Smile Starters - Asheville

I took both of my children in this morning. It was quick and efficient. Everyone there is so knowledgeable and so incredibly friendly. My kids love going to the dentist there! And they always receive the best care possible. So thankful to have found such a wonderful dentist for our kids!

I'm not one to leave reviews but I had to share about the experience my daughter had at Smile Starters. She is always anxious at the dentist and was dreading this appointment, but her hygienist Forrest did a great job of making her feel comfortable and calm during the cleaning. We will definitely be back!

My husband and I first brought one of our children to this practice 18 years ago. Though our child (who was then three) went back alone to her cleaning, she returned to us relaxed and with a smile on her face. Fast-forward to today: after our family has moved several times, we are back in the WNC area. We have been to close to a dozen different dental offices in the span of these 18 years. Our experience at Smile Starters yesterday ranked in the top three. Based on the comments I see below and comparing them to our experience yesterday, I believe this practice reads and takes reviews seriously. They are an establishment willing to learn and grow from feedback. But honestly, my only feedback from this process is positive: from scheduling an appointment to having to reschedule due to recent inclement weather; from the intuitive patient portal interface to the courteous face-to-face interaction at the front desk—every moment for us that could have inspired the type of anxiety I have felt in other institutions—was cheerful, calm, professional, personable. Receptionists and hygienists are patient, knowledgeable, many are bilingual. They immediately and graciously sought help when they couldn’t answer an insurance question. The person who could answer my question made herself available to chat right away. They presented treatment options as OPTIONS instead of forcing them on my child. They took a conservative approach towards the idea of braces, recognizing as any good pediatric dentistry should that a child’s mouth changes a ton as all of the baby teeth are lost and the adult teeth move in. The professionals in the office treated all varied clientele with the same dignity and care. Signage was posted in two and sometimes three languages (English, Spanish, and what looked like an East Slavic language/Cyrillic alphabet). The office was closed for a meeting right up until the time of our 1pm appointment, but that, too, was clearly posted—and they reopened on time. I cannot emphasize enough how different (disarming and pleasant) it is to be treated with calm courtesy instead of sarcasm and impatience (which stirs anxiety and defensiveness)—an unfortunate characteristic of two of the practices we have frequented in Clyde and Waynesville. In spite of being busy, this practice worked like a “machine” while retaining all the warmth of humanness. I am very willing to make the drive into Asheville from Canton for continued positive experience like this.

I was nervous from the negative reviews I've seen, but I haven't been able to take my son to the dentist in a while and decided to give it a shot. My son had a great time and said his hygienist Forrest was nice and funny! I had no trouble with the front desk manager and already booked his next visit. Highly recommend.

I brought my children in for their routine dental cleanings, an appointment we have never had issues with in the past, as I take great care of their oral health. Both children were taken back at the same time, which I initially appreciated since my youngest was nervous and felt more comfortable with his sibling present. While they were in the back, my older child texted me to inform me that something additional was being done to his younger brother. When the children were brought back out, I was informed that sealants had been placed on my youngest child. I was extremely surprised and upset, as I was never asked for consent nor informed that any procedure beyond a cleaning would be performed. To make matters worse, the sealants were not needed. There was no prior discussion, recommendation, or explanation given to me before this was done. As a dental assistant, I know for a fact that performing any procedure without proper parental consent is a serious violation of standard dental and ethical practices. I specifically did not want any procedures performed during this visit, especially knowing how frightened my youngest child can become during dental treatment. This experience caused unnecessary fear and distress for my child. When I addressed my concerns with the staff member who brought my children out, responsibility was deflected rather than acknowledged. No one took accountability for the lack of consent. I then had to request at the front desk that a note be placed in my children’s charts stating that I must be consulted before any treatment is performed beyond a cleaning. This experience was extremely disappointing and concerning. Clear communication and informed consent are essential, particularly when treating children. Unfortunately, this office failed to meet those basic and expected standards.