He walks through the years he practiced solo, the three associates who left him holding the bag, and the moment he decided to sell a half partnership to the dentist who stayed. He explains why he lowered his fees when every other dentist was raising theirs. He describes the lecture circuit where he watched the profession refuse Medicaid, refuse middle income families, and refuse the patients he was building his practice around. He talks about the personal background that shaped all of it, including the family dentist who saw him for free when his parents could not pay.

Dr. Kushner also addresses the misconceptions. Comfort Dental looks like a corporate chain from the outside. From the inside, every doctor owns their practice. He explains why the DSO model does not apply, why he predicted the rise of private equity dentistry 40 years ago, and why he still believes the partnership model is the only sustainable answer to the debt crisis facing new dentists today.

This is the foundational episode of the series. If you want to understand Comfort Dental, start here.

Chapters 00:00 Why Shawn wanted this conversation 00:45 The recruitment challenge and why partners outperform associates 06:14 The original solo practice and the watershed moment 09:34 Selling the first partnership to Dr. Eirik 14:26 The decision to franchise and the birth of the Comfort Dental name 17:33 Lecturing the profession and being told no 19:07 Why most dentistry leaves middle and lower income patients behind 20:03 Where it came from, the family story 27:04 Dental school as a means to an end 28:49 Building the Fantastic Five 30:53 Predicting the rise of DSOs 33:20 Doing the opposite of every other dentist 35:46 What Comfort Dental does for dentist income 38:30 Why most dentists will not work the hours 40:52 Hard work as the real catch 44:39 Why dentists burn out and why patients pay the price 48:42 What makes a successful Comfort Dental dentist 53:50 Why Comfort Dental is not a DSO 55:02 No community left behind 57:44 What is most misunderstood about Dr. Kushner 58:45 Advice to dentists who feel trapped 01:02:45 Doctor autonomy inside the franchise 01:04:16 Closing thoughts

Dr. Kaiser shares his unusual path to dentistry. A great family dentist. Five years in braces as a kid. Two years of missionary service. A master’s program at LECOM in Bradenton, Florida that gave him a second shot at dental school after he was waitlisted elsewhere. He talks openly about being more of an artist than a scientist, why he paints watercolors in his spare time, and how that creative instinct shows up in the way he restores teeth.

You will hear why denture cases are some of his favorite work, why his wife calls him the most honest person she has ever met, and how he learned to communicate as someone who grew up introverted and uncomfortable with public speaking. He also gets candid about the moments that test you as a young dentist, how he separates his professional and personal sides when a patient is unhappy, and why he chose Comfort Dental straight out of dental school.

There is a clear thread running through this conversation. Dr. Kaiser treats the person, not the tooth. He talks about patients who feel ashamed about their oral health, about being honest without being harsh, and about why no one should feel afraid to walk into his office.

If you have been putting off the dentist, or if you are looking for a doctor in Montrose who will treat you like a human being first, this episode will give you a real feel for who Dr. Kaiser is.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 00:22 Why dentistry: family dentist, five years in braces
• 04:09 Honest with patients about his own flossing
• 04:51 The path to dental school and LECOM’s master’s program
• 07:43 Artist or scientist: Dr. Kaiser on being a craftsperson
• 09:38 The shadowing moment that sealed his decision
• 10:47 Watercolor painting and Bob Ross
• 12:03 The gap between expectation and reality as a new dentist
• 15:32 Why honesty with patients matters when things go wrong
• 16:41 What he thinks about on the drive home
• 17:36 Why he loves denture cases
• 19:00 The denture story you have to hear from Dr. Colledge
• 20:35 Separating the professional from the personal
• 23:11 Why he picked Comfort Dental straight out of school
• 25:24 Betting on yourself with the ownership model
• 27:10 Caring for Medicaid and uninsured patients in Montrose
• 32:20 Finding the right practice fit on the first try
• 33:49 What patients can expect when they walk in
• 36:10 The high-leverage skill of building trust
• 37:53 Learning to communicate as an introvert
• 40:59 Treating the person, not the tooth
• 42:58 What he wishes every patient knew about oral health
• 45:37 A message for the patient who has been putting it off

The conversation covers the franchise structure, clinical autonomy, ownership pathways, and the specific math that flips a dental student from employee thinking to owner thinking. Dr. Carlston explains why the average Comfort Dental doctor stays for around 10 years, why students with more debt often outperform their peers, and why the company carries no private equity or venture capital.

Chapter markers below.

Chapters

• 00:00 Cold open and introduction
• 00:00:58 The biggest myth: Comfort Dental as DSO
• 00:02:17 Why doctors stick around for 10 years on average
• 00:03:43 Scheduling, vacation, and the partner dynamic
• 00:05:52 The employee mindset problem with new graduates
• 00:07:47 Why dental school does not teach business
• 00:09:49 When the light bulb turns on for students
• 00:12:40 Targeting dentists three to five years out
• 00:14:35 Looking corporate, behaving like a franchise
• 00:16:23 Stories from dentists burned by DSOs
• 00:18:42 The Dr. Kushner principle: leave the majority on the table
• 00:19:36 Why Comfort Dental is not a DSO (no private equity, no VC)
• 00:21:56 The Comfort Dental doctor DNA
• 00:22:47 Mentoring and 50-plus combined years of clinical experience
• 00:25:04 Contrast is the mother of clarity
• 00:27:22 How new doctors ramp clinical confidence quickly
• 00:30:11 Transparency on numbers across 150-plus offices
• 00:34:08 The mindset that predicts success
• 00:36:29 Why students with more debt perform better
• 00:37:17 The recruitment paradox: why are there openings
• 00:40:00 Lower overhead and how it changes treatment plans
• 00:42:23 Why guarantee-focused candidates are usually wrong fits
• 00:44:04 What “that type of dentistry” misconception really means
• 00:45:21 People management as the hardest part of dental practice
• 00:47:39 The hygienist who walks back and the dentist is playing video games
• 00:50:33 Removing barriers for patients to access offices
• 00:52:11 Students who do not say no, they just stop responding
• 00:55:38 Where to learn more: comfortdentalfranchise.com
• 00:56:04 The quarterly Denver meetings explained
• 00:58:29 The Oregon doctor who did not care about the price
• 00:59:39 Next meeting and how to reach Dr. Carlston

Links

• Comfort Dental Franchise: comfortdentalfranchise.com
• Email Dr. Carlston: mCarlston@comfortdental.biz
• Comfort Dental: comfortdental.com

Heath did not grow up in a dental family. His mom drove a school bus. His dad delivered the mail. He chose dentistry at 14 years old because the dentists he saw looked respected, lived well, and had built something. Twenty plus years later, he is one of the few dentists willing to be honest about the parts of the profession no one talks about.

He started his career as an associate. Eighteen months in, he watched his boss carry the weight of a practice alone, and he knew he wanted no part of that future. He joined Comfort Dental shortly after. The partnership model became the difference between burnout and a sustainable career. Today his office runs four partners deep. Each takes on the parts of the business they are built for. Heath handles the numbers and the bills. His partners handle hiring, firing, and operations. They share the clinical load. No one carries the whole thing alone.

Inside the conversation, Heath gets honest about what patients do not see: the payroll thoughts running through his head between root canals, the one bad interaction that ruins an entire week, the standard he holds himself to that no real practice could ever meet. He talks about the high suicide rate in the profession and why solo dentists stuck in failing practices are the ones at greatest risk. He shares the operatory stories he saves for dentist conferences, including the 20 year old denture and the patient who licked food off his prosthetic before handing it back. He gets to his core message for patients: shit happens in dentistry. Roots break. Files break. Anatomy varies. The dentist standing over you is doing their best with the body in front of them, and the dentist who promises perfection is the one to walk away from.

For dental students and burned out dentists listening, Heath delivers his sharpest advice yet on the financial reality no one prepared him for. The $180,000 associate guarantee will not pay off $500,000 in student loans. Income-based repayment freezes your debt rather than killing it. Loan forgiveness is a gamble. Ownership is the way out, and partnership is the way ownership stays survivable.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Cold open and intro 00:25 Burnout: what 19 years actually feels like 02:23 The gap dental school leaves behind 05:20 The standard you set for yourself 07:33 Why some dentists do not survive 08:31 Why Heath left his associate job 09:11 The partnership model 10:40 The patient who ruins your week 12:54 Operatory stories 14:42 The two postures of healthcare 17:17 The two times he gagged 19:51 What he wishes patients understood 22:43 Advice to his younger self 23:53 The dental student trap 29:11 The myth of clinical excellence equaling income 31:31 How partnerships actually divide the work 35:45 What he tells dental students now 37:14 How to reach Dr. Colledge

CONTACT hcolledge@comfortdental.biz comfortdentalfranchise.com

ABOUT THE COMFORT DENTAL PODCAST Behind the mask. Real people. Real conversations. Hosted by Shawn Zajas. Produced by MySocialPractice. Each episode pulls back the curtain on a Comfort Dental dentist, their story, their patients, and the partnership model behind one of the largest dental groups in the country.

Learn more at comfortdental.com.

This conversation covers the early days of Comfort Dental, the moment the practices decided to share a name and market together, the lawyer who told them they were technically a franchise, and the partnership dynamics that made the model work when most dentists were going it alone.

Dr. Bloss talks openly about the parts of dentistry that wear a doctor down. The physical demands. The emotional load of treating anxious patients. The financial pressure that builds when overhead climbs and patient flow slips. He explains why he believes the people side of dentistry is harder than the clinical side, and why financial stress can lead to poor clinical decisions. He shares his concern about new graduates carrying $500,000 to $800,000 in student debt and the pressure that puts on the profession.

He walks through the NERD system, four core functions Comfort Dental built into every practice. He explains why Comfort Dental doctors present their own treatment plans, why partnership beats solo ownership in his experience, and why a Comfort Dental practice holds its value at sale in a way a solo practice often can’t.

For patients listening, the through-line is straightforward. Lower overhead means a doctor has room to meet patients where they are. Long hours and Saturday access mean care is available when it’s needed. High patient volume means doctors get more reps, which builds clinical skill. And as Dr. Bloss puts it at the end of the episode, every patient is the right kind of patient.

For dentists evaluating their next move, this is a candid look at the model from someone who watched it start.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Meet Dr. Mike Bloss, Comfort Dental OG
• 00:30 The 1991 ad in the CDA journal that started it all
• 02:05 Dr. Kushner the unicorn: clinical skill and entrepreneurship
• 04:30 Why dentistry’s hardest part is the people side
• 06:35 30+ years in practice and how Bloss avoided burnout
• 06:55 The NERD system explained
• 08:23 The “with or without you” energy of Comfort Dental doctors
• 09:30 Why solo practice is so hard to sustain
• 13:00 Becoming a franchise (and why it wasn’t planned)
• 17:50 The $500K to $800K dental school debt crisis
• 21:00 The $500 vs $200 copay story
• 22:42 How lower overhead enables clinical flexibility
• 25:30 Addressing the “mill” perception head-on
• 28:50 The ideal Comfort Dental doctor archetype
• 33:50 Why young dentists hesitate to bet on themselves
• 40:00 What dentistry is really like inside the model
• 44:30 The trial period and how to evaluate joining
• 47:30 Why retirement is harder for solo practitioners
• 48:30 How to contact Dr. Bloss directly
• 50:30 Every patient is the right kind of patient

Reach Dr. Bloss: cmbloss@comfortdental.biz | 303-862-2909

In this conversation with host Shawn Zajas, Dr. Winnyk shares the path that took him from wanting to be a weatherman to running one of the busiest practices in his area. He talks about the challenges of being a left-handed dentist, what it was like to shadow Comfort Dental doctors before buying in, and how he handled his peers’ skepticism about the business model. He explains why high patient volume has made him a better clinician, and why that matters for the people sitting in his chair.

He also opens up about what the work means to him now. He treats every patient like his own family. He has pulled his wife’s wisdom teeth, done his uncle’s implants, and a root canal on his best friend. He sees a large Medicaid population. He taught himself Spanish to serve his community directly. He regularly does pro bono work for patients who cannot afford treatment, including a root canal on a cancer patient who only had $100 to her name.

Dr. Winnyk walks through his approach to dental anxiety with a scary-movie analogy: if you know what is around the corner, it is not scary. He explains implants using a drywall screw. He tells the story of squeezing in a Friday afternoon root canal for a patient who had not slept in two days, and what it meant when the patient came back and called him the GOAT.

Outside the practice, he runs marathons and is training for his first Ironman. He has three kids. He keeps thank-you cards from patients on his shelf and looks at them every day.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 00:30 Why dentistry (weatherman to dental school)
• 01:53 Being left-handed in dental school
• 07:28 How Dr. Winnyk found Comfort Dental
• 09:40 Dispelling the “corporate” stereotype
• 12:35 Twelve years in, and what mastery looks like
• 14:56 The patient who called him the GOAT
• 19:06 Constructive criticism and the pain-free goal
• 22:45 “Treat you like family,” and the volume argument
• 28:05 Confidence, humility, and the weight of being a master
• 32:48 Pro bono work and the free-clinic background
• 35:49 The Columbus community and the team
• 39:14 Advice to his younger self, and learning Spanish
• 42:28 The stories that stay with him
• 44:05 Walking patients through procedures
• 46:35 The scary-movie analogy for dental anxiety
• 50:18 Thank-you cards on the shelf
• 51:06 Marathons, Ironman training, and life outside dentistry
• 53:14 Closing thoughts

In this conversation with Shawn Zajas, Dr. Carlston walks through how he found Comfort Dental as a fourth-year dental student, the conversation with his wife that sealed the move to Denver, and why so many of the dentists he talks to are stuck five to seven years into their careers without realizing it.

He is honest about the hard parts of the profession. Dentists are uncomfortable a lot, he points out, because the job puts you inside 18 inches of a stranger all day. He talks about the debt most dental graduates carry without fully understanding the math behind repayment. And he shares the common pattern he sees among dentists who look successful from the outside while carrying 80 percent overhead on beautiful offices that shut down every time they take a week off.

Then he walks through what Comfort Dental actually is. Not a DSO. A network of doctor-owned practices that share marketing, share supply pricing, and share the partnership burden so no one carries it alone. He explains why 11 offices pooling marketing dollars in a single metro produces 35 to 40 new patients per month per doctor, why that volume makes doctors more clinically proficient, and why conservative treatment planning is actually easier when your schedule is full.

On the patient side, he makes a case that should matter to anyone reading this. A dentist who has done 10,000 extractions is going to be more comfortable with your tooth than a dentist who has done 100. A practice that never closes because partners cover each other is a practice where your care does not get dropped when someone takes a week off. A front desk that asks “when can you be here” instead of “what is your insurance” is a front desk designed to get you in the chair.

He also talks about the Gold Plan, Comfort Dental’s in-office discount program that tens of thousands of patients sign up for as an alternative to insurance. And he is candid about the moments he finds hardest: when a dentist outside Comfort Dental has built a beautiful practice, is burning out under 80 percent overhead, and cannot quite see the way out.

Near the end, Shawn asks him where the best opportunities are right now for doctors listening. His answer: Santa Fe, New Mexico. Albuquerque. Aurora. Cherry Creek. And Comfort Dental Franchise dot com for anyone who wants to reach out directly.

The most disarming moment in the episode is Dr. Carlston’s admission partway through: “I don’t love dentistry. I don’t know if many people do love dentistry. But practicing within Comfort Dental has made me like dentistry more than I would if I was practicing outside of it.” It is the most honest thing a dentist can say on a podcast, and it explains why he has stayed 22 years.

Chapters:

1. 00:00 Why dentistry (and the private island story)
2. 02:34 The hidden cost of the profession
3. 07:00 Lifestyle versus income for young dentists
4. 08:11 Student debt and financial illiteracy in dental school
5. 11:22 How Dr. Carlston found Comfort Dental in his fourth year
6. 14:38 The flexible schedule most dentists never get
7. 17:42 Pooled marketing and 35 new patients a month
8. 21:30 Conservative treatment planning at volume
9. 24:57 The DSO misconception, addressed directly
10. 28:37 Why doctors stay their entire career
11. 33:38 Referral bonuses and classmate introductions
12. 36:16 Volume and quality: why more reps make better dentists
13. 40:44 The Lean and Mean philosophy and chief complaint conversations
14. 43:51 Why Comfort Dental is not a dental mill
15. 44:59 “When can you be here?” and barriers to care
16. 46:25 Who Comfort Dental is not a good fit for
17. 49:17 “I don’t love dentistry, but I like practicing here”
18. 51:38 Earning potential and average paychecks
19. 54:45 Two doctors who walked away from their own practices
20. 58:26 The top three open opportunities right now
21. 01:01:00 How to reach out to Dr. Carlston

Connect: Comfort Dental Franchise: comfortdentalfranchise.com

Today, Dr. Rosas practices at Comfort Dental South Federal in Denver, Colorado. He graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, where he won an award in prosthetics out of a class of 230. He has been practicing dentistry for over a decade and he is still expanding his skill set.

His practice in Denver serves a community where 65 to 70 percent of patients rely on Medicaid. He wants it that way. From the beginning of his career in Peru, he has been drawn to patients who need care and do not have easy access to it. The Comfort Dental model, which accepts all insurance types including Medicaid, makes that kind of practice possible.

In this episode, Dr. Rosas takes us through what a first visit actually looks like in his office. He shows patients their X-rays and intraoral photos before recommending any treatment. He spends 10 to 15 minutes explaining what he sees and walking through options. Then he tells every patient the same thing: you are the boss.

He talks about dental anxiety and the tools he uses to help patients through procedures. Headphones. A stress ball. Jokes before the needle. He also calls patients at the end of every workday to check in after their procedures. Not a form. Not a text. A phone call.

Dr. Rosas is bilingual and so is his entire team. Sixty to sixty-five percent of his patients are Spanish speakers. His associate, Dr. Farah Machi, is from Honduras. Every front desk staff member and every dental assistant in the office is bilingual. For Spanish-speaking patients in Denver, that is rare.

He recently started placing dental implants and completed aligner training. He is heading to Brazil for an intensive implant course where he will place 20 to 25 implants in a single week.

The moment that will stop you in this episode is the story he tells from his time in Peru. A patient who needed all his teeth extracted. Dentures made in advance. And the moment that patient looked at himself in the mirror and started to cry. Dr. Rosas got emotional retelling it. He says it is still the reason he shows up every day.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:25 Why dentistry, and a family of seven dentists

01:54 The artist vs. the scientist

03:59 From Tufts to Denver

04:35 What he loves most about dentistry

05:32 His Denver practice and the patients he serves

10:50 Why Comfort Dental takes all insurance types

12:14 What a first visit looks like

15:01 Handling dental anxiety

17:28 Building a connection with every patient

20:01 Common feedback after visits

21:00 Fast wisdom tooth extractions and post-procedure calls

23:10 The Gold Plan and affordability options

25:51 Quality care at a lower cost

28:20 Second opinions and same-day access

29:43 Hours and accessibility

30:25 What he wants anxious patients to know before coming in

31:18 “It’s never too late”

31:51 Biggest dental misconceptions

34:07 Team culture and office vibe

36:23 A fully bilingual practice

37:58 Clear aligners at Comfort Dental

39:30 Could the host use aligners?

40:15 Dental implants: what patients should know

43:17 Technology in dentistry: digital scanning, CBCT, lasers

45:20 Patient stories

47:06 The patient in Peru who cried

51:18 One word his patients would use to describe him

51:32 Outside dentistry: family and Peruvian cooking

52:37 The meal he makes for celebrations

53:59 Is Peruvian food spicy?

54:54 Final message to prospective patients

Now he runs two locations: the main office in Centennial, about 25 minutes south of Denver, and a satellite location in Silverthorne, an hour and fifteen minutes up into the mountains. The Silverthorne office sees a population that is 80 to 90% Spanish-speaking. About 90% of his staff there are fluent in Spanish.

In Centennial, his practice has shifted over six years from 75% kids to 55% kids, with adults now making up 45% of cases. A lot of those adults are people who had braces years ago, lost their retainer, and never got back in. Some are adults who couldn’t afford it the first time around.

In this episode, Dr. Stasi talks through what a first visit actually looks like for a nervous kid, why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first evaluation at age seven, and how he explains x-rays and prep syringes to children in language that doesn’t scare them. He talks about the shift in adult orthodontics, the difference between braces and aligners, and what parents should know about the cost of doing nothing.

He also shares a story that stays with him. A young boy with special needs who was non-communicative when he started treatment at eleven. Apprehensive. Didn’t engage. Two years later, his grandmother left a review. She wrote that her grandson was happy to smile now, and that he was talking, and that he had never done either of those things before. Dr. Stasi says that is what makes it worth it.

Monthly payments at his Centennial office start at $100 to $150. Practices up the street in the same neighborhood charge five times that for a down payment alone.

He finishes the conversation talking about his two-and-a-half-year-old son, his wife who works in cardiac surgery at the University of Colorado, and the second boy they were expecting in April. He works three days a week. He was home watching his son the day we recorded.

If you are in the Centennial area and you have been told braces cost $10,000, come check them out first.

Learn more at comfortdental.com.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:43 Why dentistry, and growing up in his father’s practice

01:30 Childhood sweetheart, Creighton dental school, and a wife in cardiac surgery

03:02 When he knew he made the right choice

03:38 Orthodontics at Comfort Dental Centennial

05:32 Affordability and accessibility in orthodontics

07:20 What monthly payments actually cost

08:28 Patient shock at the price difference

09:48 Private practice style with corporate backing

11:14 The psychology of orthodontics and self-esteem in kids

12:21 The story of a nonverbal boy and his grandmother’s review

13:28 Who his patients are (kids and adults)

17:15 Adult ortho and aligners

17:35 When should your child first see an orthodontist?

19:29 Braces vs. clear aligners

21:50 What drew him to orthodontics

24:06 His dad’s practice and growing up around it

26:06 Most challenging cases and jaw surgery

30:10 AI and the future of orthodontics

32:36 What he loves most about the work

37:42 Dental anxiety in orthodontic patients

40:02 What to expect on your first visit

43:41 The communities his practice serves

45:15 One word patients would use to describe him

46:23 Every patient deserves confidence

46:41 A message to patients in Centennial

47:43 How Comfort’s economies of scale pass savings to patients

48:59 The Silverthorne satellite location and Spanish-speaking patients

49:55 What makes him smile outside of dentistry

51:26 Work-life balance and being present for his family

In this episode of the Comfort Dental podcast, Dr. Rhees sits down with host Shawn Zajas to talk about what brought him to dentistry, why his practice sees 200 new patients a month, and how his team handles the reality that most of those patients haven’t been to a dentist in five to ten years.

Dr. Rhees grew up with a serious heart condition that pointed him toward medicine. But he wanted a career where he could work with his hands, help people heal, and still be home for his kids. Dentistry fit. A mission trip to the Dominican Republic during dental school sealed it. He treated a young girl whose front tooth was black with decay. She’d been hiding her smile behind her hand. After a filling that took minutes, she smiled normally for the first time. That moment shaped how he practices today.

His office in Colorado Springs sits in a part of town he describes as underserved for a long time. Patients come in with years of untreated problems, often scared, sometimes in pain, sometimes frustrated. His team’s approach is simple: meet them where they are. No judgment. No pressure. If a patient needs their hand held through the process, that’s what happens.

Dr. Rhees has a standing rule in his office. If someone comes in with an infected tooth and can’t afford the extraction, his team does it anyway. Last year, the donated care added up to nearly $300,000.

He walks through what a first visit looks like: you call, you get in fast (sometimes that same day), and the goal of that first appointment is to make a plan. Not to start poking. Not to pressure. The patient decides how fast or slow treatment goes.

He talks about why root canals have a worse reputation than they deserve. His favorite patient compliment: “Wait, we’re done? That wasn’t as bad as I thought.”

He explains why dental work doesn’t last forever, and why that doesn’t mean your last dentist did something wrong.

And he shares what makes him smile outside the office: the gym, camping with his three kids in the Colorado mountains, and the knowledge that the best years of fatherhood are still ahead.

When asked to finish the sentence “every patient deserves…” his answer is one word: respect.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction

00:28 Why dentistry? Heart condition, hands-on work, and wanting to be a good dad

02:45 Two-year-old daughter makes a cameo

03:37 Loving woodshop, science, business, and people

06:00 The prototypical dentist: scientist, artist, and high EQ

06:50 Mission trip to the Dominican Republic: the little girl who hid her smile

10:27 The office in a former Dunkin’ Donuts in Old Colorado City

11:45 200 new patients a month, most haven’t been in 5-10 years

12:15 The dirty dishes analogy for putting off dental care

13:42 Meeting anxious patients with compassion, not judgment

17:00 Building a team oriented toward love and service

19:20 High emotional intelligence across the whole staff

20:19 Full range of services: cleanings, root canals, implants, dentures

21:09 How the Comfort Dental model creates room for generosity

24:15 The office rule: free extractions for patients who can’t afford them

25:10 Nearly $300,000 in donated dental care last year

27:15 What Dr. Rhees loves most: connecting with patients one-on-one

29:05 Favorite compliment: “Wait, we’re done?”

31:13 What to expect at your first appointment

33:35 Patient is 100% in the driver’s seat

34:05 Same-day and next-day availability, even if your other dentist is closed

35:15 How he educates patients on treatment options without pressure

38:22 The one thing he wishes every patient understood: momentum matters

39:42 Biggest misconception: dental work doesn’t last forever

41:31 Message to patients thinking about scheduling

43:19 One word patients would use to describe him: nice

44:34 Outside the office: gym, camping, and Colorado adventures with the kids

48:03 Every patient deserves respect

The episode opens somewhere unexpected: music. Dr. Vetowich studied English and music performance at the University of Michigan, has run a marathon in every adult decade of his life, and completed multiple Ironman triathlons. He came to Colorado for the skiing. He stayed because the Comfort Dental model made sense.

From there, the conversation goes into what it actually feels like to practice dentistry every day. Dr. Vetowich does not pretend it is easy. He talks about the emotional reality of working with patients who tell you they hate being there, and he explains the “floor” he has built: a minimum standard of professionalism and compassion that holds regardless of what any patient brings into the room.

Then the patient-facing content takes over. He walks through the three questions every patient is really asking when they walk in: How much will it cost? How long will it take? Will it hurt? He explains how his practice answers all three, and what he says to patients who come in embarrassed because it has been a long time since their last visit. His answer is direct: “I’m not here to make judgments. I’m here to try and help you.”

The episode covers the full range of care his practice offers, from general dentistry to implants and full-arch cases using 3D printing and digital surgical planning. He talks about seeing a patient’s smile on screen before a single procedure begins, and about trying to bring that level of care to patients at a more affordable price point than they would find elsewhere.

He makes the oral health and systemic health connection in about a minute: diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, all tied to what is happening in your mouth. He makes the case for flossing in about 20 seconds. And he tells the story of a carpenter in his 40s with a broken-down smile who went through a full-arch procedure and gave him the biggest hug when it was done.

The episode closes with two answers that say everything. One word to describe what patients would say about him: passionate. Finish this sentence, every patient deserves: dignity.

Timestamps:

0:01 - Why dentistry: art, music, and wanting to help people

3:32 - Marathons, cross country, and Ironman triathlons

5:10 - The emotional reality of practicing dentistry

7:06 - The floor of professionalism: how Dr. Vetowich stays grounded

8:55 - How he found Comfort Dental in 2000

10:37 - The three questions every patient is really asking

11:35 - Addressing dental fear and anxiety head-on

12:10 - What a first visit actually looks like

13:24 - Affordability options and the Gold Plan

14:46 - No upselling: patients choose their level of care

15:46 - Implants, oral surgery, and full-arch dentistry

17:24 - The Da Vinci Curse and choosing mastery over dabbling

19:14 - 3D printing, Exocad, and seeing your smile before treatment

20:20 - Why patients may not know what is available in-house

21:09 - What gets him out of bed: alleviating suffering

23:11 - What new patients usually say

24:02 - “I’m not here to judge you”

24:52 - Practice culture with partner Jack Moss

26:09 - Two dentists who also play music together

27:45 - What he wishes every patient knew about timing their care

28:20 - Oral health and systemic health: the connection

29:27 - The real answer to most dental problems

30:42 - The carpenter story

33:00 - Focusing on the 19 patients who smiled

34:03 - What he would say to someone thinking about scheduling

35:01 - One word: passionate. Every patient deserves dignity.

Before he opened, he and his wife called every dental office in town to ask whether they accepted Medicaid. Two did. Both had a year-long waiting list. That gap is why he came to Durango.

In this episode, Shawn sits down with Dr. Crandall to talk about what his practice actually looks like from the patient’s side. About 60% of his patients are on Medicaid. About 60% of his staff are Navajo. His office sees patients within days, sometimes the same day. He explains how the Comfort Dental Gold Plan works for patients without insurance and what the real price difference is compared to a private dental office.

He also talks about the patients who waited too long and what it cost them. He talks about dental fear, the 50-50 split between financial avoidance and bad past experience, and what he tells patients who haven’t seen a dentist in years. He shares a case where 18 months of facial pain resolved in two days with a tiny occlusal adjustment. And he talks about the sailboat he has been restoring in South Carolina, the family’s upcoming trip up the Intracoastal Waterway, and the one word he hopes his patients use when they describe him.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

1. Why a forensic DNA examiner went to dental school at 37
2. What convinced Dr. Crandall to open a practice in Durango
3. How Comfort Dental handles same-day and emergency access
4. What the Gold Plan costs and who it’s for
5. Why 50% of dental avoidance comes down to past bad experiences
6. What patients with no insurance actually pay for a crown
7. The 18-month facial pain case that resolved in two days
8. What makes the Durango practice culture different from other offices
9. The sailboat in South Carolina and the coastal trip coming this spring

Twenty years later, Dr. Browning practices at Comfort Dental in Oklahoma, where he has built a reputation for making the dental chair one of the least scary places you will sit all day. He walks in wearing short-sleeve scrubs, shows off his tattoos, cracks jokes while he works, and tells nervous patients "Are you nervous? Me too." before they even open their mouth.

But this episode goes deeper than humor. Dr. Browning grew up watching his mother get medicated before every dental visit. He saw firsthand what dental fear does to people. Early in his career, he wore a shirt and tie, kept things formal, and found the job stressful. He was a self-described late bloomer. Over time, he dropped the formality, stopped pretending, and started showing up as himself. Everything changed.

Now he puts the person before the tooth. He spends the first few minutes of every appointment getting to know his patients as people. He asks about their lives, shares his own, and does not touch a single tooth until they feel comfortable. For patients who have not been to the dentist in years and feel embarrassed about their mouth, he pauses, puts a hand on their shoulder, and tells them it is okay. For a patient grieving a family death, he started the appointment with a hug.

In this conversation, Dr. Browning shares the story of a man who avoided the dentist for over 20 years. The pain finally drove him into the office. He was terrified. By the end of the appointment, he was laughing with his mouth open while Dr. Browning worked on him. He left saying he could not believe that was what a dental visit could feel like.

Dr. Browning also explains his approach to treatment planning. He does not tell patients what they need. He asks them what they want. His line: "You're driving the car. I'm in the passenger seat and I have the map. You tell me where you want to go. I'll get you there." He builds treatment plans around what the patient wants, within what they can afford, without pressure or arm-twisting.

He talks about how Comfort Dental's pricing and Gold Plan make dental care accessible to people who might not fit into other practices. He describes working with patients on cost when they want to get something done but cannot quite make ends meet. And he talks about why the volume of patients at Comfort Dental has made him a better clinician through sheer repetition and variety.

The conversation also covers what happens when a patient crosses a line. Dr. Browning does not tolerate anyone disrespecting his team. He has kicked patients out of the practice for talking down to staff or making inappropriate advances. His team knows he will stand up for them the same way they show up for him.

He shares the story of an emergency patient who came in with a severe infection another dentist had not resolved. The swelling was so bad Dr. Browning could not even get into his mouth. Instead of billing him for an emergency visit and sending him on his way, Dr. Browning spent 40 minutes with him, wrote a letter to the ER attending, and told him to go to the hospital immediately. The patient was admitted for days and went into surgery. Dr. Browning went home that night and told his wife the day was worth it because of that one patient.

Dr. Browning closes the episode with a direct message to anyone who has been putting off dental care: "It's not gonna be like the experiences you've had. It doesn't have to be a nightmare. They'll treat you like family. They'll love you. They're not gonna judge you."

Every patient deserves good care.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - The moment patients cry happy tears

00:01 - Meet Dr. Donovan Browning

00:02 - The girl who covered her smile and changed his career

00:03 - Why dentistry is both science and art

00:06 - From shirt-and-tie stress to showing up as himself

00:08 - His mother's dental fear and how it shaped his approach

00:09 - The patient who avoided the dentist for 20 years

00:12 - "Are you nervous? Me too."

00:15 - Why the person in the chair matters more than the tooth

00:16 - Building a team culture patients can feel

00:19 - What a new patient visit looks like

00:21 - Helping embarrassed patients feel safe

00:24 - Kicking out patients who disrespect his team

00:26 - Treatment planning and affordability at Comfort Dental

00:30 - "You're driving the car. I have the map."

00:32 - The emergency patient he sent to the hospital

00:35 - What surprises patients most about Comfort Dental

00:44 - What makes Dr. Browning smile outside of dentistry

00:45 - His message to anyone afraid of the dentist

Learn more at comfortdental.com

Dr. Amy Hazen has been treating patients at her Comfort Dental in Inglewood, Colorado for over 12 years. In this episode, she sits down with Shawn Zajas to talk about what really happens during a first visit, how she handles patients who are terrified of the dentist, and why dental care at Comfort Dental costs less than most people expect.

Dr. Hazen's approach with nervous patients starts with one idea: your first visit is a conversation. No surprises, no pressure. She tells anxious patients they're "just fact-finding" and lets them decide the pace from there. For patients who ask a lot of questions, she welcomes it. For patients who want to know nothing, she respects that too. Her goal is to meet each person where they are.

On the cost side, Dr. Hazen breaks down how the Comfort Dental Gold Plan works for patients without insurance, reducing treatment fees by 30 to 40 percent across the board with no hidden conditions. She also talks about Cherry financing, which lets patients split payments over six months. One of the most common things she hears from new patients: the cost was about half of what they expected.

Dr. Hazen also addresses what happens when you've been putting off dental care for years. Her message is straightforward. She's not looking backward. She wants to know what she can do for you going forward. No guilt, no lecture.

For patients in pain, her office doesn't operate on a weeks-long waitlist. Her response to emergency calls: "How soon can you get here?" Her Inglewood location is open 12 hours a day and built to accommodate same-day visits.

Outside the chair, Dr. Hazen is a mom, a home cook who never makes the same meal twice, and a bread baker who picked up the hobby before COVID made it trendy. Her 11-year-old son plays rugby and recently made a Denver select team headed to a tournament in Monaco.

She also shares one of the moments that reminds her why she chose dentistry: handing a patient a mirror after placing new dentures and watching them burst into tears. Those moments, she says, are the most rewarding part of the job.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Introduction

0:10 Why Dr. Hazen chose dentistry

0:51 How a job at Comfort Dental confirmed her career path

1:33 What she loves most about her daily work

2:22 Life outside dentistry: cooking, baking, kids, and rugby

3:22 Her son's rugby team headed to Monaco

4:58 Why should a patient trust you with their teeth?

5:37 What a first visit looks like for a nervous patient

6:31 "We're just fact-finding today"

7:26 Explaining treatment without jargon

8:12 Do you like when patients ask a lot of questions?

9:18 Every patient interaction is different

10:22 Handling the unexpected in clinical care

11:19 Staying present as a clinician when feedback is harsh

12:21 Developing thick skin over the years

13:33 What makes patients want to come back

14:20 The most common reaction from first-time patients

15:03 How Comfort Dental addresses cost concerns

15:15 "That was nearly half of what I thought it would be"

16:01 Financing options and the Gold Plan

16:42 How the Gold Plan works for uninsured patients

17:31 Transparent pricing with no hidden fees

18:16 How Comfort Dental keeps quality high at lower prices

19:06 Patients comparing quotes from other dentists

19:57 Message to patients who've been avoiding the dentist

20:26 The one thing she wishes every patient knew

20:57 When patients wait too long to address a problem

22:42 Biggest misconceptions about dental care

23:38 The connection between oral health and overall health

25:28 A story about dental pain vs. other pain

26:35 Questions patients should ask their dentist

26:52 The Inglewood community and who she serves

28:05 Same-day emergency access: "How soon can you get here?"

29:15 A patient story that reminds her why she loves dentistry

30:06 When patients cry happy tears seeing their new smile

30:48 What she's working on to improve the patient experience

31:37 Where dentistry is headed for patient comfort

32:20 Her team and practice culture

33:05 One word her patients would use to describe her

33:43 "Every patient deserves to be understood"

34:27 A message to patients thinking about scheduling

Dr. Amy Hazen practices at Comfort Dental in Inglewood, Colorado, located on South Broadway in Denver. Her office accepts Medicaid and is open 12 hours a day. New patients can call to schedule or walk in for same-day emergency care.

In this episode, she talks about what actually happens during a first visit, why she leads every treatment conversation with money, and how she reads a patient’s body language to decide when to slow down. She also makes the case — gently, from experience — that dentistry done at volume does not mean dentistry done without care. It means the bills are paid before you walk in the door, so no one has to talk you into something you do not need.

Two stories stand out. The first: a patient with type one diabetes whose mystery root cavities finally made sense once Dr. Blasko slowed down and asked the right questions. The second: a Filipino patient who had a root canal done the day before his flight, proposed to his wife abroad, and mailed Dr. Blasko a thank-you note written on a 50-peso bill. It is taped to her wall.

Topics covered:

1. What a first visit looks like at Comfort Dental
2. Why Dr. Blasko starts every treatment conversation with cost
3. How to talk to patients who are nervous or anxious
4. The connection between dry mouth, diabetes, and dental decay
5. How Comfort Dental’s Gold Plan compares to local competitors
6. The community served by the Littleton office
7. Why volume practice builds better clinical skill
8. What Dr. Blasko wants patients to say after their visit

Learn more at comfortdental.com

Two decades later, Dr. Rojohn runs two practices in the Denver metro area, one in Littleton and one in Castle Rock, Colorado. She opened her first practice at 26. She paid off her dental school loans just a few years out of school. She has watched six-year-old patients grow up, get law degrees, and bring their own kids in to see her. She is still energized by the work.

This episode covers a lot of ground. Dr. Rojohn is thoughtful, direct, and occasionally blunt in the best way. She describes a tooth abscess as an ice pick to the face. She talks about what it actually feels like to be the dentist when a patient is in that kind of pain, why grace matters more than anything else in that moment, and how the relationship changes once you get them out of it. She shares the patient story that has stayed with her: a 22-year-old woman who called from a gas station parking lot in tears a half hour after her appointment, saying she had just been asked out on a date for the first time in seven years.

She also gets specific about what patient-centered care means in practice. Before she treats anything, she asks one question: what is your priority today? She explains why that question matters, what happens when dentists skip it, and how it changes the experience for patients who walk in scared or overwhelmed by a long treatment plan.

In this episode, you will hear:

1. How Dr. Rojohn finished high school at 16 and found dentistry because of a stranger's advice in a kitchen
2. Why she spent three months as an associate and then bought her first practice instead
3. What it was like to watch classmates struggle with debt while she had already paid hers off
4. The unexpected connection between jewelry making and modern dentistry, including 3D-printed crowns
5. How her team handles patients who walk in angry, anxious, or in significant pain
6. Why the front desk sets the tone for everything that happens in the chair
7. What a tooth abscess actually feels like and why it changes how you think about dental pain
8. How her offices handle same-day emergency appointments and why that turns first-time patients into long-term ones
9. The one question she asks every patient before starting treatment
10. Why she opens new practices when she gets bored, not when she burns out
11. The 12-hour rule about plaque that most patients have never been told
12. A patient story involving a young woman, a fresh set of dentures, and a phone call from a gas station that Dr. Rojohn was not expecting

Dr. Rojohn practices at Comfort Dental locations in Littleton and Castle Rock, Colorado. She has been in the Comfort Dental ecosystem since she was a dental assistant in college, working for one of the network's senior doctors before she ever set foot in dental school.

If you are a patient in the Denver metro area who has been putting off care because of cost, anxiety, or just not knowing where to start, this episode is worth your time. Dr. Rojohn talks about serving patients across every income level, working with government programs, and building treatment plans around what patients actually need and want, not just what is on the x-ray.

If you are a dentist wondering what a group practice model looks like from the inside after 16 years, she is also honest about that. The overhead conversation, the new patient flow, the vendor network, the consulting doctor structure. She covers all of it without a script.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 - How a stranger's advice sent Dr. Rojohn into dentistry at 16

02:00 - Dental school, assisting for a Comfort Dental doctor in college

03:00 - Three months as an associate, then buying her first practice at 26

05:00 - Watching patients grow up and what long-term relationships feel like

06:30 - The crossover between jewelry making and modern dental techniques

07:30 - Opening a second practice and what drove that decision

10:30 - What makes dentists thrive in a group practice model

15:00 - Building a front desk culture that handles patients in pain with grace

17:30 - Managing dental anxiety and when nitrous is the right call

18:00 - What a tooth abscess actually feels like

19:30 - The Comfort Dental consulting doctor network and vendor accountability

28:00 - New patient flow and how the marketing model works

31:00 - Same-day emergency appointments and why they build loyalty

35:00 - Patient-centered care and the priority question

38:20 - The 12-hour rule: why brushing twice a day has a biological reason

39:45 - The patient who called from a gas station in tears

Comfort Dental has been serving patients across Colorado and beyond for decades. Find a location near you at comfortdental.com.

Subscribe to the Comfort Dental podcast for new episodes featuring doctors across the network.

Today, Dr. Liddiard practices at Comfort Dental in North Pueblo, Colorado alongside his father and his best friend, who joins the practice this March. His office recently expanded from 8 to 13 treatment rooms because patient demand kept outpacing the space.

In this conversation, Dr. Liddiard covers:

1. What pushed him away from the professional golf circuit and toward dentistry
2. Why he left a large DSO after two to three months and what he was looking for instead
3. How the Comfort Dental model changed the way he thinks about patient care and generosity
4. Why access to care matters more than most people realize
5. How his office raised its standard for Medicaid patients and what that produced
6. Why volume makes dentists better, not worse
7. A patient who came in bleeding, expecting dentures, and left with something better

Dr. Liddiard practices at Comfort Dental North Pueblo, Colorado.

To find a Comfort Dental near you, visit comfortdental.com.

Today he runs a Comfort Dental practice in Pueblo, Colorado, one of the only offices south of Colorado Springs that accepts walk-ins, including on Saturdays. Patients drive two and three hours to get there. Some sit in the waiting room for hours on a Saturday because they have no other option.

In this episode, Dr. Chapman talks about what it means to actually meet patients where they are, why he stopped chasing cosmetic cases to focus on people who just need basic care, and what happens inside an office that sees everyone from physicians to people in shackles in the same afternoon.

He also tells us about eagle feather.

Topics covered:

1. Why Dr. Chapman left a fine arts scholarship to become a dentist
2. His philosophy on treating patients without judgment or shame
3. What walk-in Saturday hours actually look like in Southern Colorado
4. His time doing volunteer dental work in rural West Virginia
5. Why he left corporate dentistry for the Comfort Dental model
6. What a well-rounded dentist looks like outside the office

Comfort Dental Pueblo: comfortdental.com

Dr. Daniel Nguyen bought a Comfort Dental partnership the year he graduated dental school. He sold it, launched a scratch start in 2021, and now runs an 11-chair practice with three owners and three associates in midtown Kansas City. He is currently working about two days a week.

In this episode, Dr. Nguyen breaks down what the Comfort Dental model actually offers dentists who want to build something bigger than a single chair. He talks about the five-year turning point, the associate income model, what the operations manual is actually for, and why he compares Comfort Dental to a Swiss Army knife most doctors never fully use.

He also addresses the skepticism directly. The numbers sounded too good when he was finishing dental school. It took someone on the inside, a family member he trusted completely, to show him the numbers were real.

If you are a dentist evaluating Comfort Dental, a DSO, or independent practice, this is a direct and unfiltered look from someone 10 years in.

IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 Meet Dr. Daniel Nguyen 00:03 Buying a partnership straight out of dental school 00:07 What made the Comfort Dental model feel credible 00:10 The five-year turning point and discovering the entrepreneurial fit 00:12 The Swiss Army knife: what the model actually offers 00:17 What he loves most about dentistry now (hint: it is not the dentistry) 00:18 Working two days a week: how the associate model makes it possible 00:24 The Kansas City practice: 11 chairs, three owners, three associates 00:41 Flexibility month to month: how the schedule actually works 00:49 What a burned-out dentist should consider 00:51 Outside validation: the colleague who left and came back with a verdict

TOPICS COVERED

Buying a dental partnership as a new graduate How the Comfort Dental associate model works Building a scratch start practice from zero Work-life flexibility inside the Comfort Dental model What entrepreneurial dentists get from the model Overcoming skepticism about Comfort Dental How to scale a dental practice without burning out

CONNECT WITH COMFORT DENTAL Website: https://comfortdental.com Find a Location: https://comfortdental.com/locations

ABOUT THIS PODCAST The Comfort Dental Podcast features one-on-one conversations with Comfort Dental doctors about what the model actually looks like from the inside, how they built their practices, and what they would tell dentists evaluating their options.

Produced by MySocialPractice.

In this episode, Dr. Keyser talks about why he calls every patient the day after treatment, his approach to dental anxiety, and his definition of great dentistry: if you forget about your dental work, he did his job.

He also shares the patient story that still makes him emotional years later, why dentures are one of the most transformative procedures in dentistry, and how he walks patients through treatment planning with their primary concern as the starting point.

Outside of dentistry, Dr. Keyser mountain bikes, snowboards, and builds furniture in his woodshop in Santa Fe.

IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 Meet Dr. Brandon Keyser 00:01 How he found dentistry through mission trips and a desire to help 00:03 What he loves most about his work 00:05 Care calls: why he phones every patient the next day 00:07 Where that practice came from 00:11 Serving Northern New Mexico and underserved communities 00:14 His approach to anxious and fearful patients 00:17 Building a team culture committed to growth 00:29 His definition of great dentistry 00:31 How treatment planning works, starting with the patient’s concern 00:33 Why dentures are both his favorite and hardest procedure 00:37 What excites him about the future of dentistry 00:40 What he wishes patients understood about flossing 00:41 The military patient story that still stays with him 00:44 Mountain biking, snowboarding, and woodworking in Santa Fe

TOPICS COVERED

What happens after your dental appointment (care calls) How to manage dental anxiety What makes great dentistry (the “forget about it” philosophy) How treatment planning works Dentures and implant-retained dentures explained Dental care access in Northern New Mexico AI diagnostic tools in dentistry The connection between flossing and gum health

CONNECT WITH COMFORT DENTAL

Website: https://comfortdental.com

Find a Location: https://comfortdental.com/locations

ABOUT THIS PODCAST

The Comfort Dental Podcast introduces you to the doctors behind the practice. Each episode features a one-on-one conversation with a Comfort Dental dentist about their approach to patient care, what drives them, and what you should know about your dental health.

Produced by MySocialPractice.

In this episode, Dr. Van Tuyl talks about why he never turns away a patient in pain, even on a packed schedule. He explains the three questions every patient wants answered before any work begins. He shares why patients should stop feeling embarrassed about gaps in their dental visits. And he breaks down the insurance benefit most people leave on the table.

IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 Meet Dr. Sean Van Tuyl 01:00 Why he became a dentist at 39 04:00 What dentistry gives you that corporate jobs don't 08:00 Emergency patients: same-day care, no exceptions 23:30 What makes Comfort Dental different for patients 24:15 The three questions every patient has 34:00 Insurance benefits you're probably not using 34:30 Root canals: separating fact from Netflix fiction 36:00 No judgment for patients who've been away for years 36:30 What makes Dr. Van Tuyl smile outside the office

TOPICS COVERED

Same-day emergency dental care Managing dental anxiety Understanding your dental insurance benefits Getting back to the dentist after a long gap What to expect at your first visit Root canal myths and facts Affordable dental care in Colorado

CONNECT WITH COMFORT DENTAL

Website: https://comfortdental.com Find a Location: https://comfortdental.com/locations

ABOUT THIS PODCAST

The Comfort Dental Podcast introduces you to the doctors behind the practice. Each episode features a one-on-one conversation with a Comfort Dental dentist about their approach to patient care, what drives them, and what you should know about your dental health.

Dr. Heath Colledge has been a dentist for 19 years and has spent 17 of those at Comfort Dental's Golden, Colorado office. He decided he wanted to be a dentist at age 13, had his first root canal at 14, and never looked back.

In this episode, Dr. Colledge talks about what patients experience at his practice, including how he uses humor to ease dental anxiety, why he never judges patients who haven't visited a dentist in years, and how he walks patients through treatment options in plain language so they stay in control of their own decisions.

He also shares why Comfort Dental prioritizes same-day emergency care, how the practice keeps dental services affordable (including for Medicaid patients), and what he wishes more people understood about the connection between oral health and overall health.

Outside of dentistry, Dr. Colledge fishes in Alaska, snowboards in Colorado, and has spotted grizzly bears from a safe distance.

IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 Meet Dr. Heath Colledge 00:01 How a root canal at 14 led to a career in dentistry 00:11 What he loves most about his work after 19 years 00:14 The $75 toothache: making dental care affordable 00:17 What to expect during a visit at Comfort Dental 00:18 How Dr. Colledge puts nervous patients at ease 00:20 "Haven't been in 20 years? No judgment." 00:27 Walk-in emergencies: the same-day promise 00:30 How treatment decisions work (in plain language) 00:33 Procedures he enjoys most and when he refers out 00:36 The connection between oral health and your whole body 00:39 Life outside dentistry: Alaska, grizzly bears, and snowboarding

TOPICS COVERED

Dental anxiety and how to manage it What your first dental visit looks like How to understand your treatment options Emergency dental care and walk-in visits Affordable dentistry and Medicaid access Why oral health affects your entire body Getting back to the dentist after years away

CONNECT WITH COMFORT DENTAL

Website: https://comfortdental.com Find a Location: https://comfortdental.com/locations

ABOUT THIS PODCAST

The Comfort Dental Podcast introduces you to the doctors behind the practice. Each episode features a one-on-one conversation with a Comfort Dental dentist about their approach to patient care, what drives them, and what you should know about your dental health.

Produced by MySocialPractice.