FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Wait times vary by season and by patient type. Call the practice to ask about current availability.

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.

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.

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.

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.

If you’d like to apply for financing through Cherry, you can click here to use this link and begin the process.

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.

Our philosophy is to provide dental 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 remaining comfortable and engaged in their care.

In some situations, we may recommend nitrous oxide (laughing gas) to help a child feel more relaxed and comfortable during treatment. This option is considered on a case-by-case basis when we feel it will support a safe and successful dental 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 provide referrals to help ensure they receive the care that best meets their individual needs.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children have their first dental visit by age one or within six months of their first tooth coming in. We follow this guideline because early dental visits help establish a positive relationship with the dentist from the very beginning.

These first visits are typically short and focused on getting your child comfortable with our team and familiar with the dental environment.

Our pediatric dental team is experienced in helping children feel comfortable, safe, and supported throughout their visit. We understand that every child is unique. Some children may feel more comfortable with 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 every 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.

We also understand that not every dental visit will be easy or enjoyable. There may be times when a child feels nervous, frustrated, or uncomfortable, and that is okay. Our focus is not on making every appointment perfect, but on helping your child develop trust and confidence through consistent, positive experiences over time.

We take a long term approach to your child’s dental care. With regular visits and a team that listens, encourages, and supports them, children can gradually become more comfortable with dentistry and learn that the dental office is a safe place to be. Our hope is that, as they grow, they develop a positive outlook toward dental care and carry that confidence with them into adulthood, without unnecessary fear or anxiety about visiting the dentist.

Every small step is an accomplishment. Whether it’s sitting in the dental chair, opening their mouth, completing an exam, or successfully receiving treatment, we celebrate your child’s progress. Together, we can help create a foundation for a lifetime of healthy, confident dental visits.

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?

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.

Yes. Jaw pain (TMD) is one of the conditions we coordinate most closely with Dr. Malori Tinsley at Well Balanced Body. By combining her cranial adjustment care with our dental treatment, we’re able to take a more comprehensive approach to your care. When schedules allow, appointments can sometimes be coordinated on the same day in the same building, making care more convenient and allowing both providers to work together closely.

Each patient’s treatment plan is individualized, and appointments are scheduled based on your needs and availability. By combining the expertise of both providers, we can address different aspects of TMD and work toward results that may be more difficult to achieve through either approach alone.

Yes. We follow the guidelines of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) SMART protocol for amalgam removal. The protocol incorporates specific equipment, protective measures, and removal techniques designed to minimize exposure to mercury and amalgam particles during the procedure.

Our priority is to provide a carefully planned and controlled removal process, with appropriate precautions taken to protect you, our team, and the surrounding environment throughout your appointment.

Philosophy and materials

Are you a natural dentist?

Yes. At Mountain Dental, we take a whole body approach to dentistry. This means we consider the materials we use, prioritize biocompatible options when appropriate, avoid mercury-containing materials, and recognize that oral health is connected to overall health.

We combine this approach with evidence-based clinical dentistry and comprehensive patient care. Our team is clinically trained, and our practice follows the principles and guidelines of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT).

For us, the natural and the clinical are not separate categories. They can work together to provide thoughtful, individualized care that considers both your oral health and your overall well-being.

And there’s more to how we practice. The materials we choose, the techniques we use, and the way we approach each patient are all part of our commitment to providing dentistry that is intentional, comprehensive, and centered around the individual.

At Mountain Dental, we are thoughtful about the materials and techniques we use in patient care.

Our restorations are made with biocompatible materials, including composite, zirconia, and ceramic crowns.

We also use ozone gas when it makes clinical sense as part of a patient’s treatment. Every material and technique is selected with the goal of providing safe, thoughtful, and comprehensive dental care.

We believe the natural and the clinical do not have to be separate. Our approach combines modern clinical dentistry with careful consideration of the materials and methods we use for each patient.

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.

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 varnish in our practice.

We view orthodontics as more than simply straightening teeth. We consider the relationship between tooth position, jaw development, tongue posture, breathing, and overall craniofacial structure. By looking at these factors as a connected system, we can develop treatment plans that consider both the smile and the underlying function and structure.

Our approach is focused on supporting healthy development and airway function whenever possible, in both children and adults. Rather than looking only at where the teeth need to move, we consider the bigger picture, including how the jaws are developing, how the tongue rests, how the patient breathes, and how the surrounding structures work together.

Traditional orthodontic treatment may sometimes involve tooth extractions to create space and retracting the remaining teeth. Our approach emphasizes evaluating whether there are alternatives that can create space while supporting the patient’s facial structure and airway.

Every patient is different, and treatment is individualized based on their age, development, anatomy, and specific needs. Our goal is not simply a straight smile, but a healthy, functional result that considers the whole patient.

Integrated care

Is it true you coordinate with a chiropractor?

Yes. Mountain Dental and Well Balanced Body Chiropractic share a building and a close clinical relationship. Dr. Malori Tinsley specializes in cranial work and is also Dr. Keith’s wife. This integration is intentional and is an important part of how we approach patient care.

The coordination goes deeper than simply sharing a building. When appropriate, we communicate and coordinate care between the two practices to provide a more comprehensive approach to our patients’ needs. Depending on the patient and their treatment plan, care may be coordinated on the same day or scheduled separately based on availability.

This collaborative approach allows us to look beyond dentistry alone and consider how the jaw, cranial structures, muscles, posture, and overall function may work together. It is a unique aspect of Mountain Dental and an important part of what makes our approach different.

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.

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.