Last week, more than 150 people gathered at the Event Center in Britton for an indoor fishing tournament and fish fry. While the event featured plenty of friendly competition, the real purpose was to welcome someone the community has been waiting years to meet.
Dr. Blake Peterson, a recent graduate of Creighton University School of Dentistry, attended the Dental Friendraiser event as residents rallied around efforts to bring dental services back to Britton after a five-year absence.
The fundraiser is part of a larger community effort to establish a new satellite office of Aberdeen Dental in Britton. The practice, expected to open later this summer, will operate from newly renovated space on the Marshall County Healthcare Center campus. Peterson will serve as the community’s dentist, providing local access to care that residents have lacked since the previous dental office closed.
For Peterson, the opportunity to practice in a rural community was exactly what he had hoped to find.
“I went to high school in a small town that always showed tremendous support for its community members,” Peterson said. “I knew that was something I wanted to return to.”
Peterson grew up in Willmar, Minnesota, and attended New London-Spicer schools. An avid athlete, he participated in football, hockey, track and trap shooting. He later attended Northern State University in Aberdeen, where he discovered dentistry was the right fit.
“Since I was young, I always wanted to work in the medical field, and I knew I wanted a career that would let me use my hands every day,” he said. “After shadowing a dentist, I knew it was my calling.”
He ultimately chose Creighton University School of Dentistry in Omaha because of its smaller class sizes and emphasis on hands-on learning. Without specialty residency programs competing for advanced cases, Peterson said students had opportunities to perform procedures that many dental students elsewhere do not experience until later in their careers.
“I feel that has given me a head start and better prepared me to serve a rural population where specialists are not always readily available,” he said.
That preparation will be valuable in Britton, where residents currently travel significant distances for routine dental care.
Peterson said one of the biggest factors in choosing the position was the chance to work alongside Dr. Kristin Teigen, owner of Aberdeen Dental.
While attending Northern State, Peterson shadowed at several dental offices. He said Teigen’s philosophy and approach stood out immediately.
“I connected most with Dr. Teigen’s values and mission, and she made me feel like part of the family,” Peterson said. “She has also been a great mentor to me, and I look forward to bringing those same values to Britton.”
As he prepares to begin seeing patients, Peterson said he is most excited about becoming part of the community.
“I want people to know me as a friend, not just the ‘tooth doctor,’” he said. “I look forward to becoming a member of the community and building personal relationships with each patient.”
That small-town approach mirrors what many longtime residents value about local healthcare.
Former Britton dentist Dr. Mark Williamson, who attended last week’s fundraiser, noted that one of the special aspects of practicing dentistry in a rural community is the relationships that develop over time.
“You start out treating patients and eventually become friends with them,” Williamson said.
Peterson hopes to build those same connections while providing a broad range of services. Although he enjoys all aspects of dentistry, he has a particular interest in implant dentistry and helping patients restore their smiles and quality of life.
“I have seen firsthand how implants can change a person’s life,” he said. At the same time, he enjoys the challenge of saving natural teeth whenever possible.
“I look forward to expanding my knowledge of root canal therapy to give patients the option of saving a tooth rather than having it extracted,” he said.
Peterson believes strong dentist-patient relationships begin with trust and communication. “It is important to be honest with patients and clearly explain what they can expect,” he said. “I want everyone to feel like family.”
The support he has already received from the community has reinforced his decision to come to Britton. “The support the community provides has been incredible,” Peterson said. “I was amazed by the turnout at the indoor fishing tournament fundraiser. Everyone made me feel welcome and as though I had been part of the community for years.”
Outside the office, Peterson expects to fit in well with many area residents. He describes himself as an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting, fishing and golfing. He spends much of his free time pursuing waterfowl, pheasants with his German Shorthaired Pointer, Stitch, whitetail deer and big walleyes.
“If you want to get a long conversation started with me, just bring up hunting or fishing,” he said.
He is also looking forward to becoming involved in local activities.
“I am a big football fan, and I don’t think Friday night lights in a small town can be beat,” Peterson said. “I look forward to seeing everyone at the football games.”
The new dental office is now expected to open by Aug. 1. Construction delays pushed the timeline back slightly from the original July target date. Until then, patients may schedule appointments with Peterson through Aberdeen Dental’s main office by calling 605-225-0261.
The Dental Friendraiser generated approximately $16,500 toward the community’s local match requirement for the state recruitment grant that helped bring Peterson to Britton. Organizers also received a $15,000 contribution from the Williamson Family Fund, a permanently endowed fund within the South Dakota Community Foundation.
“We are nearly halfway to our goal already,” said Sheila Sutton of Marshall County Healthcare Center.
Former dentist Lance Griese, who helped emcee the event, said Britton is one of the few communities of its size in South Dakota to go this long without a local dentist, making Peterson’s arrival especially significant.
Community members wishing to support the recruitment effort can still make donations through the MCHC Foundation. Contributions may be dropped off or mailed to Marshall County Healthcare Center, 413 9th St., Britton, SD 57430, with “dental recruitment” noted on the donation.
