Our Team

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 has been accepted to the Occupational Therapy Program at Colorado State University. Hannah is studying at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. 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.

Carmen was born and raised in North Dakota. Carmen moved to Montrose in September 2005. She graduated from North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, North Dakota in 2005 with an Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene degree. Carmen loves to shop, especially for shoes. Carmen is really excited to be working with Dr. Clader and his great patients.

Debbie has lived in Colorado since 1988 and has worked for Dr. Clader since 2002. She has worked in customer service positions at schools, colleges, banks, construction companies and now dentistry for 6 years. Her husband Sid works several blocks from her office at his family's 100 year-old business. The "lights of her life" are her twins, Jesse and Amy, and youngest daughter Jodie, all in college at this time. Her family has a passion for music, mountains, hiking, camping, classic literature and history and an addiction to good espresso.

Jeni was born and raised in the Denver area and moved to the Western Slope from Dallas, Texas in 2004. She enjoys being outdoors, working in her garden, camping, playing golf and cooking. Jeni has a degree in Business, but as a patient of Dr. Clader's for over 2 years, she fell in love with the staff and their passion for excellence in dentistry and is thrilled to now be a part of such a fun and professional team.

Sarah grew up on the Western Slope of Colorado and moved to Montrose in 2006. She attended a technical college in Grand Junction and received training in Dental Assisting. Sarah enjoys being outdoors where she pursues her photography hobby, and she likes to go camping, fishing and hunting. She also likes to golf and dance. Sarah is happy to be working with Dr. Clader and the staff here at Colorado Smiles and treating our wonderful family of patients.

Tricia joined the Colorado Smiles team in September 2006. Prior to moving to Montrose in 2004, Tricia was a dental hygienist in Steamboat Springs, CO for 18 years. Her husband, Greg, is a contractor and they have a beautiful daughter named Angela. When not working, Tricia loves to go water skiing and boating on Lake Powell in Utah. Tricia loves the philosophy of patient care that Dr. Clader and his staff have, and she has enjoyed getting to develop relationships with the wonderful patients that trust Colorado Smiles with their dental care.

Wendy was raised in Southern California and Amarillo, Texas. After vacationing in Colorado for several years, Wendy and her husband Rick moved to Montrose in June 2005. Wendy has two daughters and one son. When not busy with her husband and kids, Wendy enjoys scrap-booking, rubber-stamping, reading, camping and spending time with her extended family in Western Colorado. Wendy loves living in beautiful Montrose and working in such a wonderful office.