When Dr. Nickolas Kephart began his practice in 2013, he knew one thing – it wasn’t going to be about the numbers. The focus was going to be on the patients. That mindset is the foundation for a successful dental practice in Winston-Salem and a new sister-office in Mocksville.

Operating Principles & the History of Ardmore Dentistry

“I started with the belief that when you start with the patients’ needs first, everything else would fall into place,” said Dr. Kephart. “It’s the policy I have adopted from day one, and it’s the policy that will continue.

“My parents are a great example of my business model,” continued Dr. Kephart. “My mom is proactive and wants complete ‘spare nothing’ dental care. My dad, on the other hand, wants to be in and out as quickly as possible without any pain. They are on opposite ends of the patient spectrum. My role as a dentist is to treat the patients who fall in those extreme camps as well as everyone in between.”

That patient-first attitude has largely contributed to the overall success Dr. Kephart has enjoyed.  The practice went through a rebranding in 2018. “I wanted the practice to be less about me and more inclusive of everyone involved,” said Dr. Kephart. “I had expansion on my mind back then, and I wanted to rename the practice to make things easier and more flexible for us as we continued to grow.”

A New Partnership

After working as an independent practice for more than six years, the time came to add a partner. “I have always had a very specific vision for how I wanted my practice to operate,” said Dr. Kephart. “With that in mind, I wasn’t going to settle when it came to a business partner. I wasn’t going to rush. I knew it was important to find a business partner whose values mirrored my own and whose commitment to a patient-first operation was similar to mine.”

Dr. Josh Ramey was the ideal partner for that role. “Dr. Ramey and I have known each other for several years,” said Dr. Kephart. “We previously worked together at Veterans Affairs, offering dental care to our service men and women. That was a rewarding time with the opportunity to care for our military veterans. As I got to know Dr. Ramey in that environment and subsequent years, I found a colleague with a similar patient-first mentality.

“Dr. Ramey treated his role at the VA as a mission field,” said Dr. Kephart. “He thrived in that service-oriented environment. However, after 10 years in that world, Dr. Ramey was ready for a change.”

Besides finding a partner who shared values, Dr. Kephart was committed to finding someone who embraced personal growth and professional development. “Dr. Ramey is as eager to grow and learn as I am,” said Dr. Kephart. “We are a good match in that respect as we know the field of dentistry is ever-changing. Ongoing education is a critical component to be prepared to meet the needs of our patients with the latest research and technology.”

As Dr. Kephart put it, “Medicine is like a business. You either move forward or go backward.”

A New Location & Sister-Practice

That change has come in the form of a second practice – this time in Mocksville. “I bought the new practice in April, but it’s a practice that’s been around for quite a while,” said Dr. Kephart. “In fact, the original owner opened the doors in the 1970s, and this is the second time it’s changed hands in more than 40 years. Even though we’ve renamed the practice to Davie Dentistry, it’s a location and organization that has longevity within the community.”

Dr. Kephart continued, “The new office is located at 330 Hospital Street in Mocksville. We are enjoying getting to know the patients and look forward to welcoming new ones. We have great plans in place for Davie Dentistry including an office makeover to update both equipment and aesthetics.”

After renovating the Ardmore Dentistry location in 2016, Dr. Kephart appreciates the value of an office with soft, relaxing colors and an environment designed to help patients feel at ease. “We know that many people have a fear of going to the dentist. As I’ve shared, we want our patients’ comfort to be at the heart of our practice. And that includes the ambiance of the office. We have plans to renovate Davie Dentistry to be similar to Ardmore Dentistry, but we want to respect that these are separate practices with different clients and different expectations.

“While our practices are sister-locations,” said Dr. Kephart, “we are committed to running them separately to respect the unique needs for each location. The common denominator will be us – the dentists.” Dr. Kephart and Dr. Ramey alternate locations throughout the week, ensuring face time at both locations.

Staff & Patient Relationships

“We have two amazing teams,” said Dr. Kephart. “We have seven talented support staff members at the Winston-Salem location, and we have four in Mocksville.

“Our Mocksville staff have embraced these changes with a positive attitude and enthusiasm,” Dr. Kephart continued. “We are thankful for their loyal support. We know change is hard, but they trust that we are committed to a patient-first approach, and that resonates well, especially in a close, tight-knit community like Mocksville.”

The success of Drs. Kephart and Ramey lie within their core values that include quality over quantity. “We will never be a production style practice,” said Dr. Kephart. “Our patients deserve the best, and we aim to deliver.”

Visit Ardmore Dentistry at 3165 Maplewood Avenue in Winston-Salem. Call 336.760.9840 or visit their website (wsdentist.com). You can follow Ardmore Dentistry on Facebook.  

Visit Davie Dentistry at 330 Hospital Street in Mocksville. Call 336.751.6291. You can follow Davie Dentistry on Facebook.

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The Doctors’ Backgrounds

Dr. Nickolas Kephart graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry. He has practiced dentistry sine 2013. He lives in Winston-Salem with his dog, PBR (pronounced “Pibber”).

Dr. Josh Ramey is married with two children. He lives in Kernersville and has practiced dentistry since 2009. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry.

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Ardmore Dentistry and Davie Dentistry offer a full range of services including:

• Dental healthcare for both adults and children
• Cosmetic dentistry, including veneers and whitening
• Fillings
• Sealants
• Bridges
• Crowns
• Extractions
• Dentures
• Non-surgical root canals
• Implants
• 3D X-rays