Meet the Dentists at Mill Point Dental

Happy patients are our passion and it is our goal to help each person love their smile so they can proudly share it with others. The team at Mill Point Dental is committed to offering the most advanced technology to provide patients not only with exceptional treatments but to make the dental experience a little more fun and a little less intimidating. 

We know your time is valuable. That is why we complete many treatments on the same day. In addition to general and family dentistry, we are pleased to offer a variety of cosmetic dentistry services including KöR teeth whitening, dental veneers, Clear Aligners, and more. Want a smile makeover? You’re in luck because that is one of our specialties!

Do you fear visiting the dentist? Our dentists specialize in anxiety-free dentistry. We take the time to help you feel more comfortable with your dental appointment. Our goal is to transform your dental experience into one that is positive for life.

Don’t have insurance? No problem! We now offer a membership club that allows you to enjoy significant savings on cleanings, exams, needed x-rays, and more.

Are you ready to meet your new family dentist because we are very much looking forward to meeting you!

Michael Longlet, DDS

Michael Longlet (Dr. Mike) is a Doctor of Dental Surgery. He is passionate about helping his patients achieve satisfaction with their smiles. Dr. Mike loves every part of the process, from talking with patients to understanding the mechanics of their mouths as well as restoring and enhancing their oral health functionally and esthetically. He is committed to providing patients with a state of the art experience. Dr. Mike (and Dr. Chelsea) heavily invest in continuing education courses, such as Spear, Kois, Cerec, and Sleep Apnea, and continually update the technology utilized in the practice to deliver upon that commitment.

Fun Fact: Dr. Mike was voted class tree hugger in high school.

Chelsea Longlet, DDS

Chelsea Longlet (Dr. Chelsea) is a Doctor of Dental Surgery. There‌ ‌are‌ ‌two‌ ‌things‌ ‌Dr.‌ ‌Chelsea‌ ‌is‌ ‌passionate‌ ‌about‌ ‌when‌ ‌it‌ ‌comes‌ ‌to‌ ‌dentistry.‌ ‌First,‌ ‌she‌ ‌is‌ ‌passionate‌ ‌about‌ ‌motherhood‌ ‌specific‌ ‌to‌ ‌dental‌ ‌health.‌ ‌She‌ ‌enjoys‌ ‌talking‌ ‌with‌ ‌expecting‌ ‌mothers‌ ‌about‌ ‌their‌ ‌concerns‌ ‌during‌ ‌pregnancy‌ ‌and‌ ‌coaching‌ ‌them‌ ‌in‌ ‌caring‌ ‌for‌ ‌their‌ ‌children’s‌ ‌teeth.‌ ‌Second,‌ ‌Dr.‌ ‌Chelsea‌ ‌is‌ ‌passionate‌ ‌about‌ ‌sleep‌ ‌or‌ ‌airway‌ ‌issues‌ ‌and‌ ‌their‌ ‌relation‌ ‌to‌ ‌dentistry.‌ ‌She‌ ‌enjoys‌ ‌working‌ ‌with‌ ‌her‌ ‌patients‌ ‌to‌ ‌identify‌ ‌signs‌ ‌that‌ ‌can‌ ‌indicate‌ ‌a‌ ‌sleep‌ ‌problem.‌ ‌If‌ ‌a‌ ‌problem‌ ‌exists,‌ ‌she‌ ‌helps‌ ‌her‌ ‌patients‌ ‌better‌ ‌understand‌ ‌how‌ ‌sleep‌ ‌can‌ ‌significantly‌ ‌improve‌ ‌their‌ ‌overall‌ ‌health‌ ‌and‌ ‌quality‌ ‌of‌ ‌life.‌

Fun ‌Fact:‌ ‌Dr.‌ ‌Chelsea‌ ‌ran‌ ‌the‌ ‌Twin‌ ‌Cities‌ ‌Marathon‌ ‌(Minnesota)‌ ‌the‌ ‌same‌ ‌weekend‌ ‌she‌ ‌took‌ ‌her‌ ‌dental‌ ‌board‌ ‌exams.‌

Eric Alston, DMD
Eric Alston is a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry. One of Dr. Alston’s favorite things to do as a dentist is new patient exams. He enjoys meeting new people and identifying how best to help them overcome challenges so they can attain optimal health. His very favorite thing is seeing someone smile (when they previously hid their smile) because they are so happy with their results.‌

Fun Fact: Dr. Alston threw javelin while in college at Warner Pacific.

10 Best Winter Activities in Central Oregon

Snowboarding at nearby Mt. Bachelor is one of many popular winter activities in Bend.

If you are moving to Bend, you’re probably looking forward to the winter weather and may already have a few plans about what to do, especially if you already enjoy snow sports. But if you and your family are still looking for a few ideas, here are 10 2020-friendly activities you should all check out!

1. Snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor

The second-largest single-mountain resort in the country is packed with excellent boarding opportunities and high-quality powder with a long season – why not take advantage of it? If it’s your first time, there are plenty of classes to take, many of them family friendly! The mountain also has carefully maintained inner tube courses as an alternative.

2. Cross Country Skiing

Central Oregon is one of the most incredible places in the world for cross-country skiing, and many people around Bend will be happy to share advice and routes for your expeditions. Mt. Bachelor has a dedicated Nordic lodge and its own 56km of tracks to enjoy, but there are plenty of opportunities to strike out on your own, too.

3. Snowshoeing

It’s no surprised this area of the Cascades is also packed with snowshoeing opportunities, without options for the whole family and plenty of rentals or discounted shoes to buy. From simple excursions to Shevlin Park, to guided tours through snowy old growth forests, to moonlight treks up to cozy cabins, there really is something to try for everyone.

4. Skills and Drills Hockey

Hockey is very popular in Bend, but quite limited this year due to COVID restrictions. However, you or your kids can still attend skills and drills sessions to learn the sport and practice!

5. Skate Sessions

Skating is still allowed in places like The Pavilion, but with some limitations, like limited capacity and face masks. Look for ways to make reservations for sessions like Cheap Skate or Parent-Tot Skate.

6. Tailgating at the Mountain

With only a few people allowed in the Lodge at a time, Mt. Bachelor fans have had to get creative: That means a lot more tailgating in the Bachelor parking lots, as ways for small groups to enjoy the setting and get ready for the slopes. But act fast – the parking lots are only allowing a certain number of vehicles in, and making reservations is important.

7. Hike Riley Ranch

Snowy hiking opportunities abound around Central Oregon, but this year we’re going to recommend the extra-friendly Riley Ranch, a 184-acre ranch that’s been converted to a public park with smooth paths and plenty of opportunities to appreciate nature. Be ready for winter weather!

8. Night Skiing at Hoodoo

Hoodoo is maintaining and expanding its night skiing sessions this year. Whether you love skiing or just want to enjoy the glowing slopes with a family outing, be sure to check out their 23 night skiing runs. Masks are required and food options are more limited this year.

9. Fat Biking

“Fat” bikes with extra-wide tires are designed to handle the snow easily. Many shops around Bend, including the excellent Crows Feet Commons, The Hub Cyclery, and Pine Mountain Sports, offer fat bike rentals! Ask the locals what trails are best or strike out on your own.

10. Find a Fire Pit

Most of Bend’s popular spots, from Cruz Fermentation and O’Kane’s to the On Tap food truck lot and Worthy Brewing, have great fire pits and heat lamps set up. They are great locations to enjoy a pint with a close group of friends when things get chilly.

7 Ways to Ring in the Holidays in Bend

Selecting A Christmas Tree
This holiday season, get a permit to cut your own Christmas tree and make it a family outing.

For those moving to Bend in 2020, getting involved in local holiday festivities is often an important priority for your first winters here – and also a challenge during times when social distancing is required. Here are the top events you and your families can try out!

1. Get a Permit to Cut Your Own Tree

Central Oregon offers limited permits to cut a single tree in certain areas of the Deschutes National Forest. During COVID-19 restrictions, this is an excellent and healthy adventure you can go on with your family while still staying safe. Find the right tools, learn about what trees to watch for, and have fun hiking in a beautiful winter forest! Just remember to bring supplies, a compass, and stay careful! There’s no better time than 2020 to find your own tree.

2. Festival of Trees

Traditionally, Festival of Trees had families and businesses create beautifully decorated Christmas trees and auction them off with proceeds going to charity. This year, the event has been transformed into a clever Tour of Trees, now through December 5, that culminates into a virtual auction on December 5, 2020. Funds raised will benefit the Hospice of Redmond to provide services for terminally ill people and their families.

3. I Like Pie Run

The “I Like Pie Run/Walk” is a kid-friendly event designed to help kids get out and active before Thanksgiving. This year, it’s been re-designed so families can get together in small groups and choose times and places – plus inventive costumes and delicious pies designed to be taken and shared at the event. Post pictures on social media, and your group may be able to win various prizes, too.

4. Christmas Bags Pickleball Tournament

If you like Pickleball, you’ll want to check out this doubles’ tournament combined with a toy drive to raise money for kids in early December. You can knock off a few dollars on the entry fee if you bring a new toy, too. The event happens on December 5th at Pickleball Zone – masks and regulations will still apply.

5. Drop Off a Letter for Santa

While it may be more difficult to meet with Santa in person this year, there are opportunities for kids, nonetheless. One of our favorites are the two mailboxes that will be posted in the Old Mill District now through Dec. 19, designed to receive letters for Santa at the North Pole. Authentic letters are guaranteed a response, so there’s some fun anticipation, too – just remember to add your correct address!

6. Get a Gingerbread House Decorating Kit

Gingerbread house decorating is a perfect activity for staying inside and warm with your family while still celebrating a ton of holiday cheer. You can always pick up your own supplies and wing it, but for an excellent experience you can also pick up a decorating kit from Gingerbread Traditions at the Sunriver Main Lodge (instructions are included for those new to the whole experience). Or, if you don’t make it up there, you can find a lot of ideas online.

7. Get it to Go on #TakeoutTuesdays

If you’re busy, don’t have kids, and are still trying to get settled in, celebrating the holidays in 2020 may be a challenge. We suggest taking a look at #TakeoutTuesdays, where Bend residents take one day a week to order new foods from a local restaurant and support Bend’s businesses during these trying times (Grubhub, UberEats, Doordash, and many other apps are perfect for this, while other places do pickups). It’s easy, frees up some time to spend with a significant other, and it’s a great way to try warm, tasty winter foods that you may never have gotten to experience otherwise. Local favorites like Jackson’s Corner, Crux Fermentation, Sunriver Brewery, Worthy Brewing, and many more will have amazing seasonal foods!

Meet Beth and Rick Melner from The Melner Group

Family, home and community have been central to Beth and Rick and it’s those grounding principles that help them every day in their craft.

Let’s start with a little bit about them.…

Beth grew up in Wisconsin with a large family where so many fond memories were formed and midwestern values were instilled.  Rick on the other hand, is a native Oregonian, growing up in the heart of Ducklandia, otherwise known as Eugene.  

After a few years of dating and being footloose and fancy-free, they started their family and had two sons, Max and Evan.  They survived toddler-hood and debated on adding one more to their brood.  Beth soon got pregnant and while they were at a routine ultrasound appointment, they learned that they weren’t just having ONE healthy baby — they had triplets on the way!  Excitement was building as they still didn’t know the sex of the babies.  Soon, Danika, Taylor and Maya arrived safely into this world and tipped the scale from male to female in the Melner household.  

With their family-first mentality and practical nature, they packed up the kids and headed East to Wisconsin in 2010 to be close to family.  Those were deeply meaningful and formative years for the kids and it’s also where Beth kicked off her real estate career.  However, opportunity knocked, as well as their desire to land back in the Pacific Northwest, where the mountains, ocean and temperate climate affords endless opportunities to experience the outdoors.  In 2015, they returned to Oregon and had the fortune of calling Bend home.

Staying true to their family-first values, Beth desired a career that would allow for flexibility to balance home and professional demands, and saw incredible potential in real estate. The combination of Rick’s 20+ years in marketing and Beth’s 15+ years in buying and selling real estate and property management, have proven to be a powerful and successful dynamic.

In a few short years since starting their endeavors in Bend, the Melner Group is ranked #2 in sales volume for Bend office of Stellar Realty NW.  Beth and Rick have taken pride in helping so many families find that perfect home — truly one of the most important investments in our lives.  They possess a command for negotiating and navigating competitive markets and listen intently to understand their clients’ needs.  Most importantly, they treat each client as an individual versus a transaction.  And in lots of cases, have developed long-standing clients and friendships.

Contact The Melner Goup here.

5 Ways to Shop Small Business in Bend This Holiday Season

As the holidays approach, Bend loves to celebrate its many small businesses with days devoted to shopping at the locally owned spot around the city (and picking up some sweet deals at the same time). There’s “Shop Small in Downtown Bend”, where you can gather stamps at local stores to enter a prize raffle, and “Small Business Saturday” in the Old Mill District, among other events. If you’re interested in supporting small businesses more this year, here are several tips that you don’t even need a special day for!

1. Shop Local for Holiday Gifts

Focus on local businesses when buying gifts for your loved ones! Avoid the big brands and chain stores, and instead shop locally in Bend to find your goods. There are many skilled artisans producing all kinds of great gift options throughout Bend. Stroll the Old Mill District or Downtown Bend to find some of the best options, like soaps and cosmetics, hardy plants, a wide variety of locally sourced clothing, and more. Think about getting gift cards to local restaurants as gifts, too (these can also be purchased online)! If you’re wondering if a product line is local, just ask or look them up on your phone to double-check.

2. Visit a Local Taphouse and Enjoy Food Trucks

Bend’s taphouses are food truck gathering spots (also true of nearby Redmond) and are by nature all local businesses. These are great locations to take friends for beers, enjoy a casual night out, or bring the family for an afternoon snack – and there are multiple, delicious cuisine options so everyone can find something they want. The good news is that these places are also ready for winter: Crosscut has plentiful outdoor fires and a cozy indoor space, The Lot has heated benches, and other spots have a variety of fire or radiators, plus indoor seating, to stay active throughout the colder months!

3. Check Out Online Shops and Delivery Options

If you’re practicing social distancing and watching out for the health of elderly family members over the holidays, there’s good news: Many of Bend’s local shops have online components, or support services like Doordash and GrubHub for easy delivery. Check out Oregon Body and Bath, Dudley’s Bookshop Café, Looney Bean Café, Wren and Wild, and many, many other shops with websites where you can peruse and purchase. Find a tasty restaurant you haven’t tried yet and order in for a cozy evening. All of this will help!

4. Leave Positive Reviews Online

Many small businesses depend greatly on online reviews to survive. Leave positive ratings and reviews after a good experience, and like or follow them on social media. Facebook, Google My Business, Instagram, and similar platforms are all important for local companies.

5. Try Out the Ale Trail

The Ale Trail is an excellent way to support local breweries while trying out top-notch new beers in places you may not have tried yet. In 2020, the Ale Trail requirements to get rewards have been lowered to only five stops (to get your passport stamped) and a selfie you can email in. Plus, there are six new breweries on the Trailer to check out, even if you’ve tried it before.

Remember, Moving to Bend can help you find the hottest spots to eat and the coolest new art and culture spots if you are looking for more ideas.