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.