Your Child’s Baby Teeth Timeline
Baby teeth arrive on a loose schedule, leave on another, and do far more work in between than most people give them credit for. Knowing roughly what to expect, and when, helps parents spot…
Pediatric Dentistry in Asheville, NC
Children’s teeth grow, change, and need care that keeps pace with them. Blue Ridge Pediatric Dentistry is a specialty pediatric dental practice in North Asheville, located just off Merrimon Avenue, where children are seen from their first birthday through their late teen years. Every visit focuses on child comfort, parent questions, and the preventive care that keeps young smiles healthy from one stage of growth to the next.
I started this practice from scratch because I wanted to care for children the way I believe they should be cared for. I sit down with parents, explain what I see, and we decide on a plan together. The goal is always the same: healthy teeth and a child who is happy to come back.
— Dr. Dan Knechtel
The practice was founded in 2011 by Dan Knechtel, DDS, a board-certified pediatric dentist who has been practicing dentistry since 2002. After earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and practicing as a general dentist for four years, he completed a pediatric dentistry residency at Yale New Haven Hospital in 2008. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, serves on the medical staff at Mission Hospital, and is a past president of the Buncombe County Dental Society.
- 2011 Practice founded
- Age 1 Through the late teens
- ABPD Board-certified
Specialized Dental Care for Infants, Children, and Teens
Pediatric dental care works best when it starts early and stays consistent. From a toddler’s first exam to a teenager’s last checkup before college, the services below are designed around the way children’s mouths develop and the way children experience a dental visit.
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Preventive Care
Age-one visits, exams and cleanings, fluoride treatments, sealants, cavity risk assessment, and growth and development monitoring that help stop problems before they start.
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Restorative Care
Tooth-colored fillings, white and silver crowns, nerve treatment, extractions, and space maintainers when a tooth needs repair.
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Behavior Guidance and Comfort Options
Clear communication and positive reinforcement. When a child needs more support, nitrous oxide, moderate sedation, or general anesthesia is available.
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Emergency Care
Prompt guidance for toothaches, chipped or broken teeth, and dental injuries.
Meet Dr. Dan Knechtel
Founder & Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Dan Knechtel is a board-certified pediatric dentist and the founder of Blue Ridge Pediatric Dentistry in Asheville, North Carolina. He opened the practice in 2011 and built it from the ground up as a solo-dentist office, where children are seen from age one through their late teen years. For Dr. Dan Knechtel, the most rewarding part of the work is simple: helping children and their families restore damaged teeth and then keep those smiles cavity-free. Outside the office, he and his wife are raising their three children in Asheville, and he spent 14 years coaching his children’s basketball and baseball teams.
Why a Pediatric Dentist Makes a Difference for Your Child
Pediatric dentists complete two to three years of specialty training after dental school, focused entirely on infants, children, and adolescents. That training covers how baby teeth and permanent teeth develop, how to guide a child through treatment comfortably, and how to care for young patients with a wide range of health and developmental needs.
Dr. Dan Knechtel brings a perspective that few parents expect. Because he practiced general dentistry for four years before his residency, he has seen firsthand how children’s needs differ from adults’, and that experience shaped his decision to focus on pediatric care. Families who want to compare their options can learn more about why to choose a pediatric dentist.
Your Child’s First Visit to Our Asheville Office
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Dental Association all recommend a first dental visit by age one, or within six months of the first tooth appearing. That early appointment establishes a dental home and begins a prevention program before decay has a chance to develop.
A first visit includes a review of your child’s medical and dental history, a gentle exam, and X-rays only if they are needed. Dr. Dan Knechtel then reviews his findings with you and shares practical guidance on brushing, diet, and daily habits. Parents are invited to stay with their child during the appointment, and no referral is required. You can read more about your child’s first visit before you come in.
Comfortable Dental Care for Nervous Children
Some children walk in curious and relaxed, while others need more time and reassurance. Behavior guidance is matched to each child and to the treatment being performed, beginning with simple explanations, encouragement, and positive reinforcement. When a child needs more support, the practice offers nitrous oxide, moderate sedation given by oral medication, and treatment under general anesthesia.
Dr. Dan Knechtel’s experience spans every level of pediatric care, from routine cleanings to full-mouth restorations under general anesthesia. For those cases, he works with an anesthesiologist in the office. The anesthesiologist provides and manages the anesthesia, while Dr. Dan Knechtel focuses on completing your child’s dental treatment.
Inside Our Office
Just off Merrimon Avenue · North Asheville
Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Dentistry in Asheville
Plan for a first visit by your child’s first birthday or within six months of the first tooth coming in, whichever comes first. Learn what happens at an age one dental visit.
Most children are seen every six months. Some children benefit from more frequent visits based on their dental history, exam findings, and X-rays, and Dr. Dan Knechtel will recommend a schedule that fits your child.
Yes. Parents are invited to stay with their child during the visit, and Dr. Dan Knechtel reviews every diagnosis and treatment plan with you directly.
Most children do well with clear communication and encouragement. For children who need more support, nitrous oxide, moderate sedation, and general anesthesia are available. Explore our comfort options.
No referral is required. If another dentist has referred your child, the team will review the records and history that come with the referral.
The practice welcomes children starting at age one and continues their care through the late teen years.
Why Asheville Families Choose Blue Ridge Pediatric Dentistry
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Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Dan Knechtel is certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and completed his residency at Yale New Haven Hospital.
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Consistent Care From One Doctor
As a solo-dentist practice, children see the same pediatric dentist from visit to visit, supported by an experienced team of hygienists and dental assistants.
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Parents as Partners
Diagnoses are explained clearly, and treatment plans are made together with parents.
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Care That Grows With Your Child
Prevention, treatment, and guidance from the first tooth through the teen years.
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Rooted in Asheville
Dr. Dan Knechtel has lived in Asheville since 2008, has coached his children's basketball and baseball teams, and has served the local dental community as past president of the Buncombe County Dental Society.
- Ready for your child's next visit? Schedule an appointment
Bienvenidos
En Blue Ridge Pediatric Dentistry contamos con varios miembros del personal que hablan español con fluidez. Por favor, llámenos; con gusto le ayudaremos a programar una cita.
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Schedule Your Child’s Visit With an Asheville Pediatric Dentist
Healthy habits are built early. A trusted dental home makes every visit a little easier. Whether your child is ready for a first checkup or needs care for a specific concern, Dr. Dan Knechtel and the team are glad to help. Schedule an appointment at our office just off Merrimon Avenue in North Asheville.
Schedule an appointment