A group of four people, including two children and two adults, standing on a rocky beach with a forested hillside in the background. They are dressed for hiking, with backpacks and casual outdoor clothing. The sky is clear and sunny. Agate Beach, Ca

Hi, I’m Dr. Chris Nelson.

I’ll let you in on a little (not so secret) secret.

Professionally, I’m obsessed with these things: detailed dentistry, leading our team, helping patients, case documentation, and continuing the family legacy.

Personally, I’m a husband to my beautiful wife Katie, dad, hockey coach, mountain biker, and generally can-not-sit-still kind of guy.

I went to St. Joseph’s School in Redding, St. Francis Middle School in Palo Cedro, Shasta High School (across the street from our office), UC Davis, and finally an incredibly competitive Dental School: The University of the Pacific in San Francisco; the same as my father and grandfather attended.

The first 13 years of my dental career I worked full time at Hill Country Health And Wellness Center; most of those years as Dental Director, while also working with my dad on Fridays at Nelson Family Dental.

In 2023 I purchased the practice from my dad and we essentially flipped our schedule: I work full time as the owner while dad works one-to-two days a week, sharing time with our patients of many years.

The New Patient Experience
The New Patient Experience
Two young children, a girl and a boy, sitting at a table in a library or office with shelves of magazines or files in the background. The girl has light brown hair and is wearing a pink shirt, while the boy has glasses and is wearing an orange and white striped shirt. They appear to be engaged in an activity involving small objects on the table.

This picture says a lot about my history with the office. Why? Because the little kiddo with the glasses is me (next to my younger sister Kendra)! In about 1990 our office opened in the current location after moving from another Redding location. Grandpa Leon Nelson started the family business in 1960. Probably Dr. Mike (my dad) took this photo of my sister and I in the office. When patients ask “how long have you been a dentist?” I usually say that I graduated dental school in 2009, but I have been in this office nearly my entire life.

Two medical professionals wearing headlamps and magnifying glasses taking a selfie in a medical setting, with medical books and a framed photograph of trees in the background. Dr. Chris Nelson and Dr. James Logan in Round Mountain, Ca

Hill Country Health and Wellness Center, Round Mountain, California

This is me with Dr. James Logan in 2012 the multi-decade main-guy at Hill Country. We worked together from 2009 until 2023, and he inspired me to make sure every day passes the “drive home test.” Which means: make sure you feel good about how you treated your patients and their teeth, each and every day. While at Hill Country I had the pleasure of working with and supervising many other Redding Dentists who worked there too, including: Dan Sorrick (Northstate Dental), Rachel Barnhart (Barnhart DDS), Vahe Barsoumian (Redding Rancheria), Andrew Zufall (Zufall Caring Dentistry), and many others! Some of my best years of growth and service, for sure. Special appreciation to Crystal Benton my longtime Dental Manager and Lynn Dorroh (CEO) & Richard Hardie (CFO).

A hockey team with coaches and children posing with medals in an ice rink in front of a banner that reads "World's Greatest Roller Hockey" and "American Roller Hockey Championship." The team members are dressed in white hockey jerseys with a dragon logo and are holding up their index fingers in celebration.
A hockey team with coaches and children posing with medals in an ice rink in front of a banner that reads "World's Greatest Roller Hockey" and "American Roller Hockey Championship." The team members are dressed in white hockey jerseys with a dragon logo and are holding up their index fingers in celebration.
Dr. Leon Nelson, Dr. Mike Nelson and Chris Nelson DDS, two of them wearing glasses and wearing suits, one with a striped tie, seated indoors with a bookshelf in the background.

This first photo is from 2006, and was featured in a printed article titled “The Dental Incredibles” around that time. In 2006 I was accepted into the same competitive dental school that my grandfather and dad attended in the late 1950’s and early 1980’s, respectively. The University of Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry is well known for focusing on intense clinical training from day-one. The second photo is from my graduation day in 2009, pictured with Dean Ferrillo.

Two men, one in a suit and glasses, the other in a doctor's coat, shaking hands at a graduation or award ceremony with a banner behind them that reads 'University of the Pacific' and mentions 'Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry'.
Two men, one in a suit and glasses, the other in a doctor's coat, shaking hands at a graduation or award ceremony with a banner behind them that reads 'University of the Pacific' and mentions 'Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry'.
A person biking on a bridge with a modern, glass-covered surface, under cables supporting the structure, with a sunset sky in the background.
A family camping scene with a travel trailer, a fire pit with a fire, and several people sitting around, including children and an adult. The background features trees and parked vehicles.
A young boy and an adult, both in athletic poses on a pebbled beach, with the boy on top in a mountain pose and the adult supporting him from below. The background features a blue sky, ocean, rocky cliffs, and trees.
Two children, a boy and a girl, standing on a brick sidewalk near water, with a bridge overhead and green trees in the background. The boy is wearing a purple t-shirt, navy shorts, and sneakers, and the girl is wearing a blue dress with black boots.
A group of four smiling people, two adults and two children, standing outdoors under a blue canopy tent during daytime. They are posing for a photo in front of a banner with a roller derby theme. The adults are wearing purple shirts, and the children
Two smiling men at a social event, with one man wearing glasses and a name tag that reads 'Chris Nelson, DDS', and the other man with a shaved head, both wearing black shirts, with a banquet room setting in the background. Dr. Chris Nelson and Dr. M
Two men riding bikes outdoors near a sign that reads 'Center of Hope, Hill Country Community Clinic' on a sunny day.
A group of five people, two adults and three children, standing inside a futuristic, metallic corridor with black and red lighting effects. The adults are smiling, with the man giving a thumbs-up and the woman standing close to the children, who are
A smiling man wearing cycling gear, sunglasses, and a helmet, taking a selfie on a bridge with mountains and a partially cloudy sky in the background during sunset. Team Perio Shasta Dam Redding Ca
A family of four, dressed in warm clothes, standing inside a large glowing ring at night with illuminated metal scaffolding and green holiday lights in the background. The adults are smiling, and two children at Garden of Lights Redding
A group of young hockey players in white, blue, and orange jerseys celebrating with medals and a trophy at an ice rink, with two adults in black jackets and caps. A large sign behind them reads "Regional TORHS Silver Champions San Jose, Ca - May 2025
A man and woman standing together in a reception area, smiling at the camera. The man is wearing tan pants, a black T-shirt, and tan shoes, with a headset around his neck. The woman is wearing a gray T-shirt with a colorful design and black shorts, w
A person riding a bicycle on a mountain road surrounded by tall trees, with a cloudy sky overhead.
Three men riding bicycles on a rural paved road during daytime. They are wearing helmets and sunglasses, and are smiling. The background features fields, some trees, and distant structures.
Two men in lab coats at a scientific event. The man in the foreground has short dark hair, glasses with neon green accents, and a name tag reading 'Chris Nelson DOS'. The older man in the background has white hair and is also wearing glasses. They ar
Three people outdoors in a wooded area, smiling, wearing rain jackets and hats, with trees and rocks in the background.