Thanks to a superb staff of dental assistants, hygienists and office support, Dr. Timothy Drake is privileged to serve your dental care needs. Together we stand ready to assist you in maintaining dental wholeness and health. Members of our dental team are selected for their training, dental experience, skills, and ability to be considerate care givers. We individualize our care to each patients specific needs and all participate in extensive continuing education to provide our patients with the ethical quality care!

Dr. Drake is a native of Mitchell, South Dakota and a graduate of Mitchell Senior High. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of South Dakota with a major in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Philosophy. In 1981, Dr. Drake received his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Loyola University School of Dentistry in Chicago. At Loyola, Dr. Drake participated in the Senior Honors program to receive extended training in Endodontics and Periodontal Surgery. Upon graduation, Dr. Drake established his practice in Mitchell and has been serving Mitchell and the surrounding areas for almost 40 years.

Dr. Drake is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Dr. Drake completed the requirements of the AGD to become a Master and received his Mastership Award from the Academy of General Dentistry at the AGD meeting in 2006. In order to accomplish this, Dr. Drake at that point, had completed 1100 hours of approved quality continuing education, and taken many written examinations as well. He is one of four dentists in the state of South Dakota to achieve this level of accreditation and one of 3000 dentists nationwide, and the ONLY AGD Master in the Mitchell area. Dr. Drake is also proud to be a member of the American Association of Endodontics, the American Dental Association, and the South Dakota Dental Association. He is also very proud to be the very first dentist to have ever completed more than 500 hours of continuing dental education at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. He is certified in Invisalign Orthodontic Treatment and ERA Implant placement and restoration.

Dr. Drake received his Extreme Makeover Training, at the University of Minnesota being the first dentist from South Dakota to complete the Universitys Esthetic Dentistry Program Levels I and II and numerous Level III Modules. He has also received Extreme Makeover Training, at the School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, and the Medical University of South Carolina Dental School in Charlestown.

Beyond dentistry, Dr. enjoys spending time with his family, photography, snow skiing, snowboarding, waterskiing, motorcycles, trials bikes, playing with his dogs, and traveling, especially on his motorcycles. You can often find Dr. Drake out riding or volunteering his time while doing maintenanceon the 'mountain' bike trails around Lake Mitchell. Dr. Drake spends a lot of time on the trailsmowing, weed-eating, and removing fallen trees or debris to help keep the trails open so everyone can enjoy them.

Berkleigh is Dr. Drake's Lead Dental Assistant, and is celebrating her one year anniversary since joining our outstanding dental team. She started during the height of COVID-19 in June of 2020. Berkleigh has been an invaluable member of our team, and we're all so proud of her dedication to excellence and maintaining a COVID-19 safe environment for all of our patients, even those who are most vulnerable. She has a contagious smile, and really loves making sure everyone is relaxed, comfortable, and feel like you're with family.

Berkleigh's interest in becoming a dental assisting as a career was inspired by her extensive orthodontic treatment as a child. She had an impacted canine which required spending a lot of time at the dental clinic in order to try to get her teeth perfect. Throughout those years, she had some good and some not as pleasant experiences. Those experiences led her to follow the career path of a Dental Assistant so that she can help people feel relaxed and comfortable during their visits to the dental office. Berkleigh grew up here in Mitchell, and went to school for Dental Assisting in Watertown, South Dakota at Lake Area Technical Institute. Her overall goal is to help make patients feel at ease and their smiles brighter and healthier! In her spare time, Berkleigh enjoys relaxing outside and spending time with her family, friends and of course her fur-babies as well! She is looking forward to helping you achieve the smile of your dreams! We are ecstatic to have Berkleigh as an integral member of our dental team, and know that you will enjoy her bubbly personality and smile.

Patricia Drake, Dr. Tims wife of 40 plus years, received her Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of South Dakota with a major in Dental Hygiene. Pat is a Registered Dental Hygienist and the Front Office Manager. She has received honors from the University of Minnesota for her commitment to continuing dental education. In fact, she attends most all of Dr. Drakes continuing education courses along side him. Pat is a breast cancer survivor who would lovingly give support to anyone of need. Furthermore, Pat is a Master Gardener and enjoys spending time outside with her gardening helper, her Irish Water Spaniel. Like all members of the Drake family, Pat also enjoys photography, and likes combining her two passions of gardening and photography by taking beautiful photos of both her collection of unique plants, and those she finds while traveling. In fact, Pat has been the recipient of multiple photography awards, including Best in Show several years in a row during the South Dakota Master Gardener Convention.

Daughter of Dr. Tim Drake and Patricia Cari has been a longtime employee since 1998 and has worked her way up to being both our Office and Human Resources Manager. Cari graduated from the University of Alaska Southeast with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. Growing up in a family of dentistry and after many road trips spent watching dental continuing education videos in the back seat with Dr. Drake no surprise Cari decided to also pursue dental education. Cari attended the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry until an injury and subsequent illness forced her to take a lengthy medical leave of absence. In January of 2019 we nearly lost Cari due to complications of an ultra-rare genetic disease that caused end-stage kidney failure heart failure and many other life-threatening and debilitating symptoms. Despite all this Cari has fought her way back to healthas much as is physically possible given her condition and is continuing on with her education. She is currently in her Junior year of Dental School at the UMN and is loving being back in the clinic and working with patients. We are proud of her dedication to her education and her positive outlook on life which is an inspiration to us all. Cari is a self-taught silversmith and has jewelry clients all across the world. She has two companion rabbits and a rescue dog that travel almost everywhere with her. Like her mom Pat Cari is also an avid gardener and takes after both parents with a passion for photography, traveling, riding motorcycles and winter sports.

COVID has brought many changes to the world of Dentistry, but one positive aspect has been that we were introduced to Denise! Denise is our Patient Care Coordinator who specializes in both billing and insurance verification. Unfortunately, you won't see her in the office as she lives out of state and works for us remotely. But we're so grateful to have her as part of our dental team as she is a key player in making sure the Front Office runs smoothly! Thanks Denise for everything you do!