Dr. John Poovey, DMD

What he does here

Dr. Poovey sees consultations. His focus is oral medicine and medically complex patients — people whose heart disease, cancer treatment, kidney disease, transplant, diabetes, osteoporosis or neurological condition means a standard dental plan is not the right plan.

He reviews your full medical history, your medications and your upcoming treatment, and he coordinates directly with your physician — oncologist, nephrologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist, transplant team, whoever is managing your care. Not a note sent through you.

Surgical treatment, if you need it, is performed by Dr. Kristen Yant, a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology, with sedation administered by a dedicated nurse anesthetist.

Timing is often the whole thing

The most valuable visit is frequently the one that happens before treatment starts. Once certain medications have begun, procedures that would have been routine become risky. Once chemotherapy is underway, an infection that would have been simple becomes complicated.

If your physician has told you that you will be starting cancer treatment, radiation, a transplant protocol or a bone medication, call now rather than after — even if nothing in your mouth hurts.

Trained at the top of his class

Dr. Poovey graduated magna cum laude from Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, where he was voted the number one clinical graduate of his class. He brought that training to the Western Slope and has spent his career here since.

• 2023 Innovation Award — American Academy of Osseointegration.
• Diplomate, International Congress of Oral Implantology.
• Mastership, American Academy of Implant Prosthodontics.
• 22 years caring for patients in the Grand Valley.

How he practises

Plain language, no pressure, and an honest answer when a simpler option would serve you just as well — including when the answer is that nothing needs doing yet. Patients drive in from Fruita, Palisade, Delta, Montrose and Glenwood Springs, and the schedule is built to get more done per trip for people travelling.

For physicians

If you are managing a patient about to begin bisphosphonate therapy, chemotherapy, head-and-neck radiation or a transplant protocol, a dental evaluation beforehand can prevent complications that are far harder to manage later. We will coordinate directly with you, work within your treatment timeline, and report back. Call the office and ask for Dr. Poovey.