Highly Skilled

Written By: Deena Bouknight | Issue: 2021/10 – October | Photograph By: Susan Renfro

Tom Jones and Christopher T. Dyer

Highlanders are fortunate to have access to the highly skilled services of two dentists at Highlands Dental Care, located on South Street. 

While the dental practice was started by Fred Rodenbeck, DMD, in the late 1970’s, Christopher T. Dyer, DMD, born and raised in Auburn, Alabama, took over the practice in 2002. 

Dr. Dyer brought a wealth of education and knowledge with him to the Plateau – as does Thomas Jones, DDS, who joined as a Highlands Dental Care partner last summer. While Dr. Dyer did not originally have dentistry in his sights, having graduated from Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., with a chemical engineering degree, he went on to achieve his doctor of medical dentistry (DMD) degree from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in Birmingham. 

Dr. Dyer articulated that his goal has always been to genuinely care for and enjoy helping people to achieve better dental health. “I believe in prevention but also strive to provide solutions and improve smiles through treatment options,” he said. 

Along with his family, he was already calling the Highlands-Cashiers area home a year before he took over Highlands Dental Care. “My wife Rachel and I originally came to this area because we liked the outdoor activities, weather, and the beauty the mountains have to offer. We both grew up in smaller towns and have enjoyed being part of the community and raising our family here.” 

Dr. Jones is from father away, Jackson, Ohio, where he resided until moving to Columbus, Ohio, to complete both his undergraduate studies and dental school at Ohio State University. After graduation, he decided to move to Florida to open his practice in Palm City, where he enjoyed serving patients for over 30 years. During his time in Florida he was able to gain expertise from advanced education programs such as the Dawson Academy, Pankey Institute in Miami and the Spear Continuum. While living in Florida and raising two children with his wife, Patty, his family enjoyed a summer home on Lake Glenville for 20 years. “We finally realized that our ultimate desire was to one day move here permanently,” he said. “We are both so excited to have relocated to Highlands full-time, and have loved being a part of this fantastic local community.” 

Although Dr. Dyer noted that practicing in Highlands “provides unique challenges due to its seasonality and having limited specialty care in the immediate vicinity,” he added that he, Dr. Jones, and the staff “strive to ramp up in the summer season to meet the needs of our seasonal patients. We also invest in technology to provide advanced surgical, restorative, and cosmetic care right here in Highlands.”