Dr. Jeremy Liddiard did not grow up planning to be a dentist. He grew up as a dentist's son, decided against it, played college golf, turned professional, and spent years living out of a suitcase competing for a spot on tour. Then one morning, he walked off a golf course mid-tournament and never looked back.

Today, Dr. Liddiard practices at Comfort Dental in North Pueblo, Colorado alongside his father and his best friend, who joins the practice this March. His office recently expanded from 8 to 13 treatment rooms because patient demand kept outpacing the space.

In this conversation, Dr. Liddiard covers:

1. What pushed him away from the professional golf circuit and toward dentistry
2. Why he left a large DSO after two to three months and what he was looking for instead
3. How the Comfort Dental model changed the way he thinks about patient care and generosity
4. Why access to care matters more than most people realize
5. How his office raised its standard for Medicaid patients and what that produced
6. Why volume makes dentists better, not worse
7. A patient who came in bleeding, expecting dentures, and left with something better

Dr. Liddiard practices at Comfort Dental North Pueblo, Colorado.

To find a Comfort Dental near you, visit comfortdental.com.

Dr. Matthew Chapman was on his way to becoming a painter. He had a full-ride scholarship for it. Then architecture. Then exercise physiology. Then, after a chance meeting with two retired dentists in California who seemed to golf all the time, he found his way into dental school.

Today he runs a Comfort Dental practice in Pueblo, Colorado, one of the only offices south of Colorado Springs that accepts walk-ins, including on Saturdays. Patients drive two and three hours to get there. Some sit in the waiting room for hours on a Saturday because they have no other option.

In this episode, Dr. Chapman talks about what it means to actually meet patients where they are, why he stopped chasing cosmetic cases to focus on people who just need basic care, and what happens inside an office that sees everyone from physicians to people in shackles in the same afternoon.

He also tells us about eagle feather.

Topics covered:

1. Why Dr. Chapman left a fine arts scholarship to become a dentist
2. His philosophy on treating patients without judgment or shame
3. What walk-in Saturday hours actually look like in Southern Colorado
4. His time doing volunteer dental work in rural West Virginia
5. Why he left corporate dentistry for the Comfort Dental model
6. What a well-rounded dentist looks like outside the office

Comfort Dental Pueblo: comfortdental.com

Dr. Daniel Nguyen | Comfort Dental | Kansas City, Missouri

Dr. Daniel Nguyen bought a Comfort Dental partnership the year he graduated dental school. He sold it, launched a scratch start in 2021, and now runs an 11-chair practice with three owners and three associates in midtown Kansas City. He is currently working about two days a week.

In this episode, Dr. Nguyen breaks down what the Comfort Dental model actually offers dentists who want to build something bigger than a single chair. He talks about the five-year turning point, the associate income model, what the operations manual is actually for, and why he compares Comfort Dental to a Swiss Army knife most doctors never fully use.

He also addresses the skepticism directly. The numbers sounded too good when he was finishing dental school. It took someone on the inside, a family member he trusted completely, to show him the numbers were real.

If you are a dentist evaluating Comfort Dental, a DSO, or independent practice, this is a direct and unfiltered look from someone 10 years in.

IN THIS EPISODE

00:00 Meet Dr. Daniel Nguyen 00:03 Buying a partnership straight out of dental school 00:07 What made the Comfort Dental model feel credible 00:10 The five-year turning point and discovering the entrepreneurial fit 00:12 The Swiss Army knife: what the model actually offers 00:17 What he loves most about dentistry now (hint: it is not the dentistry) 00:18 Working two days a week: how the associate model makes it possible 00:24 The Kansas City practice: 11 chairs, three owners, three associates 00:41 Flexibility month to month: how the schedule actually works 00:49 What a burned-out dentist should consider 00:51 Outside validation: the colleague who left and came back with a verdict

TOPICS COVERED

Buying a dental partnership as a new graduate How the Comfort Dental associate model works Building a scratch start practice from zero Work-life flexibility inside the Comfort Dental model What entrepreneurial dentists get from the model Overcoming skepticism about Comfort Dental How to scale a dental practice without burning out

CONNECT WITH COMFORT DENTAL Website: https://comfortdental.com Find a Location: https://comfortdental.com/locations

ABOUT THIS PODCAST The Comfort Dental Podcast features one-on-one conversations with Comfort Dental doctors about what the model actually looks like from the inside, how they built their practices, and what they would tell dentists evaluating their options.

Produced by MySocialPractice.

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.