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Dan Strandberg was ready to retire in 1975, at the same time that Michael Hursh was looking to start his own dental practice.

Hursh came to Lindstrom looking for a place to open his practice and found Strandberg’s dental office the ideal place to start.

Hursh welcomed 264 patients of Strandberg’s as his own in January 1975 and is now looking forward to completing his 30th year in business as a Lindstrom dentist.

Today, Lindstrom Family Dentistry serves well more than 264 patients, but Hursh feels that he is able to build relationships with all of his patients after being a part of the Chisago Lakes area for 30 years.

The practice hasn’t changed much. The business was previously in Strandberg’s old building, which is now Chisago Lakes Veterinary Clinic. Hursh moved his office after the first couple of years to the current location on Park St., on a corner opposite the Lindstrom Post Office.

A few remodeling sessions have taken place, but Hursh’s philosophy toward dentistry has remained unchanged.

“Dentistry should be comfortable,” he said. “Patients should determine what they want to have done after we have supplied them with all the information. There should be no surprises.”

Hursh offered orthodontia care to his patients for about 10 years, but now refers patients to a local orthodontist when they need braces.

Fellow University of Minnesota graduate Matt Struve was added to the dental practice five years ago. Hursh said the addition of a partner in the office has made it easier for him to take some time off here and there.

He usually isn’t spending his time off playing golf, however. Hursh travels to Guatemala twice a year on missionary trips, providing free dental work.

He said he has taken pride in training local nurses there to administer shots so they can perform tooth extractions themselves. “When I go now I’m usually not doing any extractions, just a lot of fillings,” Hursh said.

Before Struve joined the business, Hursh said, it was difficult to find the time to go on the mission trips. “It allows me the flexibility to take time off,” Hursh said.

He is also able to get away now and then to spend time with his grandson.

Hursh said the biggest change in dentistry in the last three decades has been the popularity and technological advances in cosmetic dentistry.

“People are really interested in improving their smiles,” he said. “The technology has made that possible, but the technology was driven by people really wanting it.”

Hursh sees a broad age spectrum of patients, from children through grandparents. He enjoys being able to provide dental work for generations of patients from the same family.

“We do good work and I think people want to do business with people they know,” Hursh said.

Lindstrom Family Dentistry has 10 staff members, including four hygienists and two dental assistants.

Hursh said the 30th anniversary on Jan. 7 will probably be a subtle observance. The business is announcing its 30th year with a simple sign in the window; Hursh said nothing else will be done to recognize the anniversary.

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