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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!
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!
Dr. 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.
Dr. Mia Knavish joined our practice in 2025. She is originally
from Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Knavish received both her undergraduate degree and her Doctor
of Dental Medicine (DMD) from the University of Pittsburgh.
Following dental school, Dr. Knavish completed a General Practice Residency program at Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) in Asheville, NC. During her time in residency, Dr. Knavish gained extensive experience in a wide range of dental procedures and focused on performing quality patient-centered care. She is particularly passionate about restorative dentistry, cosmetic procedures, and preventive care. Dr. Knavish fell in love with WNC and is thrilled to continue to have the privilege of caring for the community and building long-term relationships with her patients. Dr. Knavish is an active member of the American Dental Association (ADA), the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), and the North Carolina Dental Society (NCDS). In her free time, Dr. Knavish enjoys spending time with her friends and family, her dog Millie, and exploring the beautiful outdoors of the area!
Charity is a Henderson County, NC native who has been dedicated to dental hygiene since earning her Associate in Applied Science from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in 1999. She joined Dr. Merritt’s practice immediately after graduation and has been a trusted member of the team ever since. Charity finds joy in helping patients achieve brighter, healthier smiles—and loves making a positive difference one smile at a time.
Stephanie is a Hendersonville, NC native. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of North Carolina at Asheville in 1994, and later pursued her love for dentistry by completing an Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College in 2008. Stephanie joined Dr. Merritt’s practice—now Furman Dental—in 2019 and has been a dedicated part of the team ever since.
When she’s not helping patients maintain healthy smiles, Stephanie enjoys quality time with her family, friends, and furry companions.
Ellie is a native of Flat Rock, NC, and a graduate of AB Tech’s Dental Assisting program, where she finished at the top of her class in 2019. After gaining valuable experience as a Certified Dental Assistant,
Ellie pursued her passion further by becoming a Registered Dental Hygienist. She joined Furman Dental in 2023 and earned her Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene from AB Tech in 2024, along with the prestigious Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler Award. Shortly after graduation, she earned her local anesthesia certification, enhancing the care she provides to patients.
Ellie and Angelina team up to keep our social media pages lively and engaging. When she’s not working, Ellie enjoys diving into a good book, shopping, and spending quality time with her husband, Jeffery, their dogs, and friends. Exciting news—Ellie and Jeffery are expecting their first child in December 2025!
Cherie is originally from Chicago, Illinois, but has called Hendersonville, NC home since childhood. She’s been working in the dental field as an office manager since 2013 and brought her experience and enthusiasm to Furman Dental in 2022. In May 2024,
She proudly earned her Associate of Arts degree from Blue Ridge Community College.
Outside the office, Cherie loves spending time with her husband and their two boys. Whether they’re off to Disney, exploring new destinations, or hanging out at home with their three dogs—Gracie, Delilah, and Wrigley—there’s never a dull moment!
Taylor is a proud Tuxedo, NC native and a 2022 graduate of Fayetteville State University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She joined the Furman Dental team in 2022
and has been bringing warmth and positivity to the practice ever since.
Outside of work, Taylor enjoys quality time with her husband, Christian, their dog Solo, and her close-knit circle of family and friends. A true nature lover, she’s always up for an adventure—whether it’s hiking local trails or exploring national parks across the country.
Cara was born and raised in Long Island, New York, where she got her start in the dental field working for an Endodontic specialist. In 2021, she and her fiancé, Andre,
made the move to North Carolina, where she transitioned into General Dentistry and quickly found her passion. Cara joined the Furman Dental team in 2022 and has been a valued part of the practice ever since.
When she’s not at work, you’ll likely find Cara soaking up the outdoors or exploring local restaurants with Andre and their two dogs, Maizey and Boone.
Angelina is a Hendersonville, NC native and a graduate of AB Tech’s Dental Assisting program (Class of 2018). She became a Certified Dental Assistant in 2018 and has been a key part of our team since 2019,
When she joined Dr. Merritt’s practice—now known as Furman Dental.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, Angelina brings both skill and warmth to patient care. She also helps manage our social media alongside Ellie, adding creativity and flair to everything she does. Outside the office, you’ll likely find her behind a camera (she took our headshots!), building intricate Lego sets, diving into a good book, or adventuring with her husband, Brandon.
Her favorite part of dentistry? Helping patients feel confident in their smiles!
Makenzie is a proud native of Dana, NC, and a recent graduate of AB Tech’s Dental Assisting program (Class of July 2025). She joined our practice fresh out of school and has quickly become a valued part of our team. Always eager to learn, Makenzie is continuing her education through courses at Blue Ridge Community College.
Outside the office, you can find her shopping, snowboarding, or soaking up the sun on the lake with her boyfriend, Ivey.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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. If there is ever an issue we will correct it to avoid future problems.
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.
Monday: 08:00 am – 04.30 pm
Tuesday: 08:00 am – 04.30 pm
Wednesday: 07:30 am – 02.00 pm
Thursday: 07:30 am – 02.00 pm
