Rick Langenberg
With the growth of the Teller County and Ute Pass area, the demand for specialized services, without the hassles of traveling down the Pass, has become a familiar battle cry.
More niche shops, larger retailers, and numerous restaurants are responding to this demand from consumers. Whoever would have thought the City Above the Clouds would feature a shoe store, several outdoor shops, a new upscale events center and a bombardment of half a dozen Mexican-style restaurants?
But when it comes to dealing with that agonizing tooth ache or dental issue in the middle of the night, this desperate search has sometimes remained a mystery–at least until now.
Woodland Park’s Forest Edge Dental Care, located at 491 Forest Edge Road, near the high school, is again upping the ante in its drive for more services and procedures, aimed at helping residents with special needs not being addressed in the community.
Forest Edge recently added Dr. Thaddeus Carter to its ranks. Dr. Carter sports nearly 30 years of experience as a professional dentist, including highly acclaimed service overseas with the U.S. Navy. During his service in Japan, the Navy veteran helped thousands of veterans, who exhibited all kinds of ailments and a plethora of problem mouths.
Now, the Forest Edge dental doc and Navy veteran is gearing up for an equally tough assignment: grappling with the significant and multi-varied dental needs in Woodland Park and Teller County, a region that certainly won’t win any awards for preventive dental care.
Teller, like many rural regions, has many folks who have not visited a dentist for years. Historically, this situation often necessitated extensive travel to consult a range of specialists located outside the community. And then problems often developed in scheduling multiple procedures.
This frustrating quagmire is now a thing of the past.
With the expert service of Dr. Carter and Forest Edge’s assistants, Forest Edge hopes to wave the banner as a dental hub that can serve as a one-stop shop, and in many cases, a one-day dental fix. No longer will residents have to embark on a slew of trips down the hill for root canals, oral surgeries, implants, gum emergencies, and other advanced procedures. After a while, these trips get exhausting and create much angst for area patients.
Also, Forest Edge can handle even more advanced work, such as cosmetic care.
Vast Experience In Handling Problem Teeth
Dr. Carter is no rookie when it comes to dealing with problem teeth.
“When I was in the Navy, I treated all kinds of patients,” admitted Carter, who has welcomed his new assignment with much enthusiasm. Besides his service in the Navy, Dr. Carter has sported extensive dental experience in Colorado and other parts of the country, working in all facets of the industry. He even worked as a clinical director for a national dental implant company.
Greg Rodriguez, the administrator for Forest Edge Dental Care, sees these one-stop shop services as a great boon for their business and the community. “It is really helpful to the entire community,” said Rodgriuez, who had held the administrative ropes for Forest Edge since 2016. “This is a service we really embrace. It is really going to help the people who live here.”
And with the company’s Gold Plan, Forest Edge can keep these costs to a minimum, noted Rodriguez.
In addition, Rodriguez believes Carter’s personality is a good fit for the area. The new Forest Edge dentist loves the outdoors, classifying himself as an avid hunter, hiker, and skier.
As for his new dental mission, Dr. Carter cites a desire to eliminate the stress associated with seeing a dentist for various procedures. “There are so many people who are afraid of seeing a dentist,” said Dr. Carter. “We hope to allay these concerns.”
He believes their office can deal with these fears with a more personalized approach and with their specialized procedures. “There is no reason to be scared,” noted Dr. Carter.
And for those patients that just have a lingering dental anxiety no matter what techniques are employed, he mentions certain sedation services that they offer.
Dr. Carter also wants to help Forest Edge’s patients in developing a more preventive care approach, a goal that can be achieved through the consumption of less sugar-prone substances and developing a regular check-up schedule. Dr. Carter said he got interested in his new role with Forest Edge due to the office’s more personal, “small town feel.”
“We want more people to see us on a regular basis,” said Dr. Carter. “Dental service is very personal.”
As for major challenges, the Forest Edge dental doc concedes the local region has its share of rotten teeth inflictions.
“One of the big problems I have noticed here are so many people with missing teeth,” said Dr. Carter. However, he points out that this issue can be managed through specific implant procedures or, in some instances, by adopting enhanced care methods.
Dr. Carter will be available for appointments from Monday through Thursday. He also will be available on Friday for certain cases.
Forest Edge Dental Care office has gained a growing reputation for its growing family services, provided at a reasonable rate.
For four consecutive years, Forest Edge was rated as the best dental office in the region by the readers of TMJ News. It accepts most insurance plans, along with Medicaid patients.
For more information, call 719-687-6366.
