Colorado Smiles

Dr. Dan Clader is a Colorado native that moved to Montrose in the fall of 1983 five weeks after he married his wife Karla. They have two daughters. Emily graduated from Whitworth College in Spokane, WA, and is doing graduate studies at Colorado State University in Occupational Therapy. Hannah has attended Virginia Tech and is currently enrolled at University of North Carolina to pursue a degree in Exercise and Sport Science. Dr. Dan received a Chemistry degree in 1977 from Texas A&M University. He graduated from the University of Texas Dental School in Houston in December 1982. After graduation, he taught occlusion and reconstructive dentistry prior to his move to Colorado.

Dan and Karla love to climb mountains. They have successfully summitted all 54 of Colorado’s fourteen thousand foot peaks. They also ski, snowshoe, snowboard, and in the summer, Dan loves to ride his mountain bike and road bike.

They are both active in their church where Dan serves as an elder on its governing board. He also volunteers as a youth leader for high school kids.

Dr. Dan has a vision and a passion for dentistry that is far from ordinary. He has been fortunate to train with some of the best clinical dentists in the country. In a state that requires 4 days of continuing education a year, he averages over 20 days. However, his travels and continuing education are not limited to sitting in lectures. He has taught at several private teaching institutions including the Las Vegas Institute, and has been a visiting faculty member at the University of Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco. He is currently a Clinical Instructor at the Kois Center in Seattle, Washington where he also serves on their advisory board. As a Clinical Instructor, he helps facilitate intensive 3-day workshops on topics ranging from advanced occlusion to esthetic and comprehensive dental rehabilitation, including implants and crown and bridge dentistry. Recently, he has been honored to speak at several dental meetings.

His vision for his patients is to give them predictable long-term strategies for functional and esthetic dental health. To receive this level of care you would usually have to travel to a large metropolitan area or a graduate teaching facility. Although several institutions have attempted to lure Dr. Dan into a permanent teaching position, he has chosen to remain in Montrose. His love for the mountains and the western Colorado lifestyle, and his commitment to his church have kept him firmly entrenched in Montrose. His goal of giving to the community through commitment, honesty, and integrity is a joy to himself, and to his friends, patients, and employees. It is Dr. Dan’s honor to serve his patients and give them the best that dentistry has to offer.

In 1998, The Center for Dental Excellence was formed, and in 2005 the name of Colorado Smiles was added to reflect the happy and caring atmosphere of the office. Dr. Dan and his team are dedicated to the genuine care and comfort of their patients while providing world-class dentistry and unsurpassed customer service. Their goal is to enhance the lives of their patients by helping them achieve optimum dental health and improve their smiles.