Dr. Richel settling into role at Franklin Street Dental

Banner Graphic/Jared Jernagan Employees, family members, friends and Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce members gather with Dr. Dennis Knuth as he cuts the ribbon on Franklin Street Dental, which joins Knuth’s Hometown Dental practice as part of The Hometown Dental Group. Gathered for the event are (from left) Cinda Lee, Kylee Detro, Melissa Timmons, Shelbey Hedrick, Rachel Ames, LaToshia Everson, Joel Everson, Gayle Hill, Dr. Richel Geisse, Eleanor Knuth, Dr. Dennis Knuth, Michael Knuth, Chamber Executive Director Brian Cox, Charlie Knuth, Emily Knuth, Maddie McCoy, Dana Glessner, Sammie McCoy, Cathy Jones, Steve Jones, Jenny Sullivan, Beth Flint and Laurie Hardwick.

Back under local ownership and featuring a dentist with prior Greencastle ties, the dental practice at 819 E. Franklin St. rolled out a new name this fall.

Now owned by Dr. Dennis and Emily Knuth of Greencastle Hometown Dental, the rechristened Franklin Street Dental is part of The Hometown Dental Group with patients under the care of Dr. Richel Geisse.

Dr. Richel, as she prefers to be called, is a 2010 graduate of DePauw University and 2017 graduate of the Indiana University School of Dentistry. She said the transition into the practice has been pretty smooth.

“It’s been good,” Geisse said. “We have the same staff that was here and they’ve been very nice and welcomed me to the team.”

With someone from Knuth’s Indianapolis Road office also on hand, the goal is to grow the practice.

“We’re definitely trying to grow and re-establish ourselves,” Geisse said. “That practice has been through a lot of changes.”

While her graduation from DePauw wasn’t that long ago, Geisse feels like she’s returning to a much different city following Greencastle’s Stellar Communities grant and subsequent revitalization of downtown and other areas.

“It’s been fun to be back in Greencastle,” Geisse said. “I don’t feel like I’ve been gone that long, but the town has changed so much. We’ve been coming back to try all the new restaurants.”

Geisse lives with her boyfriend, whom she met at DePauw, and their two dogs. Originally from the west side of Indianapolis, she is one of six children.

“I think that’s where my love of kids comes in. I have graduated from babysitting now at 30, so it’s nice to have kids come in,” Geisse said.

That background in babysitting may make Geisse’s name and face familiar to some local families, as she worked as a babysitter in the community during her undergraduate years.

Now she’s hoping to bring that kind of care to the dental practice.

She wants to prioritize oral health.

“Let’s treat people as people, not just their mouth,” Geisse said. “One of the things I like about dentistry is you get to build these relationships. You see your dentist more often than your doctor.”

Franklin Street Dental is open four days a week, Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday from noon-7 p.m. and Thursday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

The practice may be reached at 653-5501.