Dan Kersten, local smile-maker

There is a legend about smiles that says some of the first smiles were given to show peace. Supposedly, two neighboring tribes were in constant battle, day in and day out. Days turned into years, and years turned into decades. Generation after generation, the tribes fought, until they didn’t remember what they were fighting about. Finally, one tribesman realized the fighting was pointless and wanted to put an end to it. He was able to cease the fighting by offering a smile. After this point, when members of the warring tribes crossed paths, they would smile at one another, indicating peace between the groups. This legend is very fitting when thinking about 1995 KAHS alumnus, Dan Kersten, who is currently enrolled in the University of Minnesota’s dentistry program and will graduate in May. Service brings smiles As a dentistry student, Kersten has volunteered his time to work with the U of M’s dental assisting program throughout the state. He recently spent three weeks volunteering at one of these programs in Hibbing. Traveling in an RV, the U of M students bring the dental assisting program to various locations. The program’s services can be provided anywhere, including school gyms. “As long as there is electricity and water, we can make it work,” said Kersten. The dental service program is greatly needed in our state. Kersten noted, “The dental assisting program is important because 50 percent of Americans don’t have dental insurance.” He explained that uninsured people are usually refused care from private dental clinics because the offices cannot afford to see them. People in this situation can receive needed dental care at these clinics. “It is a great program because we get the experience and the people get the service,” said Kersten. While the program is designed to help the needy, “This program really is for everyone. We accept all government insurance, welfare, medical insurance and provide services like conducting Head Start check-ups on children,” said Kersten. In addition to making an impact through the dental assisting program, Kersten has also made a difference on the U of M campus. He was recently elected to serve as the president of the 2003 dentistry class. As such, Kersten acts as a unified voice for the school and helps implement needed changes. In his dental fraternity, Delta Sigma Delta, Kersten served as president during his sophomore and junior years. Through Delta Sigma Delta, Kersten has served at the Ronald McDonald house, provided free dental clinics at the Union Gospel Mission in St. Paul, and helped organize a fun run. The next step Regarding what happens after graduation, Kersten said, “I have the opportunity to serve my country for four years, two of which will be in Germany.” Kersten has been assigned to work as a dentist at the Landstuhl Army Hospital in Ramstein, Germany. He explained, “This is one of the largest American hospitals outside of the U.S. and a site where many of the wounded soldiers from Iraq will be heading.” Kersten will start a military advanced dentistry program in October during his service in Germany. “I am looking forward to the adventure and challenge [of being in Germany].” The incident behind the passion Kersten didn’t always know that he wanted to be a dentist. As a youngster, Kersten always enjoyed going to the dentist. He actually thought that dental exams were fun. Kersten remembers, “I never had a cavity and didn’t associate the dentist with pain.” Then one day, “It just hit me,” joked Kersten. The summer before Kersten was scheduled to graduate high school, he and a friend were playing with a potato gun, which is a homemade device that shoots potatoes. Kersten and his friend took turns loading the potatoes and shooting the gun. During one of Kersten’s turns, he loaded the gun, and went to take aim. While hunching over the gun, it exploded by his mouth. Kersten lost three teeth in the incident and had to be taken to the emergency room. At the hospital, Kersten saw a physician who stabilized him and sent him to see his regular dentist, Dr. Michael Czoik in Litchfield. Upon Dr. Czoik’s request, Kersten saw a periodontist, an endodontist and an orthodontist. From these visits, “I saw the field of dentistry first-hand.” This sparked Kersten’s interest in pursuing his career in dentistry.  Coming back home After his military service, Kersten plans to come back to central Minnesota, possibly to open his own dental practice. “There is a big need for dentists in the state,” said Kersten. “I would like to come back to central Minnesota because I want to live on or near water. I really like the lakes here.” Like the peacemaker in the legend, Kersten has dedicated his life to making smiles. Through volunteer work at school and upcoming service to his country, Kersten has and will continue to make a difference through his work, one smile at a time.