POCATELLO — A familiar practice has a fresh face as Dr. Tyler Marlowe officially takes the reins at Portneuf Valley Dental, continuing a legacy of community-focused care in Pocatello.
Located at 1246 Yellowstone Avenue, the dental office was previously led by Dr. Tanner Higham, who recently relocated to Utah. Before his departure, Higham handpicked Marlowe to continue the clinic’s tradition of compassionate dentistry.
A native of Ammon, Idaho, Dr. Marlowe is no stranger to the area. He began his dental education through the Idaho Dental Education Program at Idaho State University in Pocatello before finishing his degree at Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha, Nebraska.
“My wife and I fell in love with Pocatello during our time here,” said Marlowe. “The mountains, the outdoors, and especially the people—we always hoped to return.”
Marlowe earned his undergraduate degree in exercise science from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and graduated summa cum laude with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Creighton. He was inducted into the national dental honor society Omicron Kappa Upsilon and received awards in periodontal surgery, implant placement, and prosthodontic restoration.
Today, he lives in Pocatello with his wife and three children. Marlowe credits his father, a small business owner who ran East Idaho’s Thrifty Nickel newspaper, as the inspiration behind his desire to operate his own dental clinic.
“After graduation, I worked at another practice in Pocatello and also ran a clinic in Challis twice a month,” he said. “We knew we wanted to put down roots here and have something of our own. This was the perfect opportunity.”
Since taking over, Dr. Marlowe has expanded clinic hours to cover all weekdays and added lunchtime appointments to better serve busy patients. He has also upgraded the clinic with advanced dental technologies, including CEREC same-day crowns and bridges, 3D imaging, and Pearl AI—one of only two FDA-approved software systems that assist in reading dental X-rays.
In addition, patients can now benefit from online appointment scheduling and payment systems.
Portneuf Valley Dental now offers a wider range of services in-house, including dental implants, wisdom teeth removal, sedation options, cosmetic treatments, clear aligners, and full-mouth restoration.
The clinic has also made changes to improve comfort. Patients are welcomed with ceiling-mounted TVs, optional nitrous oxide (laughing gas), a comfort menu featuring items like weighted blankets and lip balm, and a relaxing atmosphere designed for all ages.
“Our mission is to provide a premier dental experience at every visit,” said Marlowe. “We focus on compassion, clinical excellence, and clear communication. This is a privately owned practice, and we intend to keep it that way.”
Portneuf Valley Dental is currently accepting new patients and works with nearly all dental insurance providers. For those without coverage, a membership plan is available, offering 20% off routine care and 15% off other treatments—benefits Marlowe says are equal to or better than many insurance plans.