Our Staff

When you come to our practice, our entire team will make sure you feel welcomed and relaxed. We will immediately greet you and proceed to talk about such things as your children or a recent vacation. Prior to performing any dental treatments, Dr. Keider will spend some time getting to know you and what you hope to achieve from your visit. After an extensive or complex procedure, he will call you to see how you feel and answer any questions you may have. Why do we go to such lengths? We think the basis for personal care begins with getting to know you. Since you may feel the same way, we have included brief bios of our staff and a profile of Dr. Keider below.

Dr. Matthew Keider

Dr. Matthew Keider is a Michigan native who enjoys science and helping others. He attended Michigan State University for his undergraduate before earning an early admission to the Dental School at the University of Michigan, one of the highest ranked dental schools in the world. Dr. Keider received his DDS degree in 1993 and subsequently moved to North Carolina where he started his practice. He has been practicing dentistry for 30 years.

While his college years are behind him, Dr. Keider continues to explore the latest changes and developments in dentistry. He attends up to 200 credits of continuing education in cosmetic, restorative and implant dentistry every year. Dr. Keider has also studied endodontics at Tulsa Dental, occlusion and temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) at the Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Studies, and implantology extensively at the Misch International Implant Institute. He is a member of the Forsyth County Dental Society, North Carolina Dental Society, and American Dental Association. In his personal life, he enjoys basketball, fishing, maintaining his yard and most of all spending time with his family. He cherishes the time he spends traveling with his wife of 32 years, his 22-year-old daughter and 19-year-old son.

Dr. Keider has made it his priority to be able to treat most dental issues within the practice including extractions, root canals, and placing and restoring implants. This keeps the need for referring his patients to a minimum. Patients-of-record can reach him after hours by phoning his emergency line. If a patient has an emergency during office hours, he will do all he can to see the patient that same day.

Polly Leonard

Polly Leonard is our dental assistant with over 20 years of experience. Polly obtained her radiology certification and coronal polishing through Wake Forest University, as well as her culinary arts degree from Guilford Technical Community College. She enjoys working with patients and providing excellent dental care gently. She is a mom of two boys. In her free time, she enjoys kayaking, remodeling RV’s, gardening, food preservation, raising her chickens, and cooking.

Carrie Gates

Carrie Gates is our insurance coordinator and the smiling face you see upon checking out. She has been with our office for 23 years. Before she worked here, this Brookstone Business College graduate was employed at an insurance company. Naturally, she’s great at addressing any insurance concerns you may have. She has been married 25 years and has a daughter and son in college. Outside of the office, Carrie enjoys traveling, reading, and sewing, as well as spending time with her family and friends.

Heather Vaughn

Heather Vaughn is our front desk associate that greets you when you enter our office. Before she started working here, she had 13 years of medical experience at a local hospital. She and her significant other, James, have two daughters and one son, who keep them busy and keep their hearts full. Heather loves sports of all kinds and is an avid NC State Wolfpack and New York Yankees fan. In her free time, she enjoys fishing at the coast, cooking for her family, time with her dogs, and listening to music.

Kat

Kat grew up the youngest of three, in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Kat has loved dentistry for as long as she can remember. She recalls, as a child, skipping into the dental office for her cleanings and always having the latest oral hygiene items at the top of her Christmas wish list! In 2010, she graduated Valedictorian of her class from Piedmont Dental Assistants, where she later returned to teach and was promoted to lead instructor. Kat attended UNC-Chapel Hill’s Radiology Instructor program. She is certified in Infection Control for outpatient facilities by Total Medical Compliance. She attended Wake Forest School of Medicine to receive her Coronal Tooth Polishing certification. Kat attended the Aristotle Institute where she became certified in conscious, IV sedation. She is certified in Nitrous Oxide Monitoring through NC Dental U. Kat is board certified from the Dental Assisting National Board in General Dentistry, Radiation Health & Safety, and Infection Control & Epidemiology. Outside of dentistry, Kat and her husband, John, are proud parents of their two beautiful children and active members of their church. She enjoys being a mom, volunteering at the school, cooking, and playing tennis.

Stephanie

Stephanie, our registered dental hygienist, has been with our office since 2006. Stephanie graduated from Trident Technical College in 2004 with her Associate’s degree in Allied Health Sciences in Dental Hygiene. Stephanie continues to take continuing education courses to stay updated with current changes in dentistry and strengthen her skills. Stephanie is extremely proficient at digital x-rays, intraoral photos, gentle cleanings, periodontal treatment, and educating patients about oral health. When Stephanie isn’t busy seeing patients or taking continuing education courses, she can be found spending time with her daughter.