New Podcast lean and mean ➞ Get more details here
New Podcast lean and mean ➞ Get more details here
In this episode of the Comfort Dental Podcast, Dr. Michael Rhees of Colorado Springs shares a refreshing perspective on dentistry: great care starts with compassion. For both current Comfort Dental doctors and future franchise owners, this episode offers an inside look at what makes the Comfort Dental model so unique — accessibility, trust, and truly patient-centered care.
Dr. Rhees’ path to dentistry combined science, creativity, business, and a desire to help others. After growing up with serious heart health challenges, he was drawn toward healthcare but wanted a career where he could improve lives, work with his hands, build relationships, and still prioritize family life. What surprised him most? Dentistry became less about procedures and more about people.
Practicing in an underserved area of Colorado Springs, Dr. Rhees sees many patients who haven’t been to the dentist in years. Some are anxious. Some are embarrassed. Some are in pain.
Rather than judgment, his team focuses on empathy.
Their philosophy is simple: meet patients where they are. Whether someone needs more reassurance, flexible treatment options, or simply someone who listens, the goal is helping people move toward health at a pace they feel comfortable with.
One of the most powerful parts of the conversation is hearing how Dr. Rhees’ office approaches care. His team is built around helping people, not pressure.
He even shares a longstanding office rule: if a patient comes in with an infected tooth and truly cannot afford treatment, they’ll often help anyway.
For Dr. Rhees, this is their version of giving back — using dentistry to relieve pain and serve people in need. It’s also a reminder of what Comfort Dental can make possible: an affordable, high-volume model that gives doctors the freedom to care for people first.
Throughout the episode, Dr. Rhees emphasizes patient autonomy.
Need to move slowly because of dental anxiety? Want to handle treatment one step at a time? Looking for affordable options?
Patients are involved in the decision-making process and treated with respect. As he says, every patient deserves to feel heard and supported — not pressured.
When asked what compliment means the most, Dr. Rhees’ answer says a lot:
“That wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
For patients who delayed care because of fear or anxiety, that simple sentence represents trust, relief, and confidence restored.
This episode is a reminder that Comfort Dental is about more than fixing teeth.
It’s about making care accessible. Building trust. Treating people with compassion. And helping patients feel respected every step of the way.
As Dr. Rhees puts it: every patient deserves respect.
