ASSINIBOIA — The very first dental clinic in Assiniboia began 65 years ago when Dr. Rod Taillon opened his office in the community. His son Mitch started with his dad in 1984, and Wes Thomson started in 1987.
“Mitch and Wes took over the practice, forming Wheatland Dental in 1989,” Erin Bolen, practice manager, for Wheatland Dental in Assiniboia says.
“They decided to renovate and re-brand the former office, that was owned and operated by Rod Taillon. A contest was held within the community to come up with a new name, and that is how Wheatland Dental got its name.”
Wheatland is now owned by Dentalook and operated by the team at Wheatland Dental. The practising dentists are Dr. Sanjay Sheth and Dr. Stephani Cooney.
The dental clinic also includes two dental hygienists, Nikie and April and one dental therapist, Candi. There are also five registered dental assistants — Louise, Debbie, Kara, Taylor and Paige. Front office staff include Lacy and Erin, making for a total of 12 staff working out of this location.
In 35 years, the clinic has evolved.
“We have done some minor improvements and facelifts in the past couple of years,” Bolen explains,
“We have had the pleasure of having a few different dentists in the office. Over the years, technologies and techniques have made treatments faster and more comfortable for patients including digital X-rays, laser dentistry, Itero 3D scanner and Invisalign braces. As technology advances, so does the dental industry and we are excited to be a part of it.”
The long-term professional service in Assiniboia maintains there have been many highlights with the team making note of a few.
“We were lucky and fortunate enough to have two very long-term dentists in Assiniboia over the span of 30-plus years. We are proud to be a part of the community and serve the surrounding area as well. We have taken part in many community events over the years. We like to participate in the community as much as we can.”
Of course, with any business, there are some challenges to face.
“It is always challenging to find a dentist that chooses to stay in the community long term. We are grateful for their time spent with us, but a small town makes for a challenging long-term destination for many.”
The anniversary was celebrated together as a team with a catered lunch, by Marita Wiliams Catering and Baking, while reminiscing about Wheatland Dental.
“We are planning to be here serving the community and surrounding area for years to come, striving to make a positive impact, one dental visit at a time. We plan to continue adding new services for the patients and have the team learn and grow. We want to provide our patients with the best patient care.”
