This week on WKRP Montrose, Dennis and Rob sit down with Jillian Horkan — founder of Montrose Dental Wellness, Nebraska native, world traveler, and the dentist who will completely change how you think about your mouth.Jillian grew up in Sidney, Nebraska — a town of 6,000 people best known as the home of Cabela's — where she unknowingly modeled for their catalog as a kid.
She went on to spend eight years at Creighton University for both undergrad and dental school, survived the culture shock of going from 6,000 people to a million-plus city, and eventually followed her heart (and her husband Chad) west to Colorado. After a residency in Grand Junction and a few more months of long distance, she and Chad finally both landed in Montrose in 2015 — and she's been building something here ever since.
In 2023, she founded Montrose Dental Wellness, bringing a whole-body approach to dentistry that goes well beyond cleanings and fillings.Dennis and Rob also talk about:- Why gum disease is now approaching 50% of the population and why we're losing the battle.- The surprising link between the bacteria in your mouth and heart attacks and strokes.- Why most mouthwashes on store shelves are a waste of money.- What the research actually says about fluoride, nano hydroxyapatite, and alkaline water.- Why nighttime brushing matters more than morning.- The real reason so many older adults are replacing all their teeth — and what to know before going that route.- Americans and their unnaturally white teeth (her British colleagues have thoughts).- Hiking to Chicago Basin via Imogene Pass and what "Type Two Fun" actually means.- Patagonia, Iceland, and why Montrose is a surprisingly easy place to travel from.- Her role as a Colorado State Dental Association delegate and why she's going to bat for rural healthcare.Whether you've avoided the dentist for years or just want to understand what's actually going on in your mouth, this episode will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about dental health.🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about Montrose, Colorado, and life on the Western Slope.Get Montrose stories, events & local news in your inbox — free. https://wkrpmontrose.com/subscribeLearn More:Montrose Dental Wellness: montrosedental wellness.comThank you to our Underwriters for Making WKRP Montrose Possible:Clearnetworx - https://linkly.link/2akEONuVista Credit Union - https://linkly.link/2akEVFlower Motor - https://linkly.link/2eIUOAtlasta Solar Center - https://linkly.link/2hsWS#WKRPMontrose #MontroseColorado #WesternSlope #DentalHealth #MontroseDentalWellness #OralHealth #ColoradoPodcast #Montrose #GumDisease #DentistryTipsTimecode:0:00 - 2:55: Introduction and sponsor acknowledgments2:55 - 7:10: Meet Jillian Horkan — Sidney, Nebraska, Cabela's, and child modeling she didn't know about7:10 - 11:00: Creighton University, culture shock, and finding her niche in a big city11:00 - 15:30: How she and Chad ended up in Colorado — long distance, Grand Junction residency, and landing in Montrose15:30 - 19:30: Travels with Chad — Patagonia, Iceland, Type Two Fun, and why Montrose is a great travel hub19:30 - 23:31: Founding Montrose Dental Wellness and the whole-body approach to oral health23:31 - 28:50: The mouth-heart connection — how gum disease bacteria travels through the body and raises your heart attack risk28:50 - 33:45: Salivary testing, yeast in the mouth, and why gum disease treatment often fails33:45 - 38:30: The truth about brushing, mouthwash, and why nighttime is the most important time to brush38:30 - 42:30: Why most toothpaste and mouthwash on store shelves isn't worth buying — and what Jillian actually recommends42:30 - 44:30: The teeth replacement trend — who really needs it and what to consider44:30 - 46:00: American teeth, whitening culture, and knowing when cosmetic dentistry goes too far46:00 - 47:00: Rapid fire questions and Chad gets called out to come on the show risk.