Dr. Brandon Keyser spent five years as an Air Force dentist before opening a Comfort Dental practice in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His office serves patients across Northern New Mexico, including communities with limited dental access, and accepts most insurances including Medicaid.

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.

Dr. Sean Van Tuyl has practiced dentistry for 21 years. He didn't start dental school until age 39, after working in the corporate world and following his father's example. Now at Comfort Dental in Evergreen, Colorado, he focuses on emergency care, endodontics, and making dental visits less intimidating.

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.