Scaling/Root Planing (Deep Cleaning) Near Me in Bismarck, ND

Dr. Jim Nelson hails from the small town of Ortonville, Minnesota. He completed his undergraduate studies at North Dakota State University from 1978 to 1981 and then earned his dental degree with honors from the University of Minnesota Dental School in 1985. Since then, he has practiced dentistry in Bismarck.

In 1985, he established Kirkwood Dental in the Kirkwood Mall. The practice evolved in 2003 when he moved to a new location and rebranded as Nelson Family Dentistry. With the recent addition of Dr. Kristin as a partner, they launched Polished Dental. Dr. Jim is committed to delivering high-quality dental care and ethical treatment to his patients. He cherishes his daily interactions with them and remains passionate about the art of dentistry. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Dental Association (ADA), the North Dakota Dental Association, the Missouri Slope Dental Society, and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics.

Married to his beloved wife Lorri (Behrendt) since 1980, they enjoy hosting family and friends, spending time with their nieces and nephews, and organizing fundraisers. In his leisure time, Dr. Jim enjoys hunting, ranching, yard work, traveling, designing and constructing buildings, and indulging in music, movies, and theater. He also has a deep affection for animals; he and Lorri have fostered numerous cats over the years and currently care for two, Tinkerbell and Cinderella.

Dr. Sarah Mertz earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Jamestown with aspirations of becoming a medical doctor. However, her career trajectory changed after a transformative dental mission trip to Kenya, where she witnessed the profound impact of dentistry. Inspired by this experience, she pursued her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine.

A lifelong learner, Dr. Sarah received numerous accolades during dental school, including awards in Implant Dentistry, Operative Dentistry and Periodontics, as well as the prestigious Dr. Solomon Averbach Humanitarian Award, which recognizes one student for outstanding patient care. With over seven years of experience in public health dentistry, she has encountered a wide variety of cases, yet her commitment to treating patients like family remains central to her practice motto: “Walk in as a stranger, be treated like family, walk out as a friend.”

Outside of her practice, Dr. Sarah enjoys quality time with her husband, daughter, parents, siblings, and in-laws. She has a passion for cooking and exploring food, gardening, mushroom hunting in the spring, foraging for asparagus, running, and working out on her Peloton bike. She also loves traveling and embracing the beauty of the great outdoors.

Dr. Brock Oukrop has been a practicing dentist in Bismarck, North Dakota, since 2007. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Mary in 2003 and went on to graduate from Creighton University in Nebraska in 2007.

Committed to staying current with the latest advancements in dentistry, Dr. Oukrop regularly reads dental literature and participates in continuing education courses. He practices all aspects of dentistry and embraces the daily challenges that come with the profession.

Outside of work, Dr. Oukrop is an enthusiastic fisherman and enjoys camping, hunting, and supporting his children in their various activities. He and his wife, Dana, are proud parents to three daughters.

Education and Experience
 • Undergraduate: University of Mary — Bismarck, North Dakota, 2003
 • Dental School: Creighton University — Omaha, Nebraska, 2007

Memberships
 • American Dental Association®
 • North Dakota Dental Association
 • American Academy of Sleep Medicine
 • International Association for Orthodontics