Meet The Team

Compassionate & Experienced Dental Team

Our highest priority at Desert Hills Dental Care is providing our patients with the most reliable, trusted dental care available. We believe our community in Farmington, NM deserves dental care that will protect the lifelong health of our patients and their smiles. Our dental team depends on the most advanced dental technology and continued education to serve the needs of you and your family. 

We have more than 50 years of dental experience among our dental hygiene team. Our expert staff specializes in preventive and periodontal (gum) services. With regular appointments at our office, we’ll help you keep your smile bright and healthy for life.

our Farmington, NM, dentists have over 1,000 reviews on Googles with 5 stars

Meet the hands behind our 2000+ 5 star reviews.

Dr. Hilton • Dr. Schumacher • Dr. Burgess • Dr. Collins

Our Expert Team of Dentists

Charles Schumacher, DDS

Dr. Schumacher
Dr. Schumacher

Dr. Charles Schumacher graduated from Westminster College (Fulton, MO) in 1982, going on to obtain his DDS at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry in 1986. He began serving the Farmington, NM community that same year. 

Dr. Schumacher has earned fellowships from the American College of Dentists, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Pierre Fauchard Society in his time as a dentist in Farmington. He served as the president of the New Mexico Dental Association, playing a vital role in bringing Mission of Mercy to New Mexico. 

Dr. Schumacher is married and has a wonderful daughter. When he’s not caring for the health of our community, he enjoys skiing, fishing, hiking, and exploring the Four Corners. Our whole team at Desert Hills Dental Care would like to thank the community for voting Dr. Schumacher as “Best Dentist in Farmington, New Mexico,” in 2012.

SMILE LIFESTYLE® PATIENTS GINI & KYLE
Meet Gini and Kyle, DHDC Patients for over 30 years! Gini had a miracle tooth that Dr. Schumacher fixed for her and that sealed the deal. Plugging in to a practice that you can trust long term is such an important step to achieving a true Smile Lifestyle®!

SMILE LIFESTYLE® PATIENTS CAROL & ARNOLD
As you know, we love highlighting our amazing patients and their stories and we wanted to try something completely unique.

GIVING BACK
I recently just spent a week in Guatemala doing a dental mission in the town of Mixco, one of the poorest areas near Guatemala City and wanted to share some of my experience with you. With the limited resources and mobile equipment, we were only able to do extractions.

SLEEP DENTISTRY
Dr. Schumacher is expert in providing appliance solutions for Sleep Apnea. In this video he discusses some of the common problems people experience who have varying degrees of sleep apnea. If you or someone you know is struggling with Sleep Apnea or sever snoring, please schedule a consult to find out if a Sleep Appliance would be the right fit for you.

Gene Hilton, DDS

Dr. Hilton
Dr. Hilton

Dr. Gene Hilton is a St. George, UT native and a graduate of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. He maintains memberships in the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. 

Because of his deep passion for the life-changing impact of dentistry, Dr. Hilton volunteers regularly for dental service missions including Operation Smile in Brazil and Mission of Mercy in Farmington. He also organizes the annual Give Kids a Smile event at San Juan College. 

Dr. Hilton loves backpacking, fishing, and mountain biking with his family when he’s not serving our community. He and his wife live in Farmington with their 10 kids — seven boys and three daughters.

SMILE LIFESTYLE® PATIENT NICOLE TRIPLETT
We have literally THE BEST PATIENTS here at Desert Hills Dental. So grateful for Nicole Triplett and for her willingness to share some of her experience here over the years here at Desert Hills. We’re equally as fortunate to have such amazing Dentist’s like Dr. Hilton. Thank you Nicole for sharing!

SMILE LIFESTYLE® PATIENT PARIS CHEE
Paris has been an incredible patient since she was a child. Her parents did a fantastic job helping her to adopt excellent dental health habits from an early age.

Clarissa Burgess, DDS

Dr. Burgess
Dr. Burgess

Dr. Clarissa Burgess is a New Mexico native who loves the variety and culture of the Four Corners area. The region is part of her heart and soul. 

After completing dental school at the University of Colorado’s School of Dental Medicine in 2010, Dr. Burgess returned to serve as Dental Director for Presbyterian Medical Services in Farmington. She was named the Outstanding Provider for 2012 in this position. She’s also an active member of the Northwest District Dental Society, serving as president in 2012-2013. 

Always looking for ways to give back to those in need, Dr. Burgess traveled to Nepal and Guatemala with Global Dental Relief to serve two dental missions. She was also instrumental in bringing the Mission of Mercy dental service weekend to the Farmington area.

With her husband and her two daughters, she enjoys all of the outdoor activities the Four Corners have to offer, including skiing, running, music festivals, mountain biking, camping, and fly fishing. We’re proud to have her as part of our team and for being a top dentist in Farmington.

MEET SMILE LIFESTYLE® PATIENT HELEN
You know those times in life when you have the rare opportunity to meet someone extraordinary, who without trying just puts a smile on your face and makes you feel good about the world.

MEET SMILE LIFESTYLE PATIENT® STACY
This video presents a great opportunity to introduce Dr. Clarissa Burgess. Stacy Thomas and her family were kind enough to share their experience at Desert Hills. This video also provides great insight in to the range of expertise with Dr. Burgess.

DR. BURGESS’S SMILE LIFESTYLE®
We are so grateful to have such an amazing Dentist like Dr. Burgess here at our practice. She is an amazing real world example of what it means to live a Smile Lifestyle. Enjoy this small look into her beautiful life with her family and she talks about the importance of incorporating a smile into your everyday life!

Jacob Collins, DDS

Dr. Collins

Jacob Collins, DDS

Dr. Jacob Collins arrived in the Four Corners early in life. Oklahoma natives and members of the Choctaw nation, his family relocated when he was a young boy so his father could serve as principal of a local school. They loved Northwest New Mexico so much that they settled permanently in the area.

Dr. Collins is a recent graduate of the industry-leading University of Michigan Dental School. He prepared to become a dentist for years, even when he didn’t know that’s where his career path would lead him. Dr. Collins first received a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Brigham Young University. He worked as a gym teacher and coach for seven years while studying to attain his master’s degree in sports performance. His master’s opened the door to a professional strength and conditioning coaching job. 

Still, something was missing. Dr. Collins decided to change course and pursue a dental education in Michigan. He found his years of studying the body have enhanced his ability to be a compassionate dental provider. While they loved their time in Michigan, his family is thrilled to have returned to serve the Farmington area. 

Like the other doctors at Desert Hills, Dr. Collins shares his skills to give back to our community and underserved areas. He participated in a dental mission to Jamaica in 2020 and frequently served in a free dental clinic at the UofM dental school. He also volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America and Habitat for Humanity.

Dr. Collins has been married for 15 years to his wife Yaanibaa, who hails from Kayenta, AZ. The couple met at BYU and have five children, whose ages range from newborn to teenage. 

Dr. Collins and his family love being outdoors. Their favorite activities include mountain biking, skiing, camping, and fishing. He’s also a fan of football, baseball, and wrestling, as he wrestled throughout his years at Kirtland Central High School.

Meet Dr. Collins

Our Desert Hills Dental Care Family

Schedule Your Farmington, NM Dentist Appointment

Our dental team is passionate about providing our community with the high-quality dental care you deserve. We have a range of skills and qualifications that make our practice advanced and comfortable for your whole family.

Come meet our dental team and discover why our community trusts us with their oral health needs. Contact us at (505) 327-4863 today to schedule your cleaning or consultation.

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