Leon Lester, D.D.S.
Leon Lester, D.D.S. is a provider specialising in Dentist in Asheville, NC, registered under NPI 1164648903. This provider registers 2 separate taxonomy codes, which usually means they practise across more than one recognised specialty. NPPES records them as a sole proprietor, meaning the practice is not incorporated as a separate legal entity.
Getting there
The practice address on file is 77 MCDOWELL ST, Asheville, NC 28801. We have not yet mapped what surrounds this office — parking, transit, and nearby pharmacies are added as our data collection reaches each location.
Credentials and Medicare
| Licence | State | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| 6900 | NC | Dentist primary |
| 6900 | NC | Public Health Dentistry |
This provider holds licence 6900 issued in NC. A licence number in NPPES reflects what was filed at registration — it does not confirm the licence is still active today.
- Status
- Approved
- Provider type
- Practitioner - Dentist
- PAC ID
- 7012355449
- Enrollment ID
- I20240404002368
Medicare enrolment is recorded as approved under the provider type Practitioner - Dentist. Being enrolled means the provider can bill Medicare; it does not tell you whether they are currently accepting new Medicare patients. Call the office to confirm.
What Dentist covers
A dentist is a person qualified by a doctorate in dental surgery (D.D.S.) or dental medicine (D.M.D.), licensed by the state to practice dentistry, and practicing within the scope of that license. There is no difference between the two degrees: dentists who have a DMD or DDS have the same education. Universities have the prerogative to determine what degree is awarded. Both degrees use the same curriculum requirements set by the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. Generally, three or more years of undergraduate education plus four years of dental school is required to graduate and become a general dentist. State licensing boards accept either degree as equivalent, and both degrees allow licensed individuals to practice the same scope of general dentistry. Additional post-graduate training is required to become a dental specialist. NUCC Health Care Provider Taxonomy, code 122300000X
All registered taxonomy codes
This provider registers 2 taxonomy codes. The primary code is what appears on most claims; the others record additional recognised specialties.
| Code | Specialty | Licence | State | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 122300000X | Dentist | 6900 | NC | primary |
| 1223D0001X | Public Health Dentistry Dental Public Health | 6900 | NC |
The taxonomy records how the provider classifies their own practice. It does not confirm which conditions they currently treat, whether they are accepting new patients, or which insurance they take — call the office for that.
Full NPPES record
An NPI-1 identifies a single person. It stays with the clinician for life, even if they move practice or change state, which is why the address on file can lag behind where they actually work today.
| NPI | 1164648903 valid check digit |
|---|---|
| Entity type | Individual (NPI-1) |
| Enumeration date | Apr 18, 2007 |
| Last updated | Mar 21, 2024 |
| Status | Active |
| Sole proprietor | Yes |
| Credential | D.D.S. |
| Practice address |
77 MCDOWELL ST Asheville, NC 28801 (828) 257-4745 |
| Mailing address |
PO BOX 100181 Columbia, SC 29202 |
| Other identifiers |
1356490528
· Other (NC) |
Number check
How the check works, step by step
Every NPI carries a Luhn check digit — the same scheme used on credit cards. CMS prefixes the number with 80840 before computing it, which marks it as a US health identifier.
| Digit | 8 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doubled? | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 |
| Value | 8 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 0 |
Sum = 57 · next multiple of 10 = 60 · check digit = 3 · actual last digit = 3
A valid check digit only means the number is well-formed. It does not mean the provider is licensed, active, or in good standing — those are separate questions answered by the sections above.