Jillian Horkan, D.D.S. and founder of Montrose Dental Wellness, is paving the way for a new era of dentistry, a kind that approaches whole body wellness through the mouth. And she’s doing it from Hillcrest Plaza Way.
Did you know that there are over 58 known diseases that can be connected to health in the mouth? Jillian’s philosophy goes beyond standard oral hygiene and dental procedures to offer innovative and advanced preventative dental care that nurtures total mouth and body wellness.
Preventing Heart Attacks Through Dental Work
When Jillian was in training to be a dentist, she was on a team that helped a man completely turn around his lifestyle through dentistry. He stopped eating processed foods, started exercising and was able to get the dental surgery he needed. Jillian tells a tale of persistence—her team had this patient on the surgery table three times and kept having to stop the mission because his blood pressure was so high he would have had a heart attack on the table. Instead of prescribing more medication (he had drug resistant blood pressure) he went through counseling at the recommendation of these dentists that led to a series of life changes that brought back his health and vitality and the green light to go ahead with surgery.
“When we look at most doctors, we go into our field to help people. Those are the rewarding moments for us. This was my rewarding moment,” Jillian said.
The Leader in Preventive Dental Wellness is Right Here in Montrose
Being able to affect the kind of change that completely transforms a person’s health and well-being is what drives Jillian every day. Her practice, Montrose Dental Wellness, located at 5 Hillcrest Plaza Way, works tirelessly to bring Montrose and Colorado residents the dental care they deserve. Dr. Horkan and her expert team utilize the most innovative dental technology to provide compassionate dental wellness exams, general, emergency, pediatric, cosmetic, and preventative dentistry.
Jillian never stops growing, which many say is the key to being a successful entrepreneur. Jillian graduated from Creighton University School of Dentistry in 2014 and relocated to the Western Slope. Following
a post-doctorate residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry in Grand Junction, she worked in a private practice in Montrose for 8 years. She then furthered her studies in advanced dental care at the Kois Center in Seattle, where she deepened her expertise in total mouth and body wellness. In 2023, Dr. Horkan brought her knowledge and passion for advanced dentistry back to Montrose to found Montrose Dental Wellness.
Dr. Horkan is actively involved in the Colorado Dental Association, where she has served as a state delegate since 2020, and the Western Slope Dental Society, where she serves as a board member. Dr. Horkan is a member of the American Dental Association, Colorado Dental Association, Western Slope Dental Society, Wellness Dentistry Network, and Kois Center Alumni.
It Takes a Village
Like all great entrepreneurs, Jillian hasn’t built a successful practice on her own. Acknowledging the importance of a great support system, Jillian said, “if you believe in yourself and surround yourself with a really great team and good people, you’ll always excel.” Leaving another private practice to go out on your own isn’t easy, and will always present challenges, but having great people around you helps entrepreneurs persevere.
Jillian gushes about her team: “My team is great—they’re light-hearted, and they care. I also have a couple of mentors who have been really helpful.” Jillian’s husband also helps her maintain balance by pushing her to do activities, like hiking, snowmobiling, dirt biking, and traveling, which take her mind off work and keep herself in the present moment. “It’s too easy to stay in the weeds as an entrepreneur, so seeing the forest for the trees has been my key to balance and something I continue to pursue.”
Why the Western Slope is the Greatest Place to Run a Business
When she isn’t supporting Montrose and surrounding residents with their dental needs, Dr. Horkan enjoys hiking, camping, dirt biking, snowmobiling, skiing, hunting, and traveling with her husband and two energetic Siberian huskies. Jillian loves the Western Slope—“I love that it’s an agricultural town. We all love the mountains. We all love being active. People are just down to earth,” she said.
To learn more about Montrose Dental Wellness, visit montrosedentalwellness.comLearn more about The Marketing Dept. Colorado, a Colorado-based marketing and advertising agency
