About Furman Dental
Our Mission
Our mission is to serve our community by providing comprehensive dental care that is individualized, innovative, and caring. As a team, we strive to incorporate your goals with our expertise to create a meaningful experience and desirable smile!
Our Story
Dr. Ken Merritt has been serving the Hendersonville community with quality and compassionate dental care for over 36 years! His reputation as a conservative and excellent clinician has attracted loyal patients- many of whom have been seeing him since he first opened his clinic! Dr. Furman has now joined Dr. Merritt in providing an exceptional and caring dental experience.
Finding a dental provider you can trust can be difficult so we strive to gain your trust by providing recommendations and guidance that is only in your best interest. If treatment in required, we hope to make the experience easier than you may anticipate!
We are conveniently located just outside downtown Hendersonville, NC. Set up an appointment with us online or over the phone- we look forward to meeting you and your family!
Meet the Team
Dr. Rick Furman
DMD
Dr. Rick Furman was born and raised in Greenville, SC before attending Furman University, where he played football.He continued his studies at the Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine where he finished near the top of his class in clinical performance. Following graduation,
Dr. Furman and his wife moved to Oregon where they had two children before moving back east to work with Dr Merritt. Dr. Furman and his wife love Hendersonville for its beautiful outdoors and close proximity to family! When not in the office, you can find Dr. Furman and his family camping, fly fishing, or hiking the surrounding areas.
Dr. Furman has received extensive training in a wide array of specialty topics including a post-graduate IV conscious sedation training at Augusta University in Georgia. Dr. Furman has also received hundreds of hours of training in surgically placing and restoring implants and he recently became an Associate Fellow of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Furthermore, Dr. Furman has extensive experience restoring smiles using metal free veneers and bonding. He has completed courses in full mouth rehabilitation and uses those skills to successfully treat worn, crooked, discolored, and broken teeth.
Dr. Furman maintains membership in the American Dental Association, American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and Academy of General Dentistry. He looks forward to meeting you and your family and providing the highest quality care available!
Dr. Kenneth L. Merritt
DDS
Dr. Kenneth L. Merritt was born in Nashville, Tenn. He has spent most of his life in Hendersonville, N.C., and he graduated from the University of North Carolina-Asheville with a BS. degree in Chemistry in 1981.He attended the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry where he graduated in 1986
and began a solo private practice the same year.
His practice revolves around a conservative philosophy and includes all phases of restorative dentistry, fixed and removable prosthetics and implant restorations. Dr. Merritt is a member of the American Dental Association as well as the North Carolina Dental Society. He is married to Theresa, and they have four children. His hobbies include spending time with his family, hunting and fishing.
Taylor Vaughn
Front Desk
Taylor is a native of Tuxedo, NC. She graduated in May of 2022 from Fayetteville State University with a BS in Psychology. Taylor enjoys spending time with her fiancé, Christian, as well as family and friends. She loves any activity that involves being outdoors. Taylor is relatively new to the dental field, but is always intrigued to expand her knowledge.
Stephanie Brendell McCraw
Hygienist
Stephanie Brendell McCraw is a Hendersonville North Carolina native. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 1994 with her BS in Environmental Science and in 2008 from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College with her dental hygiene degree. In her spare time Stephanie enjoys spending time with her husband, Michael and their pets.
Angelina Alanis
Assistant
Angelina Alanis, is a native to the Hendersonville area. She graduated in 2018 as a certified dental assistant from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. Angelina’s favorite thing about dentistry is being able to help patients be confident about their smiles. In Angelina’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and boyfriend.
Cherie Hensley
Office Manager
Cherie is one of our newest team members to join our office. Originally from Chicago Ill, her family moved to Hendersonville when she was young. She has been a dental office manager for the past 9 years. Currently Cherie is enrolled in classes at Blue Ridge Community College to complete her associates. Cherie and her husband have two boys and they enjoy going to Disney, traveling to new places, and playing with their dogs Gracie and Delilah.
Marietta Melendez
Assistant
Marietta Melendez, is a native of Edneyville NC. She graduated from UNCC in 2018 with a Degree in Business and Spanish Translation. She enjoys spending time with loved ones, gardening and being in the outdoors.
Charity Taylor
Hygienist
Charity received her Associates degree in Applied Science from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College for Dental Hygiene in 1999. She has worked for Dr. Merritt since 1999, and she enjoys providing a service that improves a patient’s smile. Charity was born and raised in Henderson County.
What makes Furman Dental unique?
Furman Dental strives to give patients a positive dental experience. With this in mind, we offer the following core benefits to all of our patients:
Caring Dentists Who Listen
Visiting the dentist can be an intimating experience and finding one you trust can be difficult. At Furman Dental we strive to gain your trust by communicating clearly and openly with you- no sales pitch, no pressure, no judgement. We want the best for you and your oral health! We will let you know what we see in your mouth and then you can decide what is the best course for you moving forward.
Fair Fees
We have priced all of our services reasonably so that they are affordable for the majority of people in the area we serve. Furthermore, our rates are consistent with what most major insurance providers cover. In addition, we accept Care Credit. But don't worry about navigating all of these complexities; our team will walk you through calculating your deductible and filing it with your insurance.
Emergency Care
Toothaches are often sudden and you may not even be aware there is an issue until the pain begins! We strive to see emergency pain patients promptly and use advanced technology to diagnose and treat these conditions. We offer root canals, fillings, crowns, and extractions depending on your emergency. Also, we have a great relationship with specialists in the area who can provide support and assistance when warranted.
Easy Appointment Scheduling
We offer various routes of communication to make or confirm appointments with us including text, email, website, and of course phone. Also, we have online forms that may be filled out before your appointment to make the process even easier. Contact us today to make an appointment!
Results That Lasts
Excellent dentistry is measured in fractions of a millimeter. We take our time to provide the best possible outcomes possible so that the dental work you receive lasts for many years to come. We will schedule follow up appointments as necessary to ensure the quality of your treatment meets our standards. If there is ever an issue we will correct it to avoid future problems.
Experience Soothing Dental Care: Visit Furman Dental in Hendersonville, NC Today!
Most people have some kind of dental problem at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of how critical it is to have any suspicious signs checked out. For others, going to the dentist is a terrifying experience that they would rather avoid.
That is why, at Furman Dental, we strive to make your experience as pleasant as possible. Whether we are performing a routine cleaning or extracting a tooth, you can expect a pain-free, smooth procedure. We always listen to you and encourage you to express your concerns about the service.
Contact us today if you are looking for a trusting and compassionate dental office in Hendersonville, NC!
