500+ 5-Star reviews
Discover Why we're Wake Forest's #1 choice for Pediatric Dental Care
Same-day visits, accepted insurance, and gentle sedation options — all in one place for your child's smile.
Major Insurance Accepted: Delta Dental, Cigna, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, BCBS & Ameritas.
Same-Day Appointments: Get your child seen when it matters most.
Sedation Options Available: Nitrous oxide & IV/general anesthesia for a worry-free visit.
Your child is in great hands
1,000+
Patients treated
500+
5-Star reviews
40+
Years of Combined Experience
Meet the doctors
Dr. Buddy Hollowell
Dr. Hollowell (Dr. Buddy) grew up in Northeastern North Carolina in the small coastal town of Hertford, NC. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received a BS in Biochemistry. Dr. Hollowell graduated with honors from the UNC School of Dentistry with a Doctorate of Dental Surgery. After practicing for a year as a general dentist in Durham, he completed specialty training in pediatric dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry in Richmond, VA and received a Masters of Dental Science degree.
Dr. Hollowell is a recipient of the prestigious Richard C. Pugh Award, an honor for scoring in the top 3% of candidates nationwide on the written pediatric dental board exam. He also received the Resident Recognition award at VCU. Dr. Hollowell’s research paper titled “Articaine Use in Children Among Dental Practitioners” has been published in the journal Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Hollowell is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, and the North Carolina Dental Society.
Dr. Hollowell and his wife, Stephanie, moved to Wake Forest in 2007. They have three children, Rob, Claire and John. In his free time Dr. Hollowell enjoys spending time with family, watching UNC sports, running, and coaching youth sports.
Dr. Allen Porter
Dr. Porter is a native of South Carolina. He attended The Hammond School as a high school student and excelled in academics as well as athletics. Dr. Allen S Porter graduated from the University of South Carolina and received his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston graduating with honors. He obtained a Masters of Science (MS) degree in pediatric dentistry from The Medical College of Virginia (now known as the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine) in Richmond. After completing his residency Dr. Porter became board certified and a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Porter’s research has been published in the journal of Pediatric Dentistry. His research was a public health survey to attempt to locate the underserved children who lack the basic access to dental care in the state of Virginia. Dr Porter is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the South Carolina Dental Association and the North Carolina Pediatric Dental Study Club.
Dr. Porter loves his profession and is extremely passionate about being able to provide the highest quality care to his young patients in the safest environment . Due to his background and credentials , he has privileges at WakeMed Hospital for patients requiring sedation, surgery, as well as treating patients with special health care needs. In his time off, Dr. Porter can be found on Sullivans Island, South Carolina. He enjoys fishing, boating, and spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Kenneth Benson
Dr. Benson has served the Raleigh area as an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon (OMFS) since 2000. He completed his undergrad degree in Biology at UNC-CH, and graduated with Distinction from the UNC School of Dentistry. He completed his OMFS training at MCV-VCU in Richmond, Va.
Dr. Benson has memberships in multiple dental and surgical societies and is a Board certified OMFS. He also retains privileges at WakeMed Raleigh and the Surgical Center for Dental Professionals. Dr. Benson is also an adjunct faculty member of the UNC department of OMFS.
Dr. Benson enjoys hobbies that primarily involve his wife and daughter. You may also find him playing golf, running, or playing basketball to keep active and healthy. Dr. Benson values his oral surgery team and looks forward to assisting patients with their oral surgery needs.
Dr. Andrew Vaughn
Dr. Vaughn (Dr. A.J.) grew up in Oklahoma in the small town of Sand Springs. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Tulsa where he received his BS in Biology and went on to be a cardiovascular technologist assisting in heart catheterization and pacemaker implantations in the hospital’s Heart Cath Lab.
After three years, Dr. Vaughn went on to complete his Doctorate of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree from Tufts University in Boston, MA. As a general dentist he worked for two years in a pediatric specialty office and found his love for treating children. He went on to complete his specialty training in pediatric dentistry at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Dr. Vaughn continues to further his education and training to serve his patients in the most effective way possible. He is a board certified Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and is an Associate Fellow of the Academy of Gp Orthodontics. He has trained with numerous board certified specialists over the years and learned from their skills and knowledge to become the most skilled pediatric dentist he can be for every child he sees.
Dr. Vaughn has a true passion for nature. He loves to hike in the mountains and maintain a healthy lifestyle with diet and training. In his free time, Dr. Vaughn and his wife, Alla, enjoy traveling and spending as much time in nature as possible.
Imagine...
A visit your child looks forward to
Care that accommodates your child's unique needs
Minimally invasive treatments that protect your child's smile
Treatments For Growing Smiles
Cleanings & Hygiene
We help kids develop strong oral habits with gentle cleanings and personalized hygiene instruction at every visit.
Restorative Care
From small fillings to larger treatments, we use tooth-colored materials and child-friendly techniques to restore health and function.
Crowns
We offer both stainless steel and tooth-colored crowns to protect damaged or decayed baby teeth and keep your child smiling with confidence.
Sedation Options
We offer safe, tailored sedation to make every visit comfortable — from gentle nitrous oxide for mild anxiety to IV/general anesthesia for more complex care.
We Accept Your Insurance
We work with most major dental insurance plans — including Delta Dental, Cigna, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Ameritas — so your child can get the care they need without the stress of out-of-pocket surprises.
Your child's first visit experience
01
A warm welcome
From the momento you walk in, your child will be greeted with smiles, fun activitiesd a kid-friendly environment.
02
Gentle Exam & Cleaning
We'll chat with you about your child's health history, take X-rays if needed, and perform a gentle cleaning and throough exam - all at your child's pace.
03
Personalized Plan
After the exam, we'll walk you through our findings and create a treatment plan tailored to your child's needs, complete with tips to support oral health at home.
04
Schedule next visit
We'll help you choose a convenient time for your child's next checkup and answer any questions to make sure you leave feeling confident and cared for.
Stories from patients Like You
Lizzy P.
"My daughter gets very nervous with anything medical - even the dentist and a simple cleaning . Everyone is so kind to her on her team ! Thankful!"
Marilyn R.
"The staff took very good care of my daughter. They walked her through the steps of what was gonna happen. I do appreciate them trying to ease her mind as she prepared to have some dental work done. Thank you all much"
xochi T.
"Triangle Pediatric Dentistry is the perfect spot for a friendly, fun, and caring dental experience for kids. My son has been a patient there for two years, and every visit is a joy. Dr. Buddy and Gracie always treat him with the utmost care and kindness. As he gets older, he’s even more excited about his teeth cleanings at TPD!"
Audrey S.
"My boys go here and we have been happy with the service, timeliness and the doctors. I would recommend!"
Abby L.
"I love this practice!! My son is 4 and loves going, the staff is so friendly and responsive."
LESSIE m.
"The staff were warm and welcoming. The cleaning for my son was smooth. The dr provided clear instructions and the follow up needed for his care."
Ready to book your child's visit?
Their best smiles starts here. Let's make it a great experience.
See you soon
Triangle Pediatric Dentistry, 2026
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