The staff of Carson Valley Dental Care recognizes that some people are nervous about going to the dentist by making the experience as comfortable as possible.
There's a soothing atmosphere in the new office in Southwestern colors with Southwestern-style art work and furnishings. The sound of water bubbling in rock fountains can be heard in the waiting room and throughout the six operatory stations.
Dr. Jeff Collins began practicing dentistry in Carson Valley in 1992, opened his own practice two years later and now has a new office with twice the space in Minden Village.
"We really try to have good excellent service," said Catherine Collins, practice administrator.
"That's what it's all about - give them what they want," said Dr. Collins. "We don't try to talk them into something they don't want - no pressure. We're flexible, easy going."
Besides Dr. Collins, the office is staffed with ten members who can accommodate and schedule new and emergency patients.
"Eventually we'll look for another doctor to come in to help," Dr. Collins said about adding two more operatory stations in the future.
The new office has the latest in technology for patient services in X-ray equipment and sterilization techniques.
The Panarex exposes patients to less radiation than traditional X-rays and is digitized for a reduction in waiting time for results.
"No paper, no charts, it's all computerized and digital," said Dr. Collins. "There's no darkroom or chemicals."
Dr. Collins said with his computerized system he can even help patients long distance, as it was when he diagnosed an abscess when he was out of town.
"While I was in Phoenix, my assistant took X-rays of a patient and sent them to me by computer," he said.
Carson Valley Dental Care uses a system used by hospitals to sterilize instruments.
"Sterilization is state-of-the-art," said Catherine Collins. "No more ultrasonic. This aspect of dentistry is very important to people too."
"Everything's in cassettes and they go into a special industrial hospital 'dishwasher,'" said Dr. Collins.
After being washed, each cassette is put into a sterilizer. Each has specific instruments labeled for specific procedures.
Sterilization is also an issue with the water supplied to the operatories, each having its own system using distilled, sterilized water.
Carson Valley Dental Care works with patients with payment plans.
"We have financial options," said Catherine Collins. "We work with all insurance and financial plans are available."
Carson Valley Dental Care is at 1661 Lucerne St. in the Minden Village. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday with early and late appointments on request. Information at 782-2642
What: Carson Valley Dental Care
Where: 1661 Lucerne St., Minden
When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, early and late appointments on request
Info: 782-2642
