At Great Divide Dental in Helena MT, we are committed to creating a relaxed, comfortable and caring environment in which consistent, high quality dental care can be delivered. This is done by placing your needs first and treating everyone with respect and compassion. We will continually work to incorporate new technologies and techniques to give you the best experience possible.
Once you are in the office, our Helena, Montana dentists practice the philosophy;begins with prevention.You play a key role in preventing dental disease because it is your habits that form the foundation of your health. Despite our best preventative efforts, dental disease can still develop so we will thoroughly examine all aspects of your dental health. You can feel confident that we will give you the information you need to help prevent dental disease while making sure you have options to restore your mouth to ideal health.
I grew up mainly in Colorado although moved 3 times in High School. It was while in High School that interest in Dentistry began. It was this interest in Dentistry that brought me to Helena. With my desire for a strong pre-medical education and a smaller academic institution, I found Carroll College.
It was while at Carroll College that I defined my desire to serve and help others, met my wife and completed a Bachelor of the arts in Biology (with Chemistry and English minors). I was then accepted into the University of Washington School of Dentistry.
After graduation from dental school in 2004 my wife Kendra enrolled in Lutheran Seminary. This took us many places and afforded me a chance to practice in many different environments. I felt a strong desire to practice serving those most in need. For that reason I took a position in a clinic in Austin Texas whose primary mission was to serve the uninsured immigrant population. The organizations name isManos de Cristo. I served her for 1 year before my wife transferred to Seminary in Dubuque IA. In Iowa I spent 1 year practicing in a government funded public health clinic and 2 years practicing as an associate in private practice. These 4 years prepared me for the next step and as my wife graduated from Seminary I was ready to buy a practice.
The call process for Kendra was going to be the determining factor in where we ended up settling. It could have been any where in this great country and to our amazement and joy it was Helena. We both loved Helena from our time at Carroll but neither ever imagined that we would be blessed enough to return. Then fortune smiled on us again. Once we knew Helena might be where we were headed I contacted every dentist in town. Little did I know that in 2008 there were 5 other dentists that were going to move to Helena and I surely was the last to start planning the move. But as my wife met with the Church I was contacted by Dr Keppler. The rest as they say is history; it all worked out beautifully, Dr. Keppler retired in September of 2008 and I stepped into a wonderful practice. A practice whose patients that had been wonderfully cared by by Dr. Keppler and his predecessor Dr. Lynn.
As I have practiced I remain an active member of the American Dental association, Montana State Dental Association, and Fifth District Dental Society. I also participate in the Spear study club and continue to pursue advanced training and education focused of full mouth rehabilitation through the Scottsdale Center for Dentistry.
To this day I find nothing more rewarding than helping someone back to ideal health. There is no shame in a mouth that needs extensive treatment. We can't go back to change the past we can just make the choice to go forward and choose health. I want to meet where you are and return you to dental health and your ideal smile. The highest compliment I have been given is a patient who returns to say I find I smile a lot more.
I grew up in Eastern South Dakota and went to college in Mankato, Minnesota graduating in 2007. I moved to Helena for a job after graduation. I met my husband out here, Tyler. We were married in 2017. Together we enjoy many outdoor activities and have an Aussie named Charley that means the world to us. He travels everywhere with us especially back home to see family. I enjoying traveling all over the world. I have been a member of the Air National Guard since 2002.
I love being a Dental Hygienist and watching my profession grow over the years. I enjoy getting to know patients and giving them the best dental treatment possible. The dental field is always changing and improving. I participate in extensive continuing education to stay on top of new technology and learn new ways to improve patient care to achieve maximum results. I feel privileged to work in an office that strives to provide the best dentistry and experience for every patient.