Our Team
Jerry ter Avest DDS
Pronounced (tur-ah-vest)
Owner
Dentist
Dr. Jerry ter Avest received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1988. He went on to join this very practice in 1989, before purchasing the practice in 1990 as full owner. Jerry has been enjoying serving the RTP area ever since.
Tessa Taylor DDS
Associate Dentist
Dr. Tessa Taylor was born and raised in North Carolina, and knew from an early age she wanted to stay in the state she loved. She received her Bachelor degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and continued on to receive her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 2018 from the same prestigious University. In her free time, she stays involved with her local church and likes to bake!
Heather
Dental Hygienist
Heather has been a part of our team since 1996. She graduated from Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville, NC with a diploma in dental assisting in 1994 and then earned her Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene in 1996. Heather enjoys providing care for all her patients and she always remembers every detail about each and every one of them. Outside of work, you will find her by the pool or at the beach. She enjoys traveling, cruising, and spending time with her family. She has twins who are in college, one at NC State and the other at UNC-CH so they are a house divided! She also has two fur babies named Nike and Miss Gabby Jeanne.
Laura
Dental Hygienist
Laura received her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May of 2004 and started working with us the following September. She has a passion for helping others and loves working closely with long-time patients and their families. She has truly grown up here! Born and raised in Durham, Laura now lives in Wake Forest with her husband Kevin, their son Hudson, and their pup Porter. She loves spending time with her family and friends and thrives on community. Laura was a cheerleader at UNC-CH and is the biggest Tar Heel fan you will ever meet. GO HEELS!
Carrie
Dental Hygienist
Carrie graduated with a Business degree in 2001, and then again with a Dental Hygiene degree in 2007 from the UNC Dental School. However, she has worked in the dental profession ever since high school. Carrie values family time, and she enjoys spending time in her home town of Durham, especially seeing shows at DPAC and The Carolina Theatre.
Kandace
Front Office Staff
Kandace joined our team after completing her program for Medical Billing and Coding. A North Carolina native as well, Kandace makes a great addition to our staff!
Vicki
Front Office Staff
Working here since 1990, Vicki has been key in keeping our office running smoothly and efficiently. She’s a lover of dogs, living a healthy lifestyle, and spending time with her family.