One of Duluth’s newest dentists comes full circle

By Andrea Busche

Duluth native Dr. Danielle Johnson is making her hometown proud. Johnson, a brand-new dentist, is employed at Mount Royal Dental. Interestingly, Johnson’s new office is just a stone’s throw from Duluth’s Woodland neighborhood, where she grew up.

In addition to possessing the intellect required to graduate from dental school, Johnson has also displayed plenty of tenacity and drive throughout her educational journey. She began her tenure with Mount Royal Dental during college, after literally knocking on their door and asking to volunteer. And today, she is an esteemed employee at the business, where she holds the title associate dentist.

At just 30 years old, Johnson’s future is bright. She is no doubt a millennial on a mission.

Education

Johnson, a graduate of Duluth East High School, began her college journey at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, with eventual plans to become a dentist. During her undergraduate program, Johnson focused a lot of her efforts on her biology, chemistry and physics classes.

“I had to work pretty hard at my classes and grades because they didn’t always come easily to me, especially organic chemistry,” Johnson said. “And, there weren’t any classes that were dentistry focused, so I did a lot of shadowing on the weekends to get a better understanding of the career I wanted to pursue.”

Dr. Danielle Johnson

Decision time

After some time in North Dakota, Johnson decided to move back home to Duluth. She transferred to the University of Minnesota Duluth, which is where she ultimately earned her undergraduate degree in 2014.

But her next move was a bit uncertain, at least at first.

“I always thought dentistry was interesting, but still was a bit apprehensive, since it is a big commitment,” she explained, “and I felt I still didn’t fully understand everything that went into being a dentist.

“That’s when I decided I needed a more hands-on approach, and walked into Mount Royal Dental. Getting into dental school is competitive, so I wanted to make sure I had a really good application before applying.”

Johnson literally made a cold call to the business in 2013, asking for volunteer work, and became a paid employee within a few days. Her first job duty for the brand new business was to pour coffee at their open house. Soon she was handling a variety of tasks, including sterilizing patient rooms, answering phones, and doing the scheduling.

“Working at Mount Royal Dental for two years — with experience in front desk work, sterilization and assisting — was exactly what I needed to make my decision to become a dentist,” she said. “I loved coming to work every day. It was fast-paced and hands-on. And I really enjoyed connecting with the patients.”

Great mentor

Johnson also enjoyed her instant connection with Dr. Camille Zelen, the dentist who owns the practice.

“Dr. Zelen is extremely hardworking, passionate about dentistry, and always studying new technology,” Johnson explained.

Their relationship is special and unique in that Johnson considers Zelen a professional mentor, as well as a colleague and friend.

Dental school

In December 2015, Johnson learned she was accepted into dental school at Creighton University in Omaha. This is also where Zelen completed her studies.

“Dental school is a rigorous four-year program,” Johnson said. “The first two years include classes such as anatomy, histology and biochemistry mixed into lab work that consisted of working on plastic teeth and mannequins, and fabricating crowns and dentures.

“The last two years is when we started working on patients in the clinic, which is located right in the school. Creighton gave me a great clinical experience with being able to work on patients Monday through Friday, doing everything from fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions and making dentures.”

Johnson graduated with her DDS in May 2020.

Career

Upon her move back to Duluth, Johnson was welcomed back to Mount Royal Dental with open arms. She was officially re-hired as of Aug. 3, 2020. Today, as an associate dentist, Johnson handles crowns, fillings, root canals and many other dental procedures for her patients.

She also enjoys utilizing the new dental technologies Dr. Zelen has incorporated, such as same-day crowns, special 3D mouth scans which are sent directly to Invisalign, and a variety of lasers.

“Dr. Zelen is always willing to invest in technology when it will help her patients,” Johnson said.

Johnson began her dentistry career at a unique time. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the lobby at Mount Royal Dental is currently closed. Sanitation, PPE and other safety protocols, while always important in the medical field, have taken on a new significance.

“My patients never see me without my mask and gown on,” Johnson said. “So, I make sure they are comfortable by taking extra time to talk to them.” them to remain a close-knit family. “My husband and my parents have all been so supportive of my career,” Johnson said. “Lots of tears were shed when I graduated.”

Giving back

During dental school, Johnson volunteered her services to individuals who were either low-income, lacked medical insurance, or both. She also volunteered her time by visiting elementary schools to share dental knowledge with school-aged children. These helpful programs were offered through Creighton University, and of huge benefit to the students and recipients. She also spent some time volunteering with Mentor Duluth.

Advice

Upon request, Dr. Johnson graciously shared several bits of advice for our readers. When it comes to your teeth, “It’s very important to come in for checkups every six months,” she noted. “And, make sure you are brushing and flossing every day.”

And, regarding recommendations for the younger generation, Johnson advised, “Have confidence in yourself. Do your research and work hard. Don’t be afraid to do something scary or difficult. In the long run, it can really pay off.” D