New Ownership · Now Welcoming Patients

Meet Dr. Holly McKnight,
Your Periodontist in the Camelback Corridor

Board-certified in periodontics and dental implant surgery, Dr. Holly McKnight, DDS, MS is the new owner of Camelback Periodontics in Phoenix, Arizona. With more than 14 years of experience in dental implants, gum health, minimally invasive laser gum treatment, and esthetic smile designs, she is proud to continue serving Arcadia, the Camelback Corridor, Paradise Valley, and the greater Phoenix community right in the neighborhood where she lives and raises her family.

New Ownership · Now Welcoming Patients

Meet Dr. Holly McKnight, Your Periodontist in the Camelback Corridor

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Board-certified in periodontics and dental implant surgery, Dr. Holly McKnight, DDS, MS is the new owner of Camelback Periodontics in Phoenix, Arizona. With more than 14 years of experience in dental implants, gum health, minimally invasive laser gum treatment, and esthetic smile designs, she is proud to continue serving Arcadia, the Camelback Corridor, Paradise Valley, and the greater Phoenix community right in the neighborhood where she lives and raises her family.

About Dr. Holly McKnight

A Periodontist Rooted in
Science, Art, and Steady Hands

Dr. Holly McKnight has always been drawn to two things: the precision of science and the discipline of visual art. As a student, she was captivated by biology and physiology, especially the intricate ways the body heals, and how it sometimes needs help to do so. Dentistry was where those two passions finally met.

During dental school, a faculty mentor noticed her hand skills and encouraged her to consider periodontics and surgery. It wasn't the first time someone had spotted that talent. As a child, Dr. McKnight's mother enrolled her in 4-H sewing and quilting projects, the same fine motor skills that now guide her surgical technique in the operatory.

"I was nudged along the way throughout my life to get me to today. My mother nudged me to sew. My dental school faculty nudged those hand skills toward surgery. My patients encourage me to keep going every day."

14+
Years in Periodontal Practice
2012
Board
Certified Diplomate

Now serving the community she calls home, Dr. McKnight and her family live in the Arcadia area. Although many patients travel to see Dr. McKnight she is honored to care for the families and friends in the neighborhood where she is raising her own children. Once Dr. McKnight and her team take care of your oral health you will also feel like a close friend.

EDUCATION TRAINING

& TIMELINE

EDUCATION TRAINING

& TIMELINE

2005

Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska

  • Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Honors Certification from the Department of Psychology.

2009

Creighton University School of Dentistry, Omaha, Nebraska

Doctor of Dental Surgery.

  • Elected member, Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honor Dental Society.

2009 - 2012

The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Columbus, Ohio

  • Certificate of Periodontology and Master of Science in Oral Biology.
  • Served as Chief Resident (2011-2012).

2012 - Present

Diplomate, American Board of Periodontology

Board certified in periodontics and dental implant surgery, a distinction that reflects advanced, peer-reviewed expertise beyond general licensure.

2014 - Present

LANAP Certified, Millennium Dental Technologies

Certified in the use of the PerioLase MVP-7 for the LANAP protocol, a minimally invasive laser treatment for gum disease.

2019 - Present

SMART Technique Certified

Subperiosteal Minimally Invasive Aesthetic Ridge Augmentation Technique, used to rebuild bone and tissue contour for natural-looking esthetic results.

Philosophy of Care

Health at the Core, Compassion All Around It

"My patient care philosophy has health at its core, with compassion, expertise, and joy orbiting around that core to help patients have unabated smiles."

Dr. Holly McKnight, DDS, MS

Cared for like a trusted friend

Dr. McKnight wants every patient to feel like they are in the hands of a trusted friend who happens to be an expert periodontal surgeon. Patients often describe it simply as a feeling, the sense of knowing they have been genuinely well cared for.

A common misconception worth knowing

Many people assume that if a gum problem were serious, it would hurt. In reality, pain is usually a late sign of periodontal disease. By the time it hurts, the likely solution involves more tooth loss, more complexity, and more expense. Regular periodontal evaluation catches problems while they are still simple to treat.

Areas of focus

Periodontics, Dental Implants & Esthetic Gum Care

Anterior Esthetic Implants

Signature Focus

Single and multiple tooth implants in the front of the mouth, where esthetics and function both matter most. This is the procedure Dr. McKnight is most known for among referring dentists.

Gum Grafting

Soft Tissue Health

Restoring gum tissue to protect roots, stop recession, and improve both the health and the appearance of the smile.

Crown Lengthening & Gingival Lift

Smile Design

Reshaping the gumline to reveal a more balanced, natural smile, often performed alongside restorative or cosmetic dentistry.

LANAP

Minimally Invasive Laser Treatment

A laser-based alternative to traditional gum surgery that can regenerate lost attachment with less cutting and less downtime.

SMART Ridge Augmentation

Bone & Ridge Rebuilding

A minimally invasive technique for rebuilding bone contour ahead of implant placement, supporting long-term, natural-looking results.

Co-Managed Periodontal Health

Referral-Based Care

Dr. McKnight works closely with general dentists throughout the valley, providing specialized periodontal and implant care as part of a coordinated treatment plan.

A Note on the Transition

Continuing the Legacy of Camelback Periodontics

Dr. McKnight is honored to take over Camelback Periodontics and to become a trusted, chosen member of the healthcare team for the patients Dr. Grajales has cared for over the years. The same attention to detail, expertise, and genuine joy in the work that Dr. McKnight's existing patients already know will carry forward for every patient who walks through the door.

Over time, patients can expect Dr. McKnight to bring additional technology and minimally invasive surgical techniques to the practice, including LANAP laser treatment, the SMART ridge augmentation technique, and gingival lift procedures, all aimed at more comfortable care and more natural-looking results.

"I'm excited to be the periodontist in my own neighborhood. I live in this neighborhood, we are raising our kids here, and now we serve the patients of Arcadia, the Camelback Corridor, Paradise Valley, and beyond."

Dr. Holly McKnight, DDS, MS

Recognition & Involvement

Trusted by Patients, Recognized by Peers

Awards & Honors

  • Phoenix Top Doctor, Periodontics (Phoenix Magazine)

    Award recipient nearly every year since 2016, including 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 2026

  • Phoenix Top Doctor, Periodontics

    Top Vote Recipient: 2022, 2023

  • Incisal Edge 40 Under 40

    Recipient, 2017

  • Seattle Study Club Future Icon Award

    2021

  • Dental Student Award for Achievement in Periodontology

    American Academy of Periodontology, 2009

Professional Leadership

  • Seattle Study Club

    Member since 2012, Club Director since 2013, Executive Advisory Board Member since 2024

  • American Academy of Periodontology

    Active Member since 2009

  • American Dental Association / Arizona Dental Association / Central Arizona Dental Society

    Member since 2009

  • CADS Foundation

    Board of Directors, 2018-2022

  • AZMom

    Volunteer since 2013, former Board of Directors member, supporting access to dental care for underserved Arizona families

"Arizona dental professionals are so very committed to our community, including the disadvantaged who otherwise don't have access to care. I learned so much from the compassion and fortitude of the founding members and leadership of the AZMom program, and I hope plans come together to bring it back to Arizona."

Beyond the Practice

Family, Community, and
a Life in Arcadia

When she isn't in the operatory, Dr. McKnight's favorite place to be is with her husband and children, watching their interests and passions grow. The family spends much of its free time outdoors and together.

  • Hiking, skiing, and golf as a family
  • Playing pickleball together
  • Enjoying good food and wine with close friends
  • Spending time with parents, siblings, and in-laws

"I am happy to be back chairside, meeting patients where they are and helping them on their journey to health."

Patient Story

"The thank you letter I received from a patient, with a picture of her beautiful smile, stands out to me. She had lost several front teeth as a child and had seen several providers over the decades with no better solution than a removable denture. I had the fortune to repair and rebuild bone for implant-supported teeth, working with a team of talented colleagues to provide comprehensive care. It is a privilege to see her unabated smile and receive her hug and thanks."