Dr. Robert Henkel

Hi, I am Dr. Robert Henkel. I practiced dentistry for 29 years abiding by those two beliefs, before I decided to take an early retirement in 2019, enjoy my life, and move to the Brevard, NC area with my wife, Liz. I am a proud father of two adult children, who are out of college, out of the house, and making their own mark on the world. After playing golf, walking my dog, riding my bikes and motorcycles in my brief retirement, I came to the conclusion that I what I really needed to do is practice dentistry again. I started volunteering one day per week at a free clinic in Cashiers, and that brought me back to why I chose dentistry in the first place; to help others. When I found Hendersonville Family Dental, I knew I found the right practice to continue doing what I love to do, in an atmosphere that fosters excellence and compassionate care.

I was born and raised north of Chicago, received a B.S. in Biology from Loyola University of Chicago and my D.D.S from Northwestern University. I ventured east to Philadelphia and completed a fellowship in Anesthesiology from the Medical College of Pennsylvania and from there I moved up to Boston, Massachusetts and practiced dentistry for 29 years. I love what technology has done for dentistry and I have used it, taught it, and watched it evolve for 30 years. CEREC, lasers, implants, 3D imaging and printing… Combine that with some traditional planning and thinking, all with the ultimate goal of providing better care for our patients.

Something you probably wouldn’t know about me is that I do NOT like going to the dentist (or the eye doctor, but that is a different story). Bad experiences as a child have certainly left its mark on me. I even tense up when I get my teeth cleaned. That is why I try so hard to make your experience as pleasant and easy as possible. I really do understand what my patients are going through. And no, I do not have a Boston accent.