office could offer more than just a smile fix? What if whole-body wellness and dentistry were married? They seem to go hand in hand, a complement to one another. When you walk into the offices of Dr. Lanette Sikes, D.D.S., in Cleveland, Texas, you immediately sense that she is making that vision a reality. For Dr. Sikes’ patients, it’s not just the warm welcome or the cutting-edge technology; it’s the philosophy. For over 20 years, Dr. Sikes has been perfecting smiles, but today her mission goes far beyond teeth. Through Downtown Dental Excellence and Downtown Esthetics & Wellness, she’s redefining patient care by blending traditional dentistry with whole-body wellness and regenerative health.
As dentistry evolved, her philosophy evolved. Messy impressions gave way to digital scanners and advanced imaging, but the biggest shift came from her own curiosity and commitment to continuing education. Recently, she earned the prestigious Fellowship award from the Academy of General Dentistry, which required 500 extra hours of coursework and a rigorous exam. Along the way, she discovered Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF), a regenerative technique used in dental surgery that also proved transformative for facial aesthetics. “The more I practiced, the more I realized dentistry is more than filling a cavity,” she says. “Oral health and overall health are deeply connected.”
That realization, along with her own experience, sparked a new passion: wellness. She noticed patients struggling with chronic issues despite taking multiple medications, as providers weren’t addressing the root cause. A friend recommended the book Good Energy by Dr. Casey Means, which opened her eyes to the power of metabolic health and prevention, deepening her desire to help patients stay out of the hospital and truly heal.
Today, her two clinics sit almost side by side, creating a seamless experience for patients who want to look and feel their best. Downtown Dental Excellence focuses on advanced dental care and natural-looking smiles, while Downtown Esthetics & Wellness offers regenerative treatments designed to heal from the inside out. “The mouth is the gateway to the body,” Dr. Sikes says. “When we support oral health and overall health together, the results are incredible.”
The integration isn’t just conceptual, it’s practical. Patients can schedule an IV hydration drip during a dental cleaning, an idea that came to life when Dr. Sikes herself tried it during a last-minute appointment in an effort to maximize time and enhance wellness. Her innovative approach to beauty also breaks the mold of traditional med spas. Rather than chasing trends or creating an artificial look, she focuses on regenerative science, treatments that stimulate the body’s natural ability to repair and rejuvenate. Popular services include PRF for hair regrowth, acne treatments that avoid harsh medications, and hormone therapy for aging well. Dr. Sikes and her team want patients to look like themselves while leaving her clinic feeling refreshed and healthy.
For Dr. Sikes, confidence goes beyond a smile. It’s about helping people feel vibrant at every stage of life. She believes that true wellness means aging well, having the energy to chase their kids and grandkids, and feeling good in the process. Her vision for the future is clear: to keep listening, caring, and offering solutions that empower patients to thrive.
Her advice is simple: take the first step toward better health and confidence. Whether through dentistry, skincare, or overall wellness, investing in yourself is essential; it strengthens your well-being and allows you to continue caring for those you love. Prioritizing health creates the foundation for true beauty to transform into true wellness, and Dr. Sikes is eager to help everyone achieve their personalized wellness goals.