Beaver Creek Dental: Caring with Compassion and Preparing for the Future
With a rapidly growing practice and increased need for dental care in the Karns community in Knoxville, Dr. Kyle Smith and his team are excited to announce the official groundbreaking of their new practice site, designed by Studio Four Design. Scheduled to open in 2024, the new facility will offer spacious areas for patient reception and care, high-quality finishes, and carefully planned spaces for the dental team.
From the time he opened Beaver Creek Dental in October 2017 in the Karns community of Knoxville, Tennessee, Dr. Kyle Smith had a clear mission: to provide high-quality, affordable dental care for adults and children in an environment that is kind and compassionate. After graduating from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry in Memphis, Dr. Smith first practiced as an associate in a general dentistry practice. His passion for offering genuine care and cultivating long-term relationships is evidenced in his approach to patients. “I love building the doctor-patient relationship and I love having a skill that I can provide to the community”, he described. Dr. Smith has demonstrated a sincere concern for people through his ongoing work with Trinity Dental Clinic in Maryville, Tennessee, a practice that provides dental work to lower-income populations.
When deciding where to open his current practice location, Dr. Smith discovered that demographic studies indicated a significant need for dentistry in the Karns area. Because he attended elementary school in Karns and later graduated from Powell High School, Dr. Smith was drawn to the area where he’d grown up and to the people with whom he’d shared so many similar life experiences. Since opening Beaver Creek Dental, where he fondly recalls his mother as his first patient, Dr. Smith has been committed to providing excellent dental care for the area where he had so many connections and felt a strong tie to the community. “I want to be the dental practice in Karns. I want to make sure that as a dentist I’m still taking care of my community.”
In the years since opening, the practice has grown rapidly as the area has continued to develop and the need for patient care has continued to rise. Dr. Smith largely credits his talented staff for that growth, describing them as a team who is genuine and kind-hearted. Not only do they offer exceptional skill and experience, but Dr. Smith has intentionally hired staff members who have shared values and a servant mindset. “The team that I’ve been able to assemble has been the most important component of our continued growth and success,” observes Dr. Smith. “We hire for heart first and train for skills second.”
Realizing that affordability is the most common barrier to dental care for many people, Dr. Smith has remained committed to offering dentistry in-network with a wide variety of insurance companies. “When someone in Karns thinks about dental care, I want them to think of Beaver Creek Dental.”
The high demand for quality dental care in this ever-growing area of Knoxville, the desire to meet community needs, and the need for future growth compelled Dr. Smith to consider a new space to overcome what he describes as a capacity issue. Space and accommodation limitations in the current facility prompted him to begin considering a new building, and when acreage just across the street became available, he saw it as the perfect solution.
After having worked with the Studio Four Design team in the design of his original location, it was a natural step to reconnect and begin the new project with the same architectural firm. Dr. Smith sought the help of the experienced team at Studio Four Design and remarked, “I developed a trust with Stacy Cox from the beginning because he’s genuine… When I was ready to design the new office, I knew the team, (Stacy Cox, Macy Rudell, and Carissa Wagers), would be able to guide me.” Dr. Smith describes the direction from Studio Four Design as invaluable to the progress of the project thus far. “The team has been really good about saying ‘these things will look great’ and here are several price points to consider.”
Dr. Smith has relied heavily on the expertise of the Studio Four Design team and says they have been highly effective in guiding him through decisions. “They do very well at keeping me on track in different phases and educating me on what we need to accomplish in each phase. They’ve kept me from getting ‘lost in the weeds’ of decisions that need to be made.”
The Studio Four Design team has been an invaluable resource, Dr. Smith shared. As he has considered design options, he noted that the team has helped him make educated decisions in terms of space planning for patient care and employee work environments, as well as accommodations for future growth.
The future office location, just across the street, sits on a larger piece of property and will offer a spacious facility to accommodate and treat more patients with the addition of more practitioners. Dr. Smith envisions the next phase of his practice as a group practice and plans to hire like-minded, patient-focused dentists who offer experience and interest in different skill sets. “I love doing surgical treatments”, he shared. “I could envision bringing in practitioners who have an interest in pediatrics or orthodontics, for example.”
When considering the new space, Dr. Smith is excited about several new design components that will further enhance the patient as well as the employee experience. The new, spacious reception area will provide comfortable seating for patients as they arrive and staff members welcome them for their appointment. With a high priority on caring for his employees, he is equally enthusiastic about providing better spaces for team members that will offer a relaxing place for midday breaks, training sessions, and meetings. An attractive outdoor patio space will also be available for use during the day for staff. “I want to build a sustainable practice where employees can continue to grow and provide the best in patient care. I want my team members to be proud to work at Beaver Creek Dental.”
With the partnership between a patient-focused practice like Beaver Creek Dental and an architectural firm like Studio Four Design, whose driving belief is that “Design Matters” because people matter, the project will inevitably be met with success. We’re excited at Studio Four Design to see this new build come to completion and see Dr. Kyle Smith and his team continue to offer exceptional dental care to the Karns community for years to come.
About Beaver Creek Dental
Dr. Kyle Smith of Beaver Creek Dental opened his practice in 2017 in the Karns community of Knoxville. With a mission to provide high-quality, affordable dental care for adults and children in an environment that is kind and compassionate, Dr. Smith and his team are passionate about providing exceptional service for patients. Scheduled to open in 2024, the new practice location will be conveniently located on Oak Ridge Highway and will continue to offer comprehensive dental care for families.
To schedule an appointment or learn more about the services offered at Beaver Creek Dental, simply call or email the office.
About Studio Four Design Inc.
Since 2002, Studio Four Design based in Knoxville, Tennessee has served as a premiere architectural and interior design firm in their region and beyond. Their guiding principle is Design Matters, and their goal is to exceed expectations to provide design solutions that positively impact their clients, community, and the organizations they serve. Their team has gained expertise on a select variety of project types over the last twenty years including churches, higher education, restaurants, retail, corporate, manufacturing, athletic, and recreational venues. Studio Four Design takes pride in its high-energy, performance-driven culture and its collaborative approach to working with its clients, consultants, and contractors. To learn more, call 865-523-5001 or visit http://studiofourdesign.com.