For Nathan Deeter, the new owner of Klein Dentistry and Parkside Dental, the passion for the pearly whites is a family thing.
Deeter's two older brothers, Matthew and Lucas Deeter, are Bismarck-area dentists who work at the dental office of their father, Terry Deeter, one of the few sedation dentists in the state.
"None of us were ever pushed into it. I always wanted to be in the medical profession, but didn't like the idea of being an on-call ER doctor. Seeing how my dad helped people and was able to own his own business and set his own hours, the more I learned about dentistry the more I liked it," said Nathan Deeter.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 2007, the Bismarck-native spent a year working at this father's office before he and his wife, Jennifer, decided to take the leap by moving their young family to Minot to take over ownership of two long-standing dental offices.
"We wanted to stay in North Dakota and loved the small town feel and people of Minot and with a healthy economy and the need for dentists, it was both a personal and business decision," Deeter said.
Deeter took over ownership of Klein Dentistry, located at 600-22nd Ave. NW in the Northland Professional Building, and Parkside Dental, located at 701-3rd St. NE, in last October.
David Klein, who opened Klein Dentistry in 1975, said he wanted to find someone to take over so that he could slow down and prepare for retirement.
"Dr. Deeter is a really nice, personable young guy with previous experience so it seems like a good fit," said Klein. "So far, things are working out well, all of the clients really like him, which is important to me."
Having been stationed at Minot Air Force Base during his military service, Lowell Cheney stayed in the area after retiring from the service and opened Parkside Dental in 1978. Like Klein, Cheney is slowing down and both now work only a few days per week at the office.
"I want to be very certain that my patients receive the best possible care, and I have carefully considered a number of individuals who were interested in joining our practice. I believe Dr. Deeter possesses the highest qualifications and will bring a wealth of valuable experience and excellence," Cheney said on the Parkside office's Web site.
While the employees and location will remain intact, there will be some changes.
Three changes that have already taken place include the new name of the business, Dental Care Associates although they still use the terms Northland and Parkside to distinguish between the two offices a new Web site, (dentalcareminot.com), which allows new patients to fill out forms online before coming in for an appointment and the extension of office hours to include Fridays.
Like the Northland office, which uses the latest technology such as digital X-rays, laser cavity detection, light-assisted magnification and Biolase Waterlase laser technology, which allows dentists to perform many procedures with less discomfort and postoperative pain for clients than traditional methods, Deeter plans to update Parkside's equipment in the near future with the same technology as well as update the interior sometime this summer.
Although the offices still provide preventative, restorative, cosmetic and enhancement services, the arrival of Deeter has brought the additional services of root canal and extraction, which are his favorite cases to treat.
"It gets people out of pain and it's a challenge because you never know what you are going to be faced with," he said. "I try to make things as painfree and comfortable as possible because I know a lot of people are nervous about coming here. But with people living longer and keeping their teeth longer, more care will be needed, and I believe this is the place to help a lot of people."