Jewel Basin Dentistry serves with a smile
Dr. John Rausch is pictured at Jewel Basin Dentistry. The practice opened in May and will hold a grand opening barbecue July 30. Mackenzie Reiss/Bigfork Eagle
Dr. John Rausch is pictured at Jewel Basin Dentistry, Bigfork's newest dental practice, which opened May 11. Mackenzie Reiss/Bigfork Eagle
A toothache doesn’t have to mean a drive to Kalispell for Bigfork locals. Jewel Basin Dentistry, which opened their doors May 11, offers a range of dental services, including more advanced procedures such as oral surgery and root canal therapy.
Dr. John Rausch and practice owner, Dr. Tim Bagnell, noticed the number of Bigfork residents traveling to larger communities for dental care and decided the small city by the bay would be the perfect location for their new practice.
“I enjoy helping people,” Rausch said. “When they are confident with their mouth and their smile, it plays into the overall demeanor of the person.”
Rausch graduated in the top three of his class from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine and spent three years working under Bagnell as a dental assistant and another four years part-time prior to attending dental school. He is a father of three with one on the way and enjoys golf and woodworking in his spare time.
Bagnell, a Frenchtown native, received his doctorate in dental surgery from Creighton University and opened practices in Omaha, Nebraska and Ronan before his latest venture in Bigfork with Jewel Basin Dentistry.
Rausch acknowledged that many people associate fear with a trip to the dentist, but noted that he and his colleagues strive to provide a relaxed, welcoming environment.
“You want to make things as painless as you can … and reassure them,” he explained.
Rausch most enjoys the precision-based aspects of dentistry and making substantial differences in the lives of his patients. There was one case in particular that really touched him, involving a middle-aged patient who had been missing a number of teeth since high school.
“[She] came in after I gave her some new teeth and said, ‘Can I hug you?’ and just cried,” Rausch recalled. “She was just so ecstatic. Those are the cases that remind me of why I got into dentistry — helping people and helping them feel more confident with their smile.”
Jewel Basin Dentistry is also focused on bringing the latest technology to their Bigfork practice. For example, Rausch said they have the equipment to make a crown in a single day right there at the office with the option of sending it to a lab for more specialized work. They also offer dental implants, extractions, teeth whitening and cleanings, among other services.
“We understand the dentist isn’t everybody’s favorite place, but we know that oral health plays into somebody’s overall health,” he said. “We’re here to help serve.”
Get involved
Join Jewel Basin Dentistry for a grand opening barbecue on Friday, July 30 from 3-5 p.m. Learn more about the practice at www.jewelbasindentistry.com or call 406-614-2020.