Dr. James and Nicole Pacheco had only been in Castle Pines for about ten minutes when they decided it might be “home.”

After living in Ohio for six years, they were exploring the South Denver area, searching for a lifestyle like the one they grew up with in Salt Lake City. While stopping at King Soopers, they struck up a conversation with another couple. The friendly chat turned into the couple sharing local tips about neighborhoods, schools and community life. Nicole opened their shared Notes app and put five stars next to Castle Pines.

“We just had a good feeling about it,” James said. Within months, the Pachecos felt they had truly found their village.

Today, they are raising three children: Holden (8), Alta (6) and Brixton (4), all attending local schools. Winter weekends often include ski trips to Breckenridge and arcade stops. At home, there are movie nights, dance-offs, lip sync battles and gatherings with friends.

Around town, the kids love Elk Ridge Park, while Nicole (who has celiac disease) enjoys gluten-free options at Tony’s Meats & Market and her favorite “dirty soda” at Ziggi’s Coffee.

The Castle Pines “fun community feel” is exactly what James wanted when he opened Pineview Dental, formerly Glow Dental, at 850 W. Happy Canyon Road. “When I finished dental school, I knew I wanted a small community practice, to know my patients and their families,” he said. “My kids might go to school with their kids. You see them around town. That kind of connection matters.”

James earned his doctor of dental surgery degree from The Ohio State University. His path began earlier as a dental assistant, giving him experience in pediatrics, orthodontics and general dentistry. “I get to come to the table with a unique perspective because a lot of dentists haven’t gone through dental assistant training,” said James. “I can constantly look out for my team, which is great for building trust and retaining staff.”

James is especially passionate about helping patients with dental anxiety and has become a pioneer in sedation dentistry, creating a calm, stress-free environment for care.

Travel has always been important to the Pachecos. Before starting a family, they backpacked across the world, immersing themselves in cultures. One memorable trip took them through Southeast Asia, exploring Thailand’s beaches, jungles and street food markets.

In Bali, they visited a sanctuary where elephants were treated lovingly. “Helping take care of them and playing with them was amazing,” Nicole said.

Their travels have given them a deep sense of gratitude. “When you see people who have so little but are still willing to give, it really changes your perspective,” Nicole said. “It makes you thankful for what you have.”

James said that being part of the community is what matters most. “If people see me and say, ‘That’s my dentist. He really helped me,’ that’s success to me. This is our home, and we’re here to stay.”

To learn more about Pineview Dental, visit pineviewdentalco.com.

 

By Nicole Stark; photos courtesy of the Pacheco family