BY ADELE CASANOVA
Peace Haven Family Dentistry continues to grow, as they welcome Dr. Abby L. Becherer to their staff. Drs. Symmes, Wilkinson and Golden are pleased to have Dr. Becherer join them in their well-established practice. Dr. Becherer has recently relocated to Winston-Salem wither husband, who is also a dentist! She is excited to join Peace Haven Family Dentistry and is impressed with the family atmosphere that permeates the practice.
Dr. Becherer is a native North Carolinian, having grown up in Chapel Hill, where she attained her undergraduate degree in chemistry, as well as her Doctor of Dental Surgery, at UNC Chapel Hill. She then completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. She is experienced in all major aspects of dentistry and her residency provided extensive training in crowns, bridges, complete dentures, partial dentures, and dental implant restorations, including overdentures. As she begins to get to know her patients at Peace Haven Family Dentistry, Dr. Becherer most values developing a sense of trust with them, and she looks forward to catching up with them as they return for regular follow-ups. As in the family tradition of the practice, Dr. Becherer enjoys working with patients in varying stages of life and she hopes to get to know her patients through long-term service, enjoying hearing about them and their families.
Dr. Becherer appreciates that dentistry is both a science and an art. She enjoys working with her hands and creating things both at work and in her free time. “Last year, I learned I was going to be an aunt shortly after I bought my first sewing machine. I was so excited that I offered to make my nephew a homemade quilt. Well, that committed me to learning to machine quilt!” She taught herself using books and YouTube, finishing her first quilt just in time for the baby shower. She uses the same artistic skills, attention to detail, and patience at work when treating her patients.
Dr. Becherer believes in preventative dental care, but understands when corrective action is needed. “The best dentistry is comprehensive, yet conservative—it’s the least amount of treatment needed to restore health, chewing ability, and esthetics. That said, when treatment is necessary, I aim to provide restorative treatment that is long-lasting and predictable to address each patient’s unique needs.”
Dr. Becherer considers the overall health of each patient’s mouth when treating them, rather than just focusing on an individual issue. By looking at the “big picture,” she works to guide her patients toward preventative care, thus avoiding future emergencies. Dr. Becherer states, “Oral health is intricately related to your overall well-being—it’s important for systemic health, the ability to consume a healthy diet, and self-confidence.”
The exceptional staff at the practice provides smooth, knowledgeable support for all four dentists, as Dr. Becherer becomes acclimated to her new patient base. The staff not only sees patients as family, they view their team as a family, as well, and welcome Dr. Becherer as the newest member. These family values are based on the original vision of the practice founded back in1961 by Dr. Wilkinson’s father, Dr. Bob Wilkinson. This well-established, value-based practice is just the place Dr. Becherer sees herself thriving, as a compassionate, caring dentist. She appreciates the invaluable collaboration between the dentists as they provide exceptional care for all patients. Peace Haven Family Dentistry stays abreast of all the latest techniques and dental advances and offers a wide variety of dental procedures, including dental implants, CEREC same-day crowns, full mouth restoration and 3-D Imaging with CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) for root- canal therapy.
While at UNC Chapel Hill, Dr. Becherer was elected to Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Society. She later completed Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a member of the American Dental Association, the North Carolina Dental Society, the Academy of General Dentistry and the Forsyth County Dental Society.
To meet Dr. Becherer and experience her well-trained dental care, call Peace Haven Family Dentistry at 336-765-9247 for appointments and consultations. Their office is conveniently located at 1086 Whitaker Road in Winston-Salem, with hours Monday through Thursday, 8 am–5 pm, and Friday, 7 am–noon. Learn more about their practice at www.peacehaven.dentist and follow them on Facebook.
