At The Fort Collins Dentist, patient comfort and personalized attention form the foundation of every appointment. Located on South Shields Street in Fort Collins, Dr. Allison Lesko and Dr. Emily Riesgraf have built their practice around understanding that each patient arrives with unique concerns and expectations. Their approach emphasizes open communication and collaborative treatment planning, ensuring that everyone who walks through their doors feels heard, respected, and confident in their dental care decisions.
Why We Love Practicing in Fort Collins
Fort Collins, Colorado, was established in 1864 as a military outpost along the Cache la Poudre River, originally named Camp Collins after Lieutenant Colonel William O. Collins. The settlement quickly evolved from a frontier military garrison into a thriving agricultural community, becoming officially incorporated in 1873. The arrival of the Colorado Central Railroad in 1877 and the establishment of Colorado Agricultural College (now Colorado State University) in 1870 transformed Fort Collins into a regional hub for education and commerce.
Today, Fort Collins is a vibrant city of over 170,000 residents, consistently ranked among the best places to live in America. The community maintains a perfect blend of outdoor recreation, craft brewery culture, and technological innovation, while Colorado State University continues to drive educational excellence and cultural enrichment throughout the region.
What makes Fort Collins truly special is its strong sense of community, commitment to sustainability, and the way residents embrace both its historic charm and forward-thinking spirit. The city’s tree-lined streets, thriving Old Town district, and proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park create an exceptional quality of life that residents are proud to call home.
Spring Canyon Park near The Fort Collins Dentist
Did you know that Spring Canyon Park is home to Colorado’s very first universally accessible playground? Long before inclusive design became a national priority, Fort Collins was already pioneering barrier-free recreation at this remarkable 100-acre community park in west Fort Collins. The park’s Inspiration Playground broke ground in accessibility, creating a space where children of all abilities could play side by side—a milestone that put this Fort Collins park on the map statewide.
When you visit Spring Canyon Park at 3156 South Overland Trail, you’ll find far more than just swings and slides. This is the second-largest park in Fort Collins’ entire system, featuring everything from lighted tennis and basketball courts to a post-tension inline hockey rink, multiple baseball and soccer fields, and even a bike pump track. The splash pad is a summer favorite, with touch-sensor waterspouts that delight kids during those hot Colorado afternoons between Memorial Day and Labor Day. And if your four-legged family members tag along, they’ll love the dedicated off-leash dog park.
The park’s design draws inspiration from the area’s fascinating history as a former quarry and prehistoric campsite. Archaeological research identified over 1,700 artifacts here spanning thousands of years, from the Folsom period through Late Prehistoric times. Today’s landscape echoes that geological heritage with canyon-inspired landforms, mature cottonwood groves, and distinctive hogback features that mirror the nearby foothills. The Veterans Plaza of Northern Colorado adds a commemorative dimension, honoring military service members in a beautifully landscaped setting.
With a stellar 4.8 rating from 1,850 reviewers, Spring Canyon Park connects seamlessly to Pineridge Natural Area via walking and biking trails, offering you easy transitions from developed recreation space into open foothills terrain. The park is open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., with ample parking off both Horsetooth Road and Overland Trail. After a morning hike or an afternoon at the playground, you’re just a short drive south on Shields Street to The Fort Collins Dentist—because active, outdoor-loving families deserve dental care that keeps pace with their adventures.
Meet Their Dentists
At The Fort Collins Dentist, patients are welcomed into a practice built on a foundation of clinical excellence, compassionate care, and a genuine commitment to each individual’s comfort and well-being. The team prioritizes clear communication and personalized treatment, ensuring every visit reflects their dedication to creating healthy, confident smiles in a warm and professional environment.
Dr. Allison Lesko: As the owner and a general dentist, Dr. Lesko brings exceptional expertise in family dentistry, dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, and sleep apnea treatment, supported by over 100 hours of continuing education annually and active involvement in the Larimer County Dental Society and Colorado Dental Association.
Dr. Emily Riesgraf: A dedicated general dentist and President of the Larimer County Dental Society, Dr. Riesgraf demonstrates outstanding leadership and professional engagement, bringing her commitment to community involvement and comprehensive dental care to every patient she serves.
Comprehensive Dental Services in Fort Collins
The Fort Collins Dentist, conveniently located at 2001 S Shields St in Fort Collins, is dedicated to providing comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages. With a focus on both health and aesthetics, the practice offers a wide range of services designed to meet the diverse needs of the community.
At the heart of the practice is family and general dentistry, providing routine care and preventive services for patients throughout every stage of life. From regular checkups and cleanings to fillings and extractions, these essential services form the foundation of maintaining optimal oral health. The practice’s commitment to family care ensures that everyone, from children to seniors, receives personalized attention in a welcoming environment.
For patients looking to enhance their smile, the practice offers comprehensive cosmetic dentistry solutions. Teeth whitening treatments can brighten discolored or stained teeth, restoring a youthful and vibrant appearance. Dental veneers provide a transformative option for correcting chips, gaps, or misshapen teeth by bonding custom-made shells to the front surface of teeth. Dental crowns serve both cosmetic and restorative purposes, covering damaged teeth while improving their shape, size, and overall appearance.
The practice specializes in dental implants, offering a permanent solution for missing teeth that looks and functions like natural teeth. Implants provide stability and prevent bone loss while restoring the ability to eat, speak, and smile with confidence. The team handles both the surgical placement of implants and their restoration, ensuring continuity of care throughout the entire process.
Understanding that dental anxiety can prevent patients from seeking necessary care, The Fort Collins Dentist provides sedation dentistry options to ensure comfort during treatment. Laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, offers mild relaxation that wears off quickly after the appointment. For patients requiring deeper sedation or undergoing more extensive procedures, IV sedation provides a safe and effective way to remain comfortable and calm throughout treatment.
Beyond traditional dental care, the practice extends its expertise to sleep apnea treatment through custom oral devices. These specially designed appliances help keep airways open during sleep, reducing the symptoms of sleep apnea and improving overall sleep quality. This service demonstrates the practice’s commitment to whole-body health and recognizing the vital connection between oral health and overall wellness.
Why Choose The Fort Collins Dentist?
Choosing The Fort Collins Dentist means selecting a practice that prioritizes comprehensive care for the entire family while specializing in advanced treatment options. Their family-focused approach ensures that patients of all ages receive personalized attention in a welcoming environment.
The practice understands that dental anxiety can prevent patients from receiving necessary care, which is why they offer multiple sedation options including laughing gas and IV sedation. These comfort-focused solutions allow even the most anxious patients to undergo treatment in a relaxed, stress-free state.
Beyond traditional dental services, The Fort Collins Dentist has invested in specialized training for dental implant procedures, providing patients with permanent solutions for missing teeth without needing referrals to outside specialists. This commitment to advanced care extends to their sleep apnea treatment services, recognizing that oral health connects directly to overall wellness and quality of life.
But What Are Their Patients Saying?
There’s no better way to understand The Fort Collins Dentist than hearing from the people they’ve treated!
“I had a wonderful experience at The Fort Collins Dentist. This was my first time receiving treatment here for a TMJ consultation. The office staff were absolutely lovely and the environment was very welcoming. Tiffany and Dr. Lesko were thorough, knowledgeable, kind, and genuine. I was given a variety of treatment options, in great detail, and a clear direction for next steps. I feel fortunate to have received such a high level of care.” – Traisha Laporte (5 stars)
“Listen. These people are amazing. Dr. Emily and her team are so kind, caring, and sensitive to people with dental fears (ahem, like yours truly). I had a bad experience with a dentist many years ago that resulted in insane anxiety and fear at the dentist. I was convinced this was just how it was, and I always felt like such a sissy when I went. The team at this place make me feel so calm, reassured… they talk you through everything they’re doing and constantly check to make sure you’re comfortable. I’ve been to a lot of dentists in my life and I have to say, nobody comes close to Dr. Emily. I recommend her to everyone 💜” – Jess Bell (5 stars)
Schedule an Appointment with Them Today!
If you have questions about your oral health or want to explore treatment options, The Fort Collins Dentist welcomes new patients in the Fort Collins area. Dr. Allison Lesko and Dr. Emily Riesgraf provide comprehensive dental care, from routine cleanings and preventive treatments to restorative and cosmetic services designed to keep your smile healthy and confident.
Taking the first step toward better dental health is simple. Visit the practice website to learn more about available services, or schedule a consultation to discuss your specific needs. The team at The Fort Collins Dentist is ready to answer your questions and help you achieve the smile you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sedation dentistry options are available for patients with dental anxiety?
The Fort Collins Dentist understands that dental anxiety can prevent patients from seeking necessary care, which is why they offer multiple sedation options to ensure comfort during treatment. Laughing gas, also known as nitrous oxide, provides mild relaxation that wears off quickly after the appointment, making it ideal for patients who need to drive themselves home. For patients requiring deeper sedation or undergoing more extensive procedures, IV sedation is available as a safe and effective way to remain comfortable and calm throughout treatment. These comfort-focused solutions allow even the most anxious patients to undergo treatment in a relaxed, stress-free state.
What makes dental implants a permanent solution for missing teeth?
Dental implants offer a permanent solution for missing teeth that looks and functions like natural teeth. The practice specializes in this advanced treatment, handling both the surgical placement of implants and their restoration, which ensures continuity of care throughout the entire process. Implants provide stability and prevent bone loss that can occur when teeth are missing, while restoring the ability to eat, speak, and smile with confidence. This means patients don’t need referrals to outside specialists, as The Fort Collins Dentist has invested in specialized training for dental implant procedures and can complete the full treatment in-house.
How does the practice treat sleep apnea and why is this important?
The Fort Collins Dentist extends their expertise beyond traditional dental care to sleep apnea treatment through custom oral devices. These specially designed appliances help keep airways open during sleep, reducing the symptoms of sleep apnea and improving overall sleep quality. This service demonstrates the practice’s commitment to whole-body health and recognizing the vital connection between oral health and overall wellness. By offering sleep apnea treatment, Dr. Lesko and Dr. Riesgraf acknowledge that oral health connects directly to overall wellness and quality of life, allowing patients to receive comprehensive care for conditions that affect both their dental health and general well-being.
What cosmetic dentistry options are available to enhance my smile?
The practice offers comprehensive cosmetic dentistry solutions designed to enhance your smile’s appearance. Teeth whitening treatments can brighten discolored or stained teeth, restoring a youthful and vibrant appearance. For more significant corrections, dental veneers provide a transformative option for fixing chips, gaps, or misshapen teeth by bonding custom-made shells to the front surface of teeth. Dental crowns serve both cosmetic and restorative purposes, covering damaged teeth while improving their shape, size, and overall appearance. Each of these treatments can be customized to meet your specific aesthetic goals while maintaining optimal oral health.
What types of family and general dentistry services are provided?
At the heart of The Fort Collins Dentist is family and general dentistry, providing routine care and preventive services for patients throughout every stage of life. The practice offers regular checkups and cleanings, fillings, and extractions, which form the foundation of maintaining optimal oral health. The practice’s commitment to family care ensures that everyone, from children to seniors, receives personalized attention in a welcoming environment. This comprehensive approach means that families can receive all their dental care in one location, with Dr. Allison Lesko and Dr. Emily Riesgraf providing consistent, high-quality care for patients of all ages.