New Patient Special
Find Out If Dental Implants Are Right For Your Smile!
Our team at Foothills Dental is here to help you smile with confidence again. Take our 2-minute quiz to see if you are a candidate for dental implant treatment!
Why Patients Love Foothills Dental
Restore Your Smile’s Full Potential with Foothills Dental
Improved Chewing & Speaking
Dentures and implants make it easier to enjoy a wider range of foods and speak clearly. You won’t have to worry about discomfort or feeling self-conscious when eating or talking with others, making everyday life more enjoyable.
Look and Feel Your Best
A restored smile can do wonders for your confidence. Whether you're meeting new people or catching up with friends, you'll feel better about yourself in both social and work settings, knowing your smile looks great.
Long-Lasting Smiles
Dental implants are a permanent solution that can last a lifetime with proper care. Dentures, while removable, offer flexibility and comfort, and both options improve your long-term oral health, giving you a smile that lasts for years to come.
Addressing the Impact of Missing Teeth
Missing Teeth
Whether due to injury, decay, or age, we can replace lost teeth and restore your smile.
Low Self-Esteem
Missing teeth can affect your confidence. Dentures and implants help you smile freely again.
Difficulty Eating or Speaking
Missing teeth can make everyday activities like eating and speaking harder. Implants and dentures restore normal function.
Trouble Chewing Food
Restoring teeth with implants or dentures helps you enjoy a wide variety of foods again.
Jawbone Loss
Dental implants stimulate your jawbone, preventing the bone loss that often occurs after teeth are lost.
Shifting Teeth
When teeth are missing, the surrounding teeth can shift. Restoring your teeth with implants or dentures prevents this from happening.
Who Should Consider Dentures or Implants?
People Missing One or More Teeth
If you’re missing a tooth or several, implants or dentures can help restore your smile and functionality.
Adults Seeking a Permanent Solution
Dental implants are a great option for those who want a long-lasting, stable solution to missing teeth.
People Who Want to Look and Feel More Confident
If missing teeth affect your confidence, both implants and dentures can help restore your appearance and improve your self-esteem.
Patients With Good Overall Oral Health
Implants, in particular, require a healthy jawbone to support the implant. We’ll assess your health and guide you through the process.
Find the Best Solution for Your Needs
At Foothills Dental, we offer various treatment options to meet your specific dental needs. From full dentures to permanent implants, we’ll help you choose the best fit for your smile:
Traditional Dentures
Custom-made, removable full or partial dentures are designed to fit comfortably and restore both the appearance and function of your smile. Whether you’re missing a few teeth or a full set, these dentures help you chew, speak, and smile confidently again.
Fixed Dentures
A more secure and permanent solution, fixed dentures are anchored by dental implants, providing enhanced stability and a better fit. Unlike traditional removable dentures, fixed dentures offer greater comfort and less shifting, ensuring you can enjoy your favorite foods and speak naturally without worry.
Denture Stabilization
If you're dealing with loose dentures that don’t stay in place, denture stabilization can help. This treatment secures your dentures, offering a more comfortable, reliable fit, so you can eat, speak, and smile with confidence throughout the day.
Step-by-Step Process for a Comfortable, Restorative Experience
Initial Consultation
We’ll start with a thorough evaluation of your oral health and discuss your goals for restoring your smile. Whether you’re interested in dentures or implants, we’ll recommend the best solution tailored to your needs and lifestyle.
Treatment Planning
After reviewing your options, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan just for you. This may include X-rays and other necessary exams to ensure we’re addressing all your needs and setting the stage for a successful outcome.
Denture Fitting & Customization
If you’re getting dentures, we’ll take precise impressions of your mouth to craft custom dentures that fit comfortably and securely. For those choosing implants, we’ll place them securely into your jaw, providing a stable foundation for future restorations.
Follow-Up Care & Adjustments
Once your dentures or implants are in place, we’ll schedule follow-up visits to ensure everything is healing well and your new dentures fit perfectly. If any adjustments are needed for added comfort or a better fit, we’ll take care of them promptly.
Get to Know Us
Expertise You Can Count On
Care You Can Rely On
Dr. James Richey
Dr. James Richey was born and raised in Central California among the olives, grapes, walnuts, and oranges. Trust us, the good ones stick around! He has now lived in Idaho for almost nine years and calls it home, especially after marrying a beautiful Idaho girl.
Dr. James Richey graduated from Brigham Young University – Idaho with a Bachelor's degree in Exercise Physiology and a minor in Dance Pedagogy. He received his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry from Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine. He came to love orthodontics through Progressive Orthodontic Seminars Continuing Education courses and enjoys seeing the transformation in people when they are proud of their smile.
Dr. James Richey has interests in so many things, it’s become a bit of a problem. He enjoys archery, shooting, leatherworking, reading, writing, music, gaming, and computers, just to name a few. He’s always got a project in the works, planning another, and is excited to complete projects he hasn’t even thought of yet. He comes from a family of seven, with only one sister! As the youngest of five, he developed into being a good observer of people and learned lessons by watching. He says this helps him detect early course corrections when needed. Dr. James Richey’s upbringing gives him an upper hand in getting along well with people of all ages, with all different types of interests and personalities.
His wife Deanna and two children, Steven and Adalind, are his world, and we can definitively state he is most certainly wrapped around their fingers. However, we can’t blame Dr. Richey for falling for his kids’ puppy eyes… They learned it firsthand from their real puppy, Clancy.
Dr. Tyson Murdock
Dr. Tyson was born in Washington and raised in Idaho Falls. While attending Hillcrest High School – Go Knights! – he, unknowingly, met his future wife, who was attending Idaho Falls High School – obligatory ‘Go Tigers!’ After high school, Dr. Tyson had the amazing opportunity to live in the beautiful country of Venezuela for two years. Because of this, he became fluent in Spanish and mastered his dad’s jokes.
After returning to his hometown, he married his high school sweetheart, Rachelle Woolstenhulme, and off to college they went. Dr. Tyson graduated from ISU, where he earned his degree in zoology and served as the activities director on the student council. This must be where he learned to be the witty doctor we know him as.
After ISU, he packed up his family and moved to Pittsburgh, where he attended the University of Dental Medicine and earned his DMD. He has received training in oral surgery, prosthodontics, pediatrics, endodontics, and special needs sedation dentistry. During dental school, Dr. Tyson served in numerous community outreach programs at public health clinics and participated in the annual "Give Kids a Smile" day at his school. He was also an active member of the Spanish Dental Club at his school.
After graduating from dental school, Dr. Tyson wanted to move back to his hometown and work side by side with his dad, Dr. Murdock. He absolutely loved having his dad as his mentor for 10 years. Dr. Tyson is passionate about dentistry and providing quality care for his patients.
More About Dr. Murdock
Dr. Tyson works with Mountain View Hospital to help the special needs community and young kids achieve dental work through sedation. He is always seeking to increase his knowledge by staying current on dental topics, procedures, and equipment through continuing education. He has completed extra training in clear aligner therapy through ClearCorrect, CEREC crowns and veneers, and implant placement for teeth and denture stability.
Dr. Tyson’s family consists of his beautiful wife, Rachelle, and their two children. He spends many hours listening to his son play the drums or piano, or watching his daughter tumble on the gymnastics mat. He loves helping his wife with her passion for crafting and can often be found in the shop doing woodworking for her. If not in those locations, you can be sure he’s out on the golf course, usually the one yelling at the ball that’s going in the wrong direction!
Dr. Justin Bell
Dr. Justin Bell grew up just outside Idaho Falls, in a home with three boys and three girls. Now, he has his own set of three boys and three girls. He loves anything with a fast engine and enjoys surfing, reading, being outdoors, or doing anything with his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Dr. Bell graduated in the first class from Hillcrest High School. He attended Rick’s College, now Brigham Young University – Idaho, and Idaho State University. During his undergraduate studies, Dr. Bell was accepted into a doctoral program by Creighton University through the Idaho Dental Education Program and graduated Cum Laude with his Doctor of Dental Surgery. He began practicing in Idaho Falls in 2000.
Education and staying on the forefront of dental technology have always been central to Dr. Bell’s practice. His passion for technology brought 3D orthodontic fabrication, same-day crowns, and computer-aided digital implant surgery to Foothills Dental before many other dental offices in town. His skills have also earned him hospital privileges at every major hospital in Idaho Falls.
More About Dr. Bell
In 1993, while working in the fishing industry, Dr. Bell was crowned the Ekuk, Alaska, Maple Bar Eating Champion! This is just one of many prestigious awards and accomplishments on his mantel. Others include the International Award from the Pierre Fauchard Academy for Academic Merit, honorary membership in the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honors Society, serving as president of the Upper Snake River Dental Society in 2004, and receiving the Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership Award in 2016.
Dr. Bell devotes part of his time to helping the disabled. He has a daughter with Rett Syndrome, which has kept him active in volunteering and serving the disabled community for 20 years. His volunteering also extends to church callings and being a member of Idaho’s Boy Scouts National Youth Leadership Training Program, titled Cedar Badge. His care in all that he does is reflected in each dental appointment scheduled with Dr. Bell.
Where Quality Meets Comfort
Same-Day Emergency Care
We keep spots open for dental emergencies – because you shouldn’t have to wait for relief.
Extended Hours Available
Busy schedule? No problem. We offer evening hours during the week and Saturday appointments to fit your life.
Modern Comfort Amenities
Enjoy relaxing entertainment with Hulu and stress-relieving items like earphones and stress balls during your visit.
State-of-the-Art Technology
We use advanced tools and digital imaging to provide you with faster, more precise treatments.
Located in Idaho Falls, ID
Foothills Dental is proud to serve the Idaho Falls community and neighboring areas, including Ammon, Shelley, Rigby, and Jackson Hole. Our practice is dedicated to providing high-quality dental care to families throughout Southeast Idaho, offering everything from routine cleanings to advanced restorative treatments.
We are located next to the mall and across from Subway.
Insurance & Financing
New Patients Receive $200 in In-Office Credit!
Join Foothills Dental as a new patient and receive $200 in credit for essential treatments, including:
- Initial Examination
- X-rays
- Cleaning
- Teeth Whitening
- Healthy Smiles Subscription
Eligibility: The Smile for Free promotion is for new patients or those who haven't received care at Foothills Dental in the last 24 months.
Credit Use: The $200 credit can be applied to your initial exam, x-rays, cleaning, teeth whitening, or a Healthy Smiles subscription. The credit is for future treatments only and cannot be exchanged for cash or products.
Exclusions: MCNA patients are not eligible. The promotion can be used only once per patient.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do dentures feel like natural teeth?
While dentures may take some getting used to, they are designed to closely mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. With time, most patients find that they feel comfortable and function well.
How much do dentures cost?
The cost of dentures varies depending on your needs, the type of dentures you choose, and other factors. We offer flexible financing options to help make dentures more affordable.
Can I get dentures if I have gum disease?
If you have gum disease, it will need to be treated before we can proceed with dentures. Our team will work with you to address any underlying issues and ensure your mouth is ready for dentures.
How do I know if dentures are right for me?
Dentures are a great solution for anyone missing multiple teeth. We’ll evaluate your oral health and discuss your goals to determine if dentures are the best fit for your needs.
Will my insurance cover dentures?
We accept most major insurance plans, including Delta Dental and MetLife. Our team will help you understand your coverage and guide you through the payment options.
How do I care for my dentures?
Dentures need to be cleaned daily using a soft brush and special denture cleaner to keep them free of plaque. When not in use, dentures should be stored in water to prevent them from drying out and losing their shape.
Can I eat normally with dentures?
Yes, after some adjustment, most patients can eat most foods comfortably. However, we recommend avoiding very hard or sticky foods initially as you get used to your new dentures.
Are dentures uncomfortable?
It’s normal to need an adjustment period when first wearing dentures, but we ensure they are custom-made for a comfortable fit. We also offer denture stabilization to keep them secure, providing added comfort.
How long do dentures last?
With proper care, dentures typically last between 5-10 years. Over time, they may need adjustments or replacements as your mouth naturally changes.
What’s the difference between dentures and dental implants?
Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth, designed to restore your smile and functionality. They are custom-made to fit your mouth comfortably. In contrast, dental implants are permanent, surgically placed into the jawbone, offering a more stable solution for tooth replacement.
