FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions we get most often.
If you don’t see your question here, give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.
Booking and availability
How do I make a new patient appointment?
Call (530) 642-8614 during office hours, or fill out the contact form on our contact page. Our front desk coordinator will return your message within two business days, walk you through what to expect at your first visit, and get you on the schedule. We do not currently offer online booking.
What is the wait time for a new patient appointment?
Wait times vary by season and by patient type. Call the practice to ask about current availability.
Do you see new adult and pediatric patients?
Yes. Mountain Dental is a family practice. We see kids, teens, and adults. Many of our adult patients started with us as children. Others come in for the first time as adults seeking a different approach to their dental care.
Do you offer same-day or emergency appointments?
For urgent issues like a broken tooth, severe pain, or a recent injury, call us. We’ll accommodate you as best we can and find the soonest available appointment.
Insurance and payment
Do you accept my insurance?
We accept all PPO insurance plans. Our front desk can help you understand your benefits before treatment. We also offer in-house Dental Saving Plans as an alternative to insurance.
What does the Dental Savings Plan include?
Our Dental Savings Plan covers preventive care for 12 months at one flat rate, with a discount on any diagnosed treatment. Plans are available for adults and for kids. See full details on the plan page for each below.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. We offer third-party financing through CareCredit and Cherry. Both let you break treatment into monthly payments. Our front desk can walk you through the options and help you apply before treatment begins.
What if I don't have insurance?
Our in-house Dental Savings Plan is designed for patients without insurance. It covers preventive care for 12 months at a flat rate and includes a discount on any diagnosed treatment. Some patients without insurance find the Dental Savings Plan covers their full year of dental care for less than they’d pay for insurance premiums.
For kids
What is your approach to pediatric care?
Our approach to pediatric dental care is centered on trust, patience, and creating positive experiences that help children feel comfortable and confident. We realize that every child has different needs, personalities, and comfort levels. We provide a supportive environment and use open communication and gentle guidance to help children build confidence with every visit. Our goal is not only to provide excellent dental care today, but also to help create positive dental habits and attitudes that will last a lifetime. Many children leave our office feeling proud of themselves and more confident than when they arrived, and we consider that one of our greatest successes.
Do you use sedation?
Our philosophy is to provide care without sedation whenever possible. We believe that, with patience, trust, and a child-centered approach, most children can have a positive dental experience while fully engaged in their treatment.
In certain situations, however, we may recommend nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to help a child feel more relaxed and comfortable during their visit. This option is considered on a case-by-case basis when we believe it will benefit the child and support a successful treatment experience.
We do not offer IV sedation in our office. If a child requires a higher level of sedation, we will discuss appropriate options and referrals to ensure they receive the care that best meets their needs.
At what age should my child have their first appointment?
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a first dental visit by age one or within six months of the first tooth coming in. We follow that guideline. Early visits are short and focused on getting the child comfortable with the practice, not on extensive treatment.
How do you handle anxious or fearful kids?
Our pediatric dental team is experienced in helping children feel comfortable, safe, and supported during their visit. We understand that every child is unique—some may benefit from a step-by-step explanation of what to expect, while others may need extra reassurance, patience, or simply a comforting hand to hold.
Our goal is to make each visit as positive and stress-free as possible. We take the time to build trust, listen to your child’s concerns, and move at a pace that helps them feel confident and secure. Through gentle encouragement, clear communication, and plenty of positive reinforcement, we help children feel successful throughout their appointment and celebrate their accomplishments every step of the way.
For adults
Can adults become new patients?
Yes, we’re currently accepting new adult patients. We have separate children’s and adult sides to better accommodate everyone, all under one roof.
Curious what care looks like on the adult side?
Do you do orthodontics for adults?
Yes. We treat adult orthodontics the same way we treat orthodontics for kids: as airway and structural work, not just tooth alignment. That means looking at tongue position, breathing patterns, cranial balance, and where the teeth need to move, treated as one connected system. For adult cases that benefit from cranial work alongside dental treatment, we coordinate directly with Dr. Malori Tinsley at Well Balanced Body. The two appointments are scheduled in the same building.
Do you treat jaw pain?
Yes. Jaw pain (TMD) is one of the conditions we coordinate most closely with Dr. Malori Tinsley at Well Balanced Body. Her cranial adjustment work and our dental treatment, scheduled the same day in the same building, produce results neither field achieves on its own.
Do you do safe amalgam removal?
Yes. Dr. Keith is certified through the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) and follows the SMART protocol for safe amalgam removal. This protocol uses specific equipment and procedures to minimize mercury exposure during removal.
Philosophy and materials
Are you a natural dentist?
Yes, in the sense that we use biocompatible materials, avoid mercury and consider how dental treatment affects the rest of the body. We are also a clinically trained, IAOMT-certified practice. The natural and the clinical are not separate categories at Mountain Dental.
There’s more to how we practice.
What materials do you use?
Our composite fillings are biocompatible.. Our crowns are metal-free ceramic or zirconia. We use ozone gas where it makes clinical sense. We do not place mercury-based silver amalgam fillings.
Do you offer mercury-free fillings?
Yes. We do not place mercury-based amalgam fillings. All of our fillings are biocompatible composite. If you have existing amalgam fillings you’d like removed, we follow the IAOMT SMART protocol to minimize mercury exposure during removal.
Is fluoride mandatory at your practice?
We take a comprehensive approach to oral health using minimally invasive and preventive strategies, including ozone therapy, remineralization support, and nutritional guidance to help support the oral microbiome and long-term tooth health. We do not offer fluoride in our practice.
What's different about your approach to orthodontics?
We treat orthodontics as airway and structural work, not just tooth alignment. That means looking at how the tongue rests, how the patient breathes, whether the cranial bones are in balance, and where the teeth need to move, treated as one connected system. Conventional orthodontics often extracts teeth to make space and pulls the remaining teeth backward into the gap, which produces a straight smile and a compressed airway. Our approach is built to support the airway and the underlying structure, in children and adults.
Integrated care
Is it true you coordinate with a chiropractor?
Yes. Mountain Dental and Well Balanced Body Chiropractic share a building and a working clinical relationship. Dr. Malori Tinsley specializes in cranial work and is also Dr. Keith’s wife. The integration is intentional and is one of the things that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the area.
The coordination goes deeper than sharing a building.
How does the integrated dental and chiropractic protocol work?
It depends on the case. For jaw pain, we schedule cranial adjustment and specific dental appliance one the same day. . For orthodontic care, dental treatment happens alongside regular cranial adjustments. The two treatments work together to produce results neither produces alone.
Do I need to see Dr. Malori Tinsley separately?
Not for every visit. Most dental treatment happens at Mountain Dental without chiropractic coordination. The integrated protocol applies when a case specifically benefits from coordinated care, like TMD or functional based orthodontics. We’ll let you know if your treatment fits that pattern.
After you've booked
I've booked my first appointment. What should I do before my visit?
Visit our New Patients page for the forms to fill out, what to bring with you, insurance information, and what to expect at your first visit.
Ready to take the next step?
Call (530) 642-8614 during office hours, or send a message and we’ll get back to you within one business day.