Our Dentists

Dr. Tim Gillespie

Dr. Tim Gillespie, is originally from Sylva, and received his Bachelor's in Chemistry from WCU. After working for three years as a research chemist in Birmingham, AL, he returned to study at the University of Alabama School of Dentistry.

Upon graduation in 1993, Dr. Gillespie opened a private practice in Asheville on Biltmore Avenue and practiced there until he and Dr. Ken Hornowski merged practices in 1996. A past member of the Editorial Board of Dental Economics magazine, Dr. Gillespie has served as a Clinical Instructor at AB Tech as well as Chairman of their Allied Health Sciences Dental Advisory Board. He has served on the ABCCM Medical Ministry Board of Directors and on the United Way Peaks Society Steering Committee. He is a past President of the Buncombe Co. Dental Society as well as the First District of the NC Dental Society.

Dr. Gillespie has been married to Betsy for 19 years and has three young sons, Benjamin, Matthew, and John. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Asheville where he plays trumpet in the Brass Ensemble, is a Bible Study teacher, and has served on the Board of Deacons as well as chairing the Missions Committee—medical/dental missions work in Honduras has been one of the most rewarding aspects of his career. He enjoys camping, road bicycling, and is a triathlete wannabe. His professional affiliations include the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, International Congress of Oral Implantologists, NC Dental Society, and Buncombe County Dental Society. He is a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry and a Sustaining Member of the AACD, a designation reserved for those members enrolled in that group’s Accreditation Program. He has attained almost 1000 hours of continuing education and has made many presentations to various organizations on topics ranging from new advances in dentistry to practice management to dental missions work.

Dr. Rick Dimsdale

Dr. Richard (Rick) K. Dimsdale, joined our practice March 1, 2008, bringing with him over 22 years experience as a general dentist.   Originally from Chapel Hill, NC, he has lived and worked in beautiful western North Carolina most of his life, most recently as a general practitioner in Sylva, NC, where he was in private practice for 17 years.   Dr. Dimsdale was valedictorian of his 1977 graduating class at Sylva-Webster High School,  is a 1981 honors graduate of East Carolina University (go Pirates!) with a B.A. degree in Biology, and is a 1985 graduate of The University of North Carolina  School of Dentistry (go Heels!), where he received his D.D.S. degree in the same town he was born.   One of his most memorable experiences in dental school was being selected during his junior year for a 2-month externship with the U.S. Coast Guard Dental Clinic in Kodiak, Alaska.

Dr. Dimsdale was raised in a dental family, and ironically, his father, J.R. Dimsdale, D.D.S., was Dr. Gillespie's childhood dentist.   In a further case of serendipity, Dr. Rick and Dr. Tim played trumpet together in the Sylva-Webster High School Marching Band, and have known each other for over 30 years.

Dr. Dimsdale's wife, Lisa, is a native of Mt. Airy, North Carolina... yes, the hometown of Andy Griffith.   Lisa's dad actually went to school with Andy.   It's a small world isn't it?   Rick and Lisa have been married for 11 years, and currently reside in Waynesville, NC.   They enjoy the great outdoors, traveling, RVing, snow skiing, hiking, mountain biking, photography, and wildlife, just to name a few of their interests.   Their dog Leo, and cat Albert, keep them busy on the home front.

Dr. Dimsdale and Dr. Gillespie have talked back and forth for several years now, about one day actually practicing together, and in March of 2008, the timing for both of them was perfect.   Dr. Dimsdale holds memberships in the American Dental Association, the North Carolina Dental Society, and the Academy of General Dentistry.   His specific interests are the preventive and restorative aspects of general dentistry and helping his patients keep their teeth for a lifetime.

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