Meet Our Doctors

Brett Richins, DMD

General Dentist

Dr. Richins studied biomedical engineering at the University of Utah for his undergraduate studies, going onto attend the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, where he graduated in 2012. He is passionate about continuing education, and regularly attends courses on subjects like cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry and sleep and airway health. Dr. Richins is a proud member of the American Dental Association and the Utah Dental Association.

Dr. Richins has been practicing dentistry in Highland, Utah, for over 12 years. In addition, he also works as a clinical advisor for a leading dental manufacturing company called Ultradent Products® Inc., which allows him to be involved in the development of cutting-edge dental products and materials. When it comes to dentistry, he believes in minimally invasive and preventive care. His goal is to have a collaborative relationship with the patient in order to provide a holistic approach to their care. Dentistry is more than just filling cavities and whitening teeth. It is important to take overall health into account as we manage dental health. We want to provide a long-term dental home for our patients where they can feel confident in their ability to maintain their smile for a lifetime.

Dr. Richins has been married to his wife, Carlee, for over 20 years. They have three boys and one girl. Dr. Richins loves spending time with his family. He also likes anything outdoors, including mountain biking, hiking, snowboarding, backpacking and spending time at Lake Powell to name a few.

CJ Dorny, DMD

General Dentist

Dr. CJ Dorny was born and raised in Holladay, Utah. Dr. Dorny's journey in dentistry began at the highly reputed University of Pittsburgh School of Dental medicine. This marked the inception of a thriving career dedicated to excellence in oral health care. He has advanced training in cosmetic dentistry and implant surgery and enjoys bringing confidence and joy back to his patients smiles!

Dr. Dorny has been married to his wonderful wife Megan for 25 years, they are the proud parents of six children. The bustling Dorny household is a testament to love, growth and togetherness, mirroring the values that Dr. Dorny brings into his practice. His approach to dentistry is deeply rooted in conservative, proactive methods, ensuring that his patients receive the utmost care without unnecessary procedures. Dr. Dorny’s philosophy centers around maintaining the natural integrity of teeth and gums while employing the most advanced dental technologies available.

Outside the clinic, Dr. Dorny is an avid sports enthusiast. He finds joy in tennis and pickleball, the tranquility of hiking through Utah’s picturesque trails, and the excitement of watching football and basketball games. Dr. Dorny also enjoys using his time to staying current with the latest advancements in dental technology and training, ensuring that he delivers top-tier care to his patients. Dr. Dorny’s is committed to providing a brighter, healthier smile for everyone he meets.

• Attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
• Member of the American Dental Association®
• Member of the Utah Dental Association
• Volunteers for Dental Lifeline Network

Katie Gifford, DMD

General Dentist

A Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine graduate, Dr. Katie Gifford was born and raised in Texas. Prior to dental school, she attended Brigham Young University for her undergraduate degree in Exercise Science. She is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Dental Association®, the Utah Dental Association and the Academy of LDS Dentists.

Including her experience with the most up to date technologies, Dr. Gifford is certified and trained in BOTOX® injections for non-invasive therapeutic and aesthetic treatments including TMD/TMJ pain deduction, bruxism, frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead lines. She feels that her patients deserve the best and by regularly participating in continuing education, she will be able to stay current on the latest technologies as well as other dental treatments that will provide her patients with more options and better results.

Dr. Gifford and her husband Levi live in Lehi with their young son and daughter. She loves interior design, traveling, gardening and most importantly, spending time with her family.

Dr. Gifford is committed to providing you and your family with the highest level of care. Her goal as a dentist is centered on integrity, honesty and personal attention. She values relationships with her patients and strives to build mutual trust and respect.

Barton Sloan, DMD

Board Certified Pediatric Dentist

I’m passionate about healthy smiles and the overall health and happiness of your child. Dental visits can be stressful for both the child and parent. My goal is to have every child excited to come to the dentist. The reason I entered my profession is because of my love and affinity for children. My happiest moments are when a child visits me for the first time, having been to multiple unsuccessful dental visits, and having the child leave comfortable and proud of themselves for what they have accomplished with my patience and guidance.

Children make me happy and keep me young. I cannot imagine myself in any other profession. Children amaze me every day. They are so smart, impressionable, courageous and capable. I love working in a profession where I get to influence a child for the better by improving and maintaining a healthy, beautiful smile.

Education and Continuing Education

• Brigham Young University, Idaho – Undergraduate degree
• University of Kentucky College of Dentistry – Doctorate of Dental Surgery
• Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin – Pediatric dental residency
• American Board of Pediatric Dentistry – Board certification
• Certifications: Advanced Pediatric Life Support and Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers

Continuing education is very important to me because I want to offer the best and safest care to your child. We live in an ever-changing world where new innovations are created each day. By keeping up with the latest technologies, I can help you make the best decision for your son or daughter.

I regularly attend national and regional pediatric dental meetings and continuing education seminars, and I subscribe to many pediatric dental journals and magazines to stay up to date on the most evidence-based treatments available. Things we believe impossible today could be the standard of care tomorrow.

Teaching Experience

• Marquette University School of Dentistry
  • Academic lecturer
  • Clinical instructor
• Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
  • Attending faculty dentist: pediatric dental residency

Professional Memberships

• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
• Western Society of Pediatric Dentistry
• American Dental Association
• Academy of LDS Dentists

Outside the Office

I was born in Bountiful, Utah, but spent most of my young life in Ashland, Ohio. At the age of 13, I moved back to Utah and attended Uintah High School in Vernal. It was there where I grew to love music and musical theater, and I acted in such roles as The Tin Man in “The Wizard of Oz,” Reuben in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” and Frankie in “Forever Plaid.” Recently I have been participating in Herriman Art Council shows, such as Sebastian in The Little Mermaid and Grandpa Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. It is this love of music that results in frequent outbursts of “Let it Go,” “The Wheels on the Bus,” and “The Buzz Lightyear Song” to help ease children’s dental anxiety.

I have three beautiful girls in my life: my beautiful wife Emily, our oldest daughter and our youngest daughter. I also have a son, who is our miracle child. I am a twin, and my brother is an optometrist in Monument, Colorado.

When I am not fixing teeth, I am likely playing with my kids, attending play practice, reading a fantasy book (Brandon Sanderson is my favorite), riding my bike or playing a board game. I also enjoy watching Pixar and DreamWorks movies.

Matthew Jacobsen, DDS

Board Certified Pediatric Dentist

I love coming to work each day. Children certainly keep me on my toes and there is never a dull moment. Having five kids of my own ensures that the fun does not stop when I get home either! There are few things quite as rewarding as helping a kiddo though a potentially stressful situation and getting a big hug or high five at the end of the appointment. Much of my joy comes from interacting with so many different kids and their parents and each of their unique personalities. I especially enjoy treating children with special health care needs and they have become a large part of my practice. They have such an amazing spirit and their parents and guardians really exemplify unconditional love.

I earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Utah in Biomedical Engineering and then went on to attend dental school at Creighton University where I graduated summa cum laude. Dental school was an amazing experience and I was able to share many incredible friendships with patients, classmates and instructors. Halfway through dental school is when I discovered that working on kids was a blast and decided that I would dedicate my career to pediatrics. I then went on to complete my residency in pediatric dentistry at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. This wonderful two-year experience beyond dental school opened my eyes to the intricacies and joys of pediatric dentistry and prepared me well to care for children of all ages and backgrounds. During my time at Primary Children’s, I was nominated for resident of the year which included all departments throughout the entire hospital. I was also a recipient of the Pugh Achievement award which is given to those who rank in the top 3% nationally on the board qualification exam. Since then and through all my years of practice as a pediatric dentist I have loved learning. This has driven me be heavily involved in continuing education in order to keep up with the most current methods and materials for prevention and treatment. My position as attending faculty at Primary Children’s Hospital in the pediatric dental residency allows me to constantly review the current literature. Being able to both teach and learn from the residents and other faculty has really enriched my practice.

Education and Commitment to Continuing Education

• University of Utah - Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering
• Creighton University Dental School - Doctor of Dental Surgery
• Primary Children’s Hospital - Pediatric Dental Residency
• American Board of Pediatric Dentistry - Diplomate
• Certifications: Pediatric Advances Life Support - Basic Life Support
• Attending Faculty: Primary Children’s Hospital Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program
• Certifications: Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support

Until early 2020 I was a sole practitioner and owner of Jacobsen Pediatric Dentistry in Riverton. At that point, Dr. Bart and I decided to merge our practices so we could use all our combined resources to provide the best, most comprehensive and convenient care to our patients. The relationships I have with my patients, their families and my team members mean the world to me and I look forward to many years of forging more.

Professional Memberships

• American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
• Western Society of Pediatric Dentistry
• American and Utah Dental Associations
• Academy of Laser Dentistry

Outside the office:

I am originally from Layton, Utah. I briefly left the state for dental school, but I could not stay away from this beautiful place and quickly returned for my residency and to practice here. I am married to my much better half, Melanie. She is an amazing multi-tasker and is a Certified Public Accountant in addition to being an incredible wife and mother and you may see her helping out at the office on occasion too. We have five awesome kids who never fail to add excitement to our lives. My favorite hobby is being a dad and so most of my spare time is filled with anything that involves my kids. We love to get out of the house and go to the aquarium, Thanksgiving Point, hiking and camping in the mountains. We love boating and fishing on many of the surrounding reservoirs but our favorite by far is Lake Powell. We also love to travel as a family and see as much of the world as we can. When I have a moment to myself you may also find me on a mountain bike or in a gym lifting some weights.

Daniel Ford, DDS

General Dentist

Dr. Daniel Ford has cultivated a profound foundation in the field of dentistry, beginning with his undergraduate studies in physiology and developmental biology at Brigham Young University. He continued his education at the University of Utah School of Dentistry, graduating in 2022. Currently, he is completing a rigorous two-year pediatric dental specialty training program at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania, set to conclude in June 2024. Alongside his specialty training, Dr. Ford actively participates in local continuing education courses and attends national meetings with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) to stay abreast of the latest developments in dental practices and literature.

Certified in both pediatric advanced life support and basic life support, Dr. Ford is deeply committed to pediatric dental care. His memberships with the American Dental Association® (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) underscore his dedication to his field. Although originally from Utah, his specialty training has taken him to Pennsylvania, and he is eagerly anticipating his return to Utah, where he will begin practicing at South Hills Pediatric Dentistry in July 2024. His professional goal is to offer honest, individualized care ensuring that each family and child receives the best experience possible.

Outside the office:

Daniel enjoys a rich personal life with his wife, Emily, and their young son. His hobbies include skiing, golfing, and playing pickleball with Emily. He also cherishes time spent with his son, watching children’s shows like "Bluey," "Cars," and "Miss Rachel," and playing with toy planes. An avid reader, Daniel favors the works of fantasy author Brandon Sanderson, and he is a passionate fan of BYU athletics and the Utah Jazz.