Welcome to Forest Family Dentistry located in Forest, VA

Smile! You're in good hands.

Voted Best Dentist

in Lynchburg Living and "The Burg"

Forest Family Dentistry would like to welcome you to our dental office website. We take great satisfaction in helping you maintain optimal oral health for the entire family. Our practice is devoted to providing general comprehensive and preventive patient care for the family in a relaxed, caring atmosphere. In February 2007, we just opened our new state-of-the-art cosmetic facility in Forest at the intersection of Route 221 & Route 811.

Throughout our website, you will find an abundance of information about our practice, procedures we provide, and dentistry in general. Please explore and learn as much about dentistry and our services as you desire. We believe our patients should have as much information as possible in order to make important, informed decisions regarding their oral health and treatment options.

Our patients are our most important asset , and we strive to develop long-lasting, trusting relationships with all of our patients. Your referrals are welcome and appreciated. We look forward to seeing you!

Proudly serving: Forest , Lynchburg , Timberlake , Goode

Meet The Doctors

Learn Who We Are

  • Dr.
    Garland G. Gentry
    DDS

    Dr. Gentry, D.D.S is a native of Lynchburg, VA.  He graduated from Brookville High School in 1985, and graduated from Lynchburg College (now University of Lynchburg) in 1989.  He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry in 1993.  He began practicing with Brady and Crist that year until 2001, when he started Forest Family Dentistry.  He has served with the Piedmont Dental Society and Virginia Dental Association over the years.  Dr. Gentry is married and has 2 daughters and 1 grandchild.  In his free time Dr. Gentry enjoys golfing locally and traveling to different golf courses.  

  • Dr.
    Melinda Norton
    DDS

    Dr. Melinda Norton graduated from Eastern Mennonite College in Harrisonburg, Virginia , and completed her doctorate at the Medical College of Virginia, School of Dentistry, 1992. She established her own practice in Richmond, Virginia in 1993, and has enjoyed practicing dentistry ever since.  She is married with two children and moved to Lynchburg, joining Forest Family Dentistry in 2010.  She has been practicing dentistry for more than 30 years.

  • Dr.
    Priyen Patel

    Dr. Priyen J. Patel is a native of Vasad, Gujarat, India.  He moved to Northern Virginia when he was a young child and remained there until college.  He graduated from James Madison University in 2013 with his undergraduate degree and graduated from New York University College of Dentistry in 2018.  Dr. Patel enjoys spending time with his family, which includes his wife, sisters, parents and his aunt and uncle.  Dr. Patel likes to explore the local outdoor attractions and local restaurants on his time off.

Testimonials

What Our Patients Say About Us

    I had such a wonderful experience at my Dentist appointment. Dr. Norton is an upbeat wise and all around great Dentist. She gave me some very helpful advice to reduce my brushing so hard and how unnecessary it is. I appreciate all the folks at that Beautiful Clean and Safe office.

    Barbara M.

    Very good experience. Everyone is very nice and helpful. The hygienist was very professional, courteous, and really explained things well. I liked the dentist. The best dentist visit I've had.

    Tony S.

    I have been going to this clinic for the last 13 years and would highly recommend it!

    Cyrus M.

    My entire family has gone to this practice for over 10 years and we have only had awesome experiences. The dentists, hygienists and office staff are great at what they do and very kind. I am so glad to have them as our family’s dental practice.

    Nicole K.

    Totally professional. Did what they said with great cleaning, fun, encouraging, actually checked for cancer, no pain, great fixing tooth, clean, informative, timely and I highly recommend. Thank you!

    Marilyn P.

Featured Articles

Read about helpful topics

  • Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Patient

    Patient Rights You have a right to choose your own dentist and schedule an appointment in a timely manner. You have a right to know the education and training of your dentist and the dental care team. You have a right to arrange to see the dentist every time you receive dental treatment, subject to ...

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  • Crowns and Bridges

    Bridges Bridges are natural-looking dental appliances that can replace a section of missing teeth. Because they are custom-made, bridges are barely noticeable and can restore the natural contour of teeth as well as the proper bite relationship between upper and lower teeth.Bridges are sometimes referred ...

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  • Veneers

    Teeth that are badly stained, shaped, or crooked may be improved by a veneer placed on the surface of the affected teeth.Veneers are thin pieces of porcelain or plastic cemented over the front of your teeth to change their color or shape. Veneers are used on teeth with uneven surfaces or that are chipped, ...

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  • Invisalign®

    Invisalign's® invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners will give you the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted. And best of all, no one can tell you're wearing them. Invisalign® is great for adults and teenagers. What is Invisalign®? Invisalign® is the invisible way to straighten your ...

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  • April 2022 Dental Newsletter

    The Importance of Preventive Care: Maintaining Good Oral Health Preventative dental care is a significant part of overall dental health, but it's often an afterthought. Our dedicated dentist sees many patients who don’t keep up with consistent preventative oral care and then must fix the problems ...

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  • Fillings

    Frequently asked questions: dental fillings Are dental amalgams safe? Is it possible to have an allergic reaction to amalgam? Is it true that dental amalgams have been banned in other countries? Is there a filling material that matches tooth color? If my tooth doesn't hurt and my filling is still in ...

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  • Sealants

    Sealants are liquid coatings that harden on the chewing surfaces of teeth and are showing a great deal of effectiveness in preventing cavities—even on teeth where decay has begun. The pits and grooves of your teeth are prime areas for opportunistic decay. Even regular brushing sometimes misses these ...

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  • Overview

    Pain can occur in any number of places in your mouth: teeth, gums, roots, the palate, tongue and jaw. Cavities are a common culprit causing pain. Untreated cavities can impact nerves because of infections of the tooth and gums. Impacted and abscessed teeth and sore jaws from teeth grinding are other ...

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  • Toothaches

    Simple toothaches can often be relieved by rinsing the mouth to clear it of debris and other matter. Sometimes, a toothache can be caused or aggravated by a piece of debris lodged between the tooth and another tooth. Avoid placing an aspirin between your tooth and gum to relieve pain, because the dissolving ...

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  • Scaling and Root Planing

    Some cases of acute periodontal (gum) disease that do not respond to more conventional treatment and self-care such as flossing may require a special kind of cleaning called scaling and root planing. The procedure begins with administration of a local anesthetic to reduce any discomfort. Then, a small ...

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Contact Us

We'd Love to Hear From You

Our Location

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Hours of Operation

Our Regular Schedule

Forest Family Dentistry

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed