Meet Chris Poe, DDS | Dentist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chris Poe, DDS and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chris, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I pursed my career in dentistry solely based on a life-altering experience I had as an 11 year old boy. My father was also a dentist and I grew up participating in dental mission trips with my family since I was an infant. On a trip to Nicaragua, my father saw the passion in my eyes for helping those who were less fortunate. To up the ante, he waved me over to “extract” my first tooth, which was dangling in the wind, but to me that sealed the deal in my mind that when I grew up, I was going to be a dentist, just like my father.

I have a love for people, a love for the field of dentistry and also a love for advancements in technology. I would not be able to offer the dentistry that I do in my practice without the latest and greatest technology. I love to geek out on virtually creating new smiles and offering my patients services that you just can’t find in most offices. We are located in a very small rural town at the base of the mountains where there just aren’t many options for people. We are able to offer all dental procedures under one roof, which is all thanks to our technology!

What should our readers know about your business?
We started River Peak Dental with the mountain communities in mind. We have a love for the outdoors, a love for dentistry and a love for technology, what a great combo! What sets our office apart from most is the fact that we are service-oriented. From the moment you walk in our doors, you are greeted with a friendly face and are able to relax in our spa-like office. You can catch up on your favorite show while getting your procedures completed, snuggle under a warm blanket & neck towel and sip on a delicious beverage. We understand the dental office is not where most people want to spend their time, but we want to make it a truly great experience for all. We won’t send you all over the area to get a different treatments at multiple locations, we will take the utmost care of our patients here in our office, little to no referrals necessary.

After practicing as an associate for 5 years in Montrose, we decided it was time to branch out on our own and create a practice that was accessible for those living in the mountains. We are located in Ridgway, which is the main thoroughfare between Montrose, Ouray, Telluride, and neighboring town. We’ve seen a huge influx of people moving to this area since Covid and are happy to see this area growing, although not too much, as we love this quaint little town! Ridgway has in no way been an easy area for us to have our practice, but we’ve made the most of it. Not many people in the area live here full time, some aren’t able to get out in the winter due to road conditions and some just don’t believe in the investment, but a large part of our role here is patient education and preventative oral health.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We play tour guide ALL THE TIME and we love it! So, if you were to drive or fly into Montrose, first we would take you to Trattoria De Sofia, the best Italian restaurant in town! We would then head up to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, which is Colorado’s claim to fame for being the Grand Canyon of Colorado, one of the newest National Parks in the area. We would head South to Ridgway, of course show off our beautiful office and grab some food at Eatery 66 or GNAR Tacos. From there we could either head further South to Ouray where there is a NEED for a decisions sweet treat at Mouse’s Chocolates and find a great read at the Ouray Bookstore. We would take you to the Ouray hotsprings to soak in the hot pools after a hike on the Perimeter Trail then drive up to the lookout which is also known as the “Switzerland of America”…its a breathtaking view of the 1300 foot peaks of the San Juan mountain range. Of course, you can’t miss the trip to Telluride which a secluded little town nestled in the moutains which only one way in and one way out! Telluride has some of the best skiing in the US! We would take our guests to hit the slopes and finish with ice skating in Mountain Village before taking the gondola that is running year-round into town. Since we’re foodies and eat our way to each destination, a stop at Brown Dog Pizza would be in order before shopping the quaint boutiques in town. We could entertain for weeks at a time if we could, the possibilities where we live are endless. You love mountain biking? We got you covered. You love hunting? We got you covered. You love skiing, fishing, hiking, boating, paddle boarding, outdoor music events, etc…COLORADO has you covered!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Wow, there are too many to count, but first and foremost I’ll start with my father. He was foundational in my decision to become a dentist at the age of 11 and I will forever be grateful to him and my mother for the role they played in my life growing up. They were by biggest cheerleaders and have so much gratitude for them.

My wife of 15 years, Misti, has been an amazing support as well. We wouldn’t be where we are today without her willingness to adapt (like running our practice with no dental experience) and her hard work and dedication. She not only helps manage the practice, but is a mom to our two beatiful babies Lucy & Indy, and homeschools them as well. She wears many hats, but I’m most thankful for her love and support in my life.

Two life-long mentors of mine have been Gayle Cheatwood and Karson Kupiec. I’ve known them since I was a young boy and they were also very instrumental in my career towards dentistry. We all served along side of each other in the mission field and still to this day, I have such high respect for them not only as dentists and orthodontists, but as men in my life who changed me in ways I can’t express. They’ve been there for me through thick and thin and know they have my best interests at heart. We can talk shop, discuss our latest adventures of missions trips or hunting and of course always make time to talk about how our families are doing.

My brother Jason is a huge support as well. We’re best of friends and although we live in different states now, we always make time to connect with one another and check in. Jason is my sounding board and I’m always amazed at the patience and understanding he has with anyone who comes across his path. Very thankful for my bro!

Website: www.riverpeakdental.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverpeakdental/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riverpeakdental