Mellum Family Dentistry
Nicholas Mellum, DMD:
Practice Profile Page

Nicholas-Mellum-dentist
Mellum Family Dentistry
Nicholas R. Mellum, DMD
Portland, OR

★★★★★

25 REVIEWS
0 BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS

SKIP TO FOLLOWING SECTION:

DENTAL TREATMENTS I OFFER MY CLEAR ALIGNER SERVICES MY OFFICE HOURS SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT ONLINE BEFORE & AFTER PHOTO GALLERY MY TOP PATIENT REVIEWS GET TO KNOW ME BETTER

DENTAL TREATMENTS OFFERED

A list of major dental treatments which I offer my patients:

Dental cleaning

White fillings

Crowns

Inlays & onlays

Bridges

Clear aligners

Pediatric dental care

Porcelain veneers

Teeth whitening

Dentures & partials

Root canal treatment

Tooth extraction

TMJ treatment

Dental implants

CLEAR ALIGNER SERVICES

OFFICE HOURS

Monday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Tuesday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Wednesday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Thursday: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Friday: Closed

Saturday: Closed

Sunday: Closed

Lunch break: Closed daily from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT

BEFORE & AFTER PHOTO GALLERY

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COMING SOON

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PATIENT REVIEWS

Check out what some of our happy patients are saying about us:

★★★★★

I had my first appointment today and appreciated the level of engagement the staff had with patients. The receptionist, hygenist and Dr. Mellum explained both the good and not-so-good aspects of my teeth and what we would need to do to fix the bad stuff. It was important to me that Dr. Mellum and his staff give me honest guidance on a couple of issues and they gave it without me asking. To me this is a sign of a well organized and educated staff. I’ve already recommended the practice to my girlfriend and plan to recommend them to friends in the area. Anyone looking for a new dentist in Portland should check this place out!

★★★★★

I had my crown replaced, and also a wisdom tooth pulled here. The Mellum team did an outstanding job removing my broken porcelain crown and replaced it with a gold crown. I was impressed with how welcoming the team was, and most importantly, Dr. Nick’s office is not just a business but a superb service to the community. I can assure you the Mellum team is top-notch and perform high-quality work because my wife is a dental hygienist who has worked at many different clinics around town through temping. She would vouch for the Mellum team as one of the few scarce dental clinics that care about their work and the client above business. For example, I had a badly broken up wisdom tooth, which was decaying over the years. Dr. Nick took a look at it and said: “It’s pretty broken up, but if you want, I can attempt to pull the wisdom tooth out, or I can suggest to you a specialist, it’s your call to make.” I didn’t feel pressure from the office or anything like that. I decided to have Dr. Nick attempt to pull the tooth, and he successfully did pain-free due to applying anesthetic correctly. I waited a month to write this review to make sure all is well with my teeth, and indeed I’m still super thankful to the Mellum team!

★★★★★

Went to see Dr. Mellum last week after having a tooth crack. He got me in on short notice and was able to see me early in the morning, which was essential for my work schedule, which is rather inflexible. Was expecting the worst and some admonishment since I hadn’t been to the dentist in several years, but he was direct and just told me a few things I needed to do better. He fixed the cracked tooth and found another cavity, took care of that too, did a quick cleaning and I was gone. Perhaps I’d avoided the dentist because of the pain and discomfort I’ve experienced in the past, but Dr. Mellum was gentle and the ordeal really wasn’t an ordeal. I’ve already scheduled another cleaning and will recommend him and his staff to anyone who asks.

★★★★★

Today I had to get a crown mold for a previous bad tooth I had fixed by another dentist. I dislike the dentist like most people. His assistant Kristi (I think) was so sweet and chatted with me making me feel more comfortable before he came in. Dr Mellum made sure I was numb and comfortable before he kept going. I like he kept checking on me and also explained every detail. I don’t remember that from others. It was also nice that they worked well together passing tools around he didn’t even have to ask she knew the tool he needed. Oh also it was nice and cool inside being it was 95 outside (have to add that :). I can say overall I had a good experience at this office. I’ve been a few times now and I will continue to go back.

★★★★★

I have personally known Dr. Nicholas Mellum since grade school, and knowing what I know about him, I still go to him for a teeth cleaning! Why? Gentle cleanings, accurate/thorough consultation and friendly staff. He is an independent, support him and your teeth will thank you.

★★★★★

I took my brother in and he has Autism. Dr. Mellum was patient and explained everything every step of the way. He is very thourough and does excellent work. He is highly recommended in my book. The office is clean and they take sanitary precautions and they have up to date equipment. Xrays right in your chair and instant results on the computer I never saw that. thumbs up!!!

★★★★★

I had an emergency visit to Portland from California days after a difficult tooth extraction. Back in Cali I had an appointment for monday, to check the healing process, that I had to cancel because of the abrupt nature of my visit. After my stitches started to fall out, I called my doctor back home letting them know my situation, they wanted to schedule a visit. Even though I said I was in Portland. My sister had really great things to say about Dr Mellum. I called them , let them know my situation and they worked with me despite the fact that I had no insurance. I am so thankful for Dr Mellum and his team!

★★★★★

Update; Sabrina is also really good at teeth cleaning. I did not even need shots & was pleasantly surprised how easy it was on me. Got my 2 molars pulled….Dr. Mellum does a pretty good job with the shots, I was especially relieved the roof of the mouth shot was not even close to as uncomfortable as my last dentist, only a little bit. I chose pills over gas & they at least kept me from chickening out, but gas makes for a better frame of mind, I think, because I was still pretty scared. I could have easily driven home, they didn’t make me sleepy at all. Dr. Mellum was good about letting me know what he was doing & why, which I liked very much. And he made sure I was numb, not stingy with the novocaine. He encouraged me by telling me ‘almost done’ as he rocked my poor tooth back & forth to loosen it. Pretty good technique, I thought. Not as violent & traumatic as other pullings I’ve had. Plus no pieces broke off which was a first for me! And, props to Natalie at the desk & the dentist who squeezed me in the next day when I freaked out about waking up with no blood clots in my holes….must have swallowed them in the night…. I was afraid of dry socket getting me, but I’m fine. It’s been over a week & today’s the first day I’ve been able to skip my Tylenol 3’s & just do plain tylenol, but that’s not their fault; those were giant teeth with substantial roots. So, in closing; if you’re scared about getting dental work done, come here. Everybody I’ve been in contact with has been interesting, nice, good sense of humor, careful, respectful & very competent. They are good with shots & cleanings. And it feels so good not to keep worrying about getting it done & knowing that waiting is just making it worse.

★★★★★

I have been petrified of the Dentist since I was a kid, and have neglected myself over the years due to it. I did my research, and found the team at Mellum to be not only the highest reviewed, but the most humble and knowledgeable staff in Portland. My experience with Dr. Mellum was the best appointment I have ever had. Teeth aside, he is my recommendation for insightful, compassionate and complete with his abilities. Thank you. See you soon.

★★★★★

Since it had been over a year since my last teeth cleaning, I checked out reviews on Yelp for various dentists around Portland. My husband had a rather poor experience with a dentist office downtown so I was uber cautious when searching for a dentist. After reading the good reviews on Dr. Mellum I decided to make an appointment. Dr. Mellum and his hygienist exceeded my expectations. Dr. Mellum, his hygienists, and office staff were wonderful! Everyone was kind and caring. The hygienist thoroughly cleaned my teeth for almost 1 hour! No joke. She explained that just below my gum line (a place not all hygienists clean…aka my previous hygienist) there was a build up of plaque that had hardened into calculus or tartar. She scraped away until my teeth were sparkling clean. I’ve definitely found my new dentist!

★★★★★

Dr. Mellum, the hygienists and staff are wonderful! Everyone is very friendly and caring at the office. I’m usually in severe pain at the dentist due to jaw pain (TMJ?). The hygienist, Michelle allowed me time to rest my jaw during the cleaning and she even gave me a nice little jaw/head massage afterwards. It was the best I’ve ever felt after an appointment! After my cleaning I found out that I needed to have an old filling replaced. I live out of town now, so Dr. Mellum found time in his schedule to fit me in that day. I otherwise would have waited several months before making it in for an appointment. Dr. Mellum was also very patient with me. He used a bite block to help my jaw relax while he worked on my filling. He took time to explain everything that he was doing, so there were no surprises. I would definitely recommend Dr. Mellum’s office for dental hygiene and/or dental work!

★★★★★

I had a great appointment with Dr. Nick Mellum. He was able to work around my busy work schedule to get me in, his office was very comfortable and friendly and he did a great job of explaining everything that was going on and how to avoid problems in the future. I have definitely found my new dentist.

★★★★★

Dr. Mellum is very professional and nice. I was pretty nervous about getting my teeth looked at since it had been a while. Both he and his staff made me feel comfortable and welcome. Scheduling has been flexible and helpful, and I have always appreciated the reminder postcard to set up my next appointment. I would certainly recommend Dr. Mellum for you and your family. Plus I like the brand of toothbrush he gives me!

★★★★★

Friendly staff, very professional, and excellent care! What more could one want? I’ve had bad experiences with other dentist offices in the past and these folks are the gold standard at Dr Mellum’s office in my book. Went in for a drilling and a filling earlier today and I literally felt zero discomfort! I usually feel pain at some point during such a procedure (& I know to expect soreness naturally these next few weeks). Dr Mellum was great and made sure I was doing alright all throughout the procedure too. Highly recommend!

★★★★★

I have state run insurance through Care Oregon. I found Dr. Mellum through the providers list. I live on Mt. Hood and it is quite the journey to get to his office in St. Johns. I am by no means an easy patient to get along with as I have a low pain tolerance to pain in my mouth and a phobia of anyone working in it ; let alone with tools that make noise and grind. The entire staff seems to be able to second in most jobs in the clinic if a person is not there or just need be; pretty cool! I am sure if there was ever a problem with any work done , they would fix it in a timely manner. I am suprised I am even writing this, but then I have so few dental visits to write home about; these were two of them. At least it is not elevator music you have to listen to, nor is the atmosphere in the office anything but hip! I would reccomend this office to anyone with a fear of dental work. Kudos you guys!, Doug Crawford.

★★★★★

I was going on a trip over-seas a couple years ago and was flossing my teeth when a filling came out! I called Dr Nick Mellum and they got me in there the next day, which is good since I had to leave the country the next day… He put a cap on that tooth and said it might only last me through the trip. the tooth is still fine years later! I have been seeing him regularly since then and he does good work. He never does more than is necessary and always thoughtfully explains my options. I have sent a number of clients and friends there and everyone has been happy. Thanks Dr Nick!

★★★★★

Thanks reviewers for pointing me toward Dr. Nick! What can I say, Yelpers? There are a ton of dentists out there and it’s not like you can really try them all, right? I called earlier to try to set up an appointment and they got me in today on a cancellation. The hygienist was awesome and gentle and gave me my first cleaning in ages. The front desk is pleasant and Dr. Mellum seems like a really straightforward guy who knows what he’s doing. At this point I haven’t had anything more than a cleaning/checkup, but I appreciate sound advice with no finger-wagging for past tooth-transgressions or for not being to a dentist in two years. All in all a super-positive experience.

★★★★★

I have had trouble with dentists in the past. As a consequence I am extremely careful about who I go to for dental work. I have been going to Dr. Mellum since he started practicing in this office. He has always been honest and above reproach in his methods and manner. The guy is golden. I would send my mother there. In fact I did send my mother there. She was treated as respectfully and with the same courtesy that I was. My wife is also a patient of Dr. Mellum. Ditto. The office staff is personable and friendly. My hygienist is through and pleasant. I decided to do this review since although I don’t use Yelp much, I know many people use it to find good care and I wanted to share my experience. Get this. When my mother was so crippled up with blindness, arthritis, etc. that she could no longer come into the office, Nick volunteered and came to her assisted living unit with his assistant. I had to argue with him to get him to bill me. When I got the bill, it was absurdly low. One of the things that I like about him besides the fact that he is knowledgeable and conscientious, is that he does not try to sell me work I don’t need. I’ve had dentists i the past do this on a number of occasions. One north Portland dentist 25 years ago told me a tooth needed pulling and that it would require expensive bridgework. On the recommendation of a friend who was an Internal Medicine doc, I got a second opinion. I still have the tooth. The Oregon Dental Board has guidelines for choosing a dentist here: oregon.gov/dentistry/Pag… Dr. Mellums practice is like a checklist for what to look for. He provides for all of these criteria. I’d urge you to give him a try. I respect him and trust him with my health care and that of my family and the close friends I have referred to him.

★★★★★

After being quickly seen and diagnosed by another dentist in town and told after just a couple minutes that my tooth immediately required a very expensive, specialized root canal, I decided to get a second opinion with Dr. Nick Mellum. He took the time to review my x-rays critically and made educated decisions as to the best possible plan of action. His recommendations saved me a couple thousand dollars and his genuine character has sold me as a loyal patient. He was caring and patient and took the time to explain everything thoroughly. I will confidently recommend Dr. Nick to any of my friends and family.

★★★★★

Dr. Mellum and his staff are very professional and welcoming. I have been a patient or a number of years and he is very thorough in his assessment of my specific needs. I recently had an old filling fall out and he was able to determine what needed to be done and had me out of the office in an hour and a half. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a new dentist.

★★★★★

Dr. Mellum and his team are fantastic – he is both incredibly smart and so gentle and kind. When my old dentist wasn’t at all moved by my worry about what looked like a suspicious growth in my mouth, Dr. Mellum and his team got me in as the first appointment the next day; he could immediately tell what it was (a simple bone growth vs. the old dentist believing it was an infection), and he is the first dentist — maybe even health professional across the board — who sat down with me and went online to show me what it was, Google images and all! I was so touched by the compassion both from him and his team that I switched that day and have never looked back! And repeatedly, this office continues to go out of their way to help me – my initial appointment has not been the only time where other medical professionals have failed when I was in need, and Dr. Mellum and his team have stepped up to save me. Thank you guys 1000x over!

★★★★★

With a change in insurance I was worried about finding a new dentist for my daughter, especially as I was told she needed extractions ASAP. At my visit with Dr. Mellum he did a very thorough exam of her teeth and determined extractions were unnecessary and the baby teeth were hardly hanging to the gum line. Best experience hands down.

★★★★★

Dr Mellum is top notch. Staff has always been helpful and know their stuff. My only wish would be if the hygienist I booked with was no longer there/avail, that I could get a courtesy call ahead of time to make a choice of who I see. All worked out on my last visit but didn’t like the surprise of “oh (name) she’s no longer with us so I’ll be working on your cleaning today.”.

★★★★★

Today i had my first appointment with dr. nick mellum. when i first saw him i was concerned. he is very young. i am guessing that he is the son of dr. michael mellum. the dentist i had had since i was knee high to a grasshopper had turned his office over to his son and i was not happy with him. but i found dr. nick to be very gentle and kind. he explained the situation with my teeth and seemed to be very concerned about doing the job correctly. today he was fixing a tooth that had a cavity but was also broken and looked horrible when i smiled. it was my main concern for this visit. he put some dentist type thingy in my mouth and after two tries found he did not like the way it was working so he changed to a different thingy. …stop me if i am going over your head with my techical jargon… i suppose he could have proceeded with the equipment that wasn’t not quite working and just got on with it rather than making sure it was really right. i was impressed with this and i took it as him being concerned with doing it correctly and turning his new patient into a regular patient. the receptionist was not the regular one but i found her to be very nice and helpful. my contact with the hygienists was limited but they did seem to be quite nice and worked well with the dentist. she was good with the little vacuum. the office is nothing fancy, which is a-ok with me. i would prefer my dollars go toward repairing my smile rather than for fancy ‘feel-good’ items to divert my attention from actually being in a dentists chair. so if you are in need of flat screen televisions, surround sound stereo headphone and/or a soothing koi pond, this might not be what you are looking for. but if you are looking for a new dentist who seems to care about you and will give you all the options regarding your teeth not just the most expensive ones, i would suggest you check out dr. nick. i want to thank nick b. for his review. without it, i would not have tried this dentist. i have another appointment scheduled with this office in mid june and will update my review then.

★★★★★

I have been going to Dr Nick since he took over the practice & have seen his father for well over 10 years. Nick is a very great dentist & is very gentle. He is as good as his father if not better. The office is not fancy but is filled with great staff. My hygienist Michele is also great , the assistant Kristi is very capable & his receptionist Karel keeps the office going. I have referred many people as patients & I have never heard a complaint from anyone. I would recommend him to anyone who wants a reasonable priced & capable dentist.

A WORD FROM YOUR DOCTOR

Our office provides general dentistry for all ages. We strive to give patients a complete list of options and costs of all treatment options available to them. We try to establish a treatment plan that fits a patient’s needs and budget. Mellum family dentistry was started by Dr. Mike Mellum in 1974. Mike grew up in Eugene, Oregon attending South Eugene High School, followed by the University of Oregon. Mike graduated from University of Oregon Dental School (now OHSU) in 1972 and enlisted in the Army. He was stationed at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia for 2 years and returned home to Oregon. He settled in Portland and bought an existing practice in St. Johns. This practice has existed in the same location since 1974. Mellum family dentistry was started by Dr. Mike Mellum in 1974. Mike grew up in Eugene, Oregon attending South Eugene High School, followed by the University of Oregon. Mike graduated from University of Oregon Dental School (now OHSU) in 1972 and enlisted in the Army. He was stationed at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia for 2 years and returned home to Oregon. He settled in Portland and bought an existing practice in St. Johns. This practice has existed in the same location since 1974. Dr. Nick Mellum grew up in Hillsboro, Oregon attending Glencoe High School followed by the University of Oregon. In 2006 he graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts. Nick returned home to Oregon to begin working with his father at the practice in St. Johns. After 5 years of working together, Dr. Mike Mellum decided to retire and sell the practice to Nick. Since the beginning of 2012 the practice has been run by Dr. Nick Mellum. The practice has maintained the standards begun by Dr. Mike, but has also upgraded equipment over time to stay up to date. These upgrades include switching to digital x-rays and charts in 2013. We use reciprocating files in an electric motor for our root canals, a type of equipment that is used by specialists in the endodontic field. In 2016 we began using Silver Diamine Fluoride to interrupt the cavity forming process for some patients. Silver Fluoride, or SDF, is a clear solution that is painted on to sensitive root surfaces or carious lesions. The silver solution penetrates into the lesion and the silver helps kill the cavity forming bacteria by breaking down bacterial cell walls. The silver then hardens into the dentin layer of the tooth and keeps the cavity formation process from continuing. This treatment is especially useful for an interim treatment of cavities in young children that cannot maintain still to treat the cavity by placing a filling. After the child is older and understands what we are trying to accomplish, we can go back and place a filling in the tooth. This is a great treatment for keeping children from needing to go to the operating room to be put under general anesthesia to have their cavities filled. This treatment has recently been brought up on Good Morning America and in the New York Times.

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