About the Practice
Our practice started in the summer of 1961 when Dr. Bob Wilkinson graduated from UNC School of Dentistry and moved back to his hometown, Winston-Salem. Dr. Bob associated with Dr. Mendenhall, an established older dentist on the second floor of the Nissen Building in downtown Winston-Salem. As the practice grew, Dr. Wilkinson moved to 275 Executive Park Boulevard off of Stratford Road in 1969. By 1975, Dr. Bob relocated to a newly renovated space at 360 Forsyth Medical Park, near Medical Park and Forsyth Hospitals.
Dr. Robert Wilkinson, Jr., joined in 1988 and the two dentists moved to another larger facility at Forsyth Medical Park in 1989 where they enjoyed a larger and successful practice environment. Dr. Bob began part-time work in 2007 and eventually retired in 2009. He continues to work when he is needed today. Dr. Wilkinson enjoyed the years spent working with his mentor and dad but knew it was time to move to a newer up-to-date space.
After looking for several years, he finally found the correct location right at Peace Haven Road near Robinhood Road. He knew that the combination of a new state of the art facility in a very convenient location could spell success. The new location opened in October 2012. Many new technologies including CEREC single visit crowns are now possible.
Dr. Wilkinson really enjoys working in the new facility but knew that he needed more help. Fortunately, Dr. Wilkinson met Dr. Francis Houston Symmes, III, also a UNC School of Dentistry graduate and Winston-Salem native. Dr. Symmes had been practicing near Charlotte for the past four years and was ready to relocate his family to Winston-Salem. Having very similar practice philosophies as Dr. Wilkinson meant that Dr. Symmes was a natural to help carry on the Wilkinson tradition. Dr. Symmes started full time in the office in August 2015. His strengths complement Dr. Wilkinson’s as he enjoys all phases of restorative dentistry but has a special interest in extractions, dental implants, root canals, and minor tooth movement with Invisalign. Certainly, Dr. Wilkinson and Dr. Symmes are poised to meet the future dental needs of our area’s patients.
