Dentistry and Oral Health

MAHEC Dental Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 252-4290

My name is Ali and I am a proud Asheville native! I have been a hygienist since 2014 and at MAHEC since 2018. I spent the first portion of my career in private practice and when I made the switch to public health it was quite the change. After working at MAHEC for almost four years, I could never see myself in private practice again. I love our patient population and love working with residents and Chapel Hill students. I feel I have really been able to help people on a whole different level here at MAHEC. Ultimately I would like to transition into higher education to instruct dental hygiene students later in my career. When I am not cleaning teeth, I love river sports, crafts and I enjoy spending time with friends and family, especially my four year old daughter.

MAHEC Dental Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 252-4290

I was born and raised in Asheville and have been a dental hygienist for 16 years. I completed my training at AB Tech and have worked at MAHEC for 15 years. I enjoy getting to work as a team with our dentists in patient care and having the opportunity to work with dental students from UNC. I am very excited for the coming school year to work with the underserved student populations in our new school based oral health program.

MAHEC Dental Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 252-4290

Undergraduate: University of Kentucky
Dental School: University of Kentucky College of Dentistry
Residency: Dentistry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine / NC Baptist Hospital
Chief Resident: Dentistry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine / NC Baptist Hospital
Past or current faculty appointments: Medical College of Virginia School of Dentistry, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Mountain Area Health Education Center, University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry

Dr. Cummins grew up in central Kentucky and has had a rich career in various dental venues. While in college and dental school at the University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY), he won numerous awards and then completed a residency in dentistry at Wake Forest University School of Medicine / North Carolina Baptist Hospital (Winston-Salem, NC). While in his final year of residency, he was honored to serve as the chief resident. Following successful completion of the residency, he moved to Newport News, VA and worked as an associate in private practice, while being on staff and holding hospital credentials at Riverside Regional Medical Center. While in Newport News, he was also on the clinical faculty at the Medical College of Virginia’s School of Dentistry in Richmond, VA. Dr. Cummins later returned to Wake Forest University School of Medicine to be on full-time faculty in the dental residency program. He then returned to his home state of Kentucky and opened (from scratch) and ran a solo private practice for fifteen years, near his home town. After retiring from his private practice, Dr. Cummins came to MAHEC to continue his career by sharing what he has learned throughout the years with both dental residents (at MAHEC) and students (from University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry). Dr. Cummins also sees patients at MAHEC Dental Health Center. His special interest within comprehensive dental care is crown and bridge dentistry.

MAHEC Dental Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 252-4290

Dr. Denton was born in Colorado Springs, CO. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Southern California, where he was a member of the men’s swim team. He went on to obtain a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the University of Michigan. After dental school, Dr. Denton completed post-doctoral training at UNC Chapel Hill, UCSF, The Veterans Administration Medical Center Sepulveda/UCLA, and John Peter Smith Hospital in Texas. He has worked in private practice in both California and North Carolina and most recently owned his own practice in Hendersonville, where he has worked for the last 17 years. Dr. Denton is married and has three children. He enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his family.

MAHEC Dental Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 252-4290

Dr. Earnest grew up in Mooresville, NC, near Lake Norman. He completed his undergraduate studies at University of North Carolina Wilmington majoring in Biology. He then went on to complete his dental education at LECOM School of Dental Medicine in Bradenton, FL. Following graduation, he completed a general practice residency at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, CT. While in residency, he had the opportunity to treat a wide variety of patients both within the dental and medical setting. Since graduation, he has practiced both in Florida and North Carolina. He is very excited to join MAHEC as full-time faculty for the opportunity to help educate new dentists and to provide dental services to WNC.

MAHEC Dental Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 252-4290

Undergraduate: University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Dental School: UNC Adams School of Dentistry - Chapel Hill

Dr. Ken Hornowski grew up in Asheville, received his DDS in Chapel Hill in 1979, and returned to Asheville where he practiced for more than twenty years. He then became an Adjunct Professor in the AEGD Residency program at the UNC School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill where he taught for the next fifteen years. Once his daughters started having grandchildren he returned to Asheville full time. Dr. Hornowski retired for a couple of years and then was excited to have the opportunity to once again teach residents in the outstanding Dental MAHEC Residency. He has lectured on Practice Management issues in the US and at the Southern European Dental Conference in Lodz, Poland. Dr. Hornowski truly enjoys teaching residents and fourth year UNC Scholars as they know it is time to understand how to provide excellent and enriching treatment for their patients.

MAHEC Dental Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 252-4290

Dr. Johnson grew up in the mountains of Colorado and earned her undergraduate degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Colorado Boulder. She then attended the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine to complete her dental training. After dental school, Dr. Johnson pursued a hospital-based general practice residency and advanced specialty training in oral medicine at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC. Her expertise spans the diagnosis and treatment of various orofacial conditions, including oral lesions, manifestations of systemic diseases, orofacial pain related to temporomandibular disorders, and neuropathic head and neck conditions. She also focuses on oral pre-cancer and cancer surveillance, managing oral complications from cancer therapies like radiation and chemotherapy, and treating salivary gland disorders, including Sjögren’s disease. Dr. Johnson is excited to call Asheville home and looks forward to providing oral medicine and dental services to WNC.

MAHEC Dental Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 252-4290

After graduating with honors from the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry, and completing her residency and fellowship, Dr. Jowers came to Western North Carolina to help develop a hospital-based oral health program for Mission Hospitals. The resulting program successfully advocated for positive change and provided care to underserved people for two decades, and Dr. Jowers presented that program at the Surgeon General’s Conference in Washington, DC. She then taught with East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine where she served as Assistant Director for one of the learning centers until she was recruited to UNC at MAHEC.

Dr. Jowers' interests include: teaching new doctors and providers to be compassionate and effective; providing the public with better education in oral health and wellness; creating new ways to reach people with information, understanding and care; and providing operating-room oral rehabilitation for people who cannot tolerate adequate outpatient dental care.

MAHEC Dental Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 252-4290

Heather Lee was born and raised in Western North Carolina. She attended AB-Tech and graduated in 2014, finishing her bachelor’s degree at East Tennessee State University. Previously, she worked at East Carolina University where she enjoyed working with residents/students and serving the underserved. Heather is looking forward to continuing this work at MAHEC.

Outside of work, Heather enjoys playing with her two children and spending time with her husband. She likes gardening, walking, eating Mexican food, and watching her son play baseball and her daughter dance.

MAHEC Dental Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 252-4290

I am a North Carolinian through and through! I was born and raised in Raleigh and attended college and dental school at UNC-Chapel Hill. I was fortunate enough to do my General Practice Residency at MAHEC in 2011-2012….and to get married to my husband Chris who is also a dentist and MAHEC graduate. We moved away for a few years after residency but missed the mountains and soon returned to western North Carolina to stay. I truly enjoy all aspects of general dentistry and my heart is in helping people and treating patients like family. My work in private practice, dental education, and public health is a unique blend and has made me a better dentist, educator, and person. I am very active in continuing education and hold leadership positions in the Buncombe County Dental Society and the North Carolina Academy of General Dentistry. When I am not working I am soaking up quality time with our young daughter, riding my Peloton bike, or out walking our Labradoodle Flossy who we spoil completely rotten.

MAHEC Dental Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 252-4290

Undergraduate: Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI
Dental School: University of Michigan

Dr. Shields joined MAHEC Dental Residency Faculty in 2018 following 32 years of general practice in Southwestern Michigan.

MAHEC Dental Health Center at Biltmore
123 Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
(828) 252-4290

Hello and welcome! The Department of Dentistry here at MAHEC is a wonderful team of people providing not only great care but an exceptional educational experience. I consider it an honor and privilege to serve alongside this group.

I grew up in Georgia and am humbled to be a third generation Dentist in our family. Dentistry has certainly changed through the years! I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Furman University before pursuing a master’s degree in Biochemistry from Colorado State University. From there, I completed my dental training at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, receiving a DDS degree. Depending on professional goals and program specifics, I tend to highly advocate for post-graduate Dental residency training. So, I completed a two-year General Practice Residency at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. After residency, I established and grew an independent, solo dental practice in the mountains of Western North Carolina. I maintained this practice for the next 14 years or so all the while continuing to serve as faculty in the Department of Dentistry at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Desiring to increase my teaching activity, I then joined the full-time faculty in the Department of Dentistry at MAHEC and have found that this decision has proven to be a highly rewarding one, mixing continued patient care and a very active balance of teaching.

Professionally, my interests are in comprehensive treatment planning including those of medically complex patients, surgery, and anesthesia. I also have a passion for practice management such that the dental team can be the most efficient and productive in allowing our patients access to the full breadth of care we can provide. Helping learners find and grow in what they are passionate about in dentistry definitely increases my energy!