Meet Dr. Keith Van Tassell
A Pediatric Dentist You Can Trust
- DDS from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry
- Speaks Spanish and Portuguese
- Specialized in pediatric dentistry because of a childbirth class (ask him about it!)
About Dr. Keith
Dr. Keith (as his patients know him) loves working with kids. He was born in California and grew up in small towns in Utah and Idaho. He graduated from Weber State University in 2000 and entered dental school that same year at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry in Richmond, Virginia.
Dr. Keith graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2004 and was elected into the OKU dental honor society, which is reserved for the top ten percent of graduating dentists in the nation. He was also awarded the Pierre Fauchard Academy Certificate of Merit for outstanding academic achievements.
After dental school, Dr. Keith attended the University of Nevada School of Medicine for a two year pediatric dental residency where he served as chief resident his final year.
Dr. Keith is a board-certified pediatric dentist. He dedicates himself to providing the best dental care possible for his patients, ensuring that they have a positive and fun experience while learning to care for their own oral health.
Dr. Keith enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, running, and playing just about any sport. He and his wife have five children and are expecting their first grandchild!
Memberships and Professional Associations
- Diplomate American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- Colorado Dental Association
- Larimer County Dental Society
- Harmony Surgery Center
- American Dental Association
- International Association of Tongue Tie Professionals
"We travel from Laramie to see Dr Keith. By far the best Pediatric Dentist around. Just Monday we were down in Colorado for another appointment and stopped in to see if he could take a look at my son's tooth which he had chipped the week before. When we got there we found that he wasn’t seeing patients that day. Not only did he take a look at it, he said if we had time he could fix it right now. I highly, highly recommend Dr. Keith and his staff to anyone that wants a dentist that cares about his patients and has their best interest in mind."
-Kevin W.
In His Own Words
How Dr. Keith Sees Dental Work/p>
What do you like most about pediatric dentistry?
“I love getting to build relationships with the kids and their families. I’m also thankful for my team, leadership, and influence.”
In your view, how is pediatric dentistry different from general dentistry?
“Pediatric dentistry is so much more fun! Because of the kids, it’s unpredictable and spontaneous. You never know what they’re going to walk in with—it’s always busy, never dull.”
Why is pediatric dentistry important?
“I wish parents knew that if they just start early with a couple simple things, they can avoid almost all cavities in the future.”
What is one of your favorite work stories?
“There are so many to choose from. I had a teenage patient with autism and non-verbal who was in severe pain on his front teeth. He had previously had root canals on a few of them but everything looked great on the xrays. He had a history of wiggling his teeth so much that they got very loose and was starting to work on one of the teeth. With the teeth in such good shape the only other thing it could be in our minds was a sinus infection. He went and had some imaging done and sure enough he had a really bad sinus infection. He got the appropriate treatment and stopped wiggling the tooth. It was a great day for him, his parents, and us when we could get to the bottom of the issue.”
What do you wish parents knew about their kids’ oral health?
“How important our daily decisions in diet and hygiene can impact our children's oral health. Even though they are baby teeth, introducing decay and a higher bacterial load can have a long lasting impact on the health of the mouth.”
