Independently rated by patient reviews, credentials, and care quality.
Quick answer
Our top ranked dental practice in Hickory, North Carolina is Dr. Delores Hammer, DDS, rated 5.0 out of 5 across 1,344 public reviews. Other top choices include Dr. Bryan Graham, DDS and Dr. Raymond Pate, DMD. Hickory has a population of about 44,415, and the 5 strongest local practices are compared on this page.
Finding a great dentist in Hickory can feel overwhelming when every office claims to be the best. We checked each practice against the US National Provider Identifier registry and weighed experience, services, and patient feedback. Every practice below is a real, registered provider serving the Hickory area.
Across the 5 top practices we highlight in Hickory, patients can access general dentistry. The Hickory practices on this list average 18 years in practice, with Dr. Delores Hammer, DDS among the most established at 20 years. Listed offices serve several parts of the city, including the 28602, 28601, 28613 ZIP areas. Together these practices hold 5,423 public Google reviews, led by Conover Dental with 1,797. The average rating across the list is 4.9 out of 5.
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General Dentistry
Provides general dentistry for Hickory families, a well established practice with 20 years of experience. Rated 5.0 out of 5 across 1,344 public Google reviews.
General Dentistry
Known in Hickory for general dentistry, serving patients for 19 years. Rated 5.0 out of 5 across 1,258 public Google reviews.
General Dentistry
Provides general dentistry for Hickory families, a well established practice with 20 years of experience. Rated 4.9 out of 5 across 418 public Google reviews.
General Dentistry
General dentistry in Hickory, delivered by serving patients for 13 years. Rated 4.9 out of 5 across 606 public Google reviews.
General Dentistry
A Hickory dental office focused on general dentistry, an established local practice. Rated 4.9 out of 5 across 1,797 public Google reviews.
Practice names, credentials, and specialties are verified against the US National Provider Identifier (NPI) registry, the official record of licensed healthcare providers. Listings were last reviewed on August 28, 2026.
Explore where the top rated dental practices in Hickory, North Carolina are located.
Modern dentistry is as much about keeping teeth healthy as it is about fixing them. In Hickory, a general dentist is your first point of contact for cleanings, exams, and everyday treatment. Regular visits catch cavities and gum disease early and protect the bone that holds your teeth in place.
General Dentistry5 of 5 listed practices
General dentists are your first stop for everyday care: checkups, cleanings, fillings, crowns, and preventive advice. Most families see a general dentist twice a year.
Dental care keeps advancing, from same day crowns to clear aligners and AI assisted diagnostics. See what is new in dentistry and what to ask your Hickory dentist.
Our Hickory ranking is editorial, not paid. Each practice is scored on patient reviews and review volume, verified credentials from the national provider registry, years in practice, and online presence. Sponsored placements are always labeled and never change how the organic list is ranked.
Read our full ranking methodologyCheck credentials and experience
Confirm the dentist is licensed and look at how long the practice has served Hickory. Years in practice and clear credentials such as DDS or DMD are a strong signal of consistent care.
Read recent patient reviews
Reviews reveal what it is really like to be a patient, from wait times to how comfortable procedures feel. Look for a steady pattern of positive feedback rather than a single glowing note.
Match services to your needs
If you want cosmetic work, implants, or braces, choose a Hickory practice that offers those services in house so your care stays coordinated under one roof.
Ask about insurance and payment
Call ahead to confirm the office accepts your plan and offers payment options. Many Hickory practices work with major insurers and provide financing for larger treatments.
Visit for a first appointment
A cleaning or consultation is the best way to judge cleanliness, technology, and how well the team listens. Trust your comfort level with both the dentist and the staff.
New patient visits in Hickory follow a familiar, unhurried pattern. A hygienist often cleans your teeth first, then the dentist reviews the findings with you. It is a good moment to ask about costs, insurance, and how the office handles emergencies.
Dental costs in Hickory vary by treatment and by whether you have insurance. A routine checkup and cleaning is usually the most affordable visit, while crowns, implants, and orthodontics cost more and are often spread over several appointments. Most practices accept major dental insurance and many offer payment plans or membership options for patients without coverage, so it is worth asking about pricing before you book.
When you call or visit a Hickory office, these questions help you judge whether it is the right fit.
We rank practices using a transparent scoring system that weighs patient reviews, review volume, verified credentials from the national provider registry, years in practice, and online presence. The result is an editorial shortlist of the 5 strongest dental practices in Hickory, North Carolina.
We refresh our data on a regular cycle and show the last updated date at the top of this page. Practice details can change, so we recheck sources and re rank listings to keep Hickory current.
Practices can purchase a sponsored position, which is always clearly marked with a Sponsored label. Sponsored placement never changes how we evaluate or rank the organic listings, which stay based purely on our objective criteria.
Look for verified credentials, strong and recent patient reviews, the specific services you need such as implants or orthodontics, accepted insurance, and a first visit that leaves you comfortable with the team. Location and office hours in Hickory matter too.
Every listing has a Report an issue link. If a phone number, address, or other detail is out of date, let us know and we will verify and correct it.