Dr. Rebecca Hanson grew up in St. Cloud, Minnesota, graduating from Tech High School in 1990. She attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota for her undergraduate training, where she majored in art history and minored in biology and chemistry. Dr. Hanson was then granted early acceptance to the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, receiving her Doctorate of Dental Surgery in 1997 and graduating in the top ten percent of her class.
After dental school, Dr. Hanson opted to practice general dentistry in Colorado. She then turned her focus to orthodontics and attended Saint Louis University, where she was Vice President of her class and earned her Certificate and Masters of Science degree in Orthodontics in 2002.
Committed to offering a variety of treatment options, Dr. Hansonstays current with the latest in technology and treatment modalitiestoincrease comfort,reduce treatment timesand produce more predictable outcomes. Sheis certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, the highest level of professional achievement in orthodontics.Additionally, Dr. Hanson is diligent in her search for ways to improve the overall orthodonticexperience, exceed patient expectations and deliver smiles that patients are proud to share! Sheis both a published author and public lecturer, andmaintains memberships with theAmerican Association of Orthodontists,American Dental Association,Great River Study Club andSt. Cloud Dental Society.
Dr. Hanson is married and hastwo golden retrievers, Finn and Murphy. She and her husband, Tony, stay active witha variety of hobbies, including fishing, wake surfing, golfing, downhill skiing, snowshoeingand snowmobiling. They also love to travel and are always looking for unique adventures, especially by exploring new places and different cultures.
Originally from southwestern Minnesota, Dr. Knudsen received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2008 from North Dakota State University. He went on to earn aDoctorate of Dental Surgery in 2013 from the University of Minnesota, finishing first in his class. Upon graduation, Dr. Knudsen was inducted into the Omicron Kappa Upsilon dental honor society. In 2015, he received a Certificate in Orthodontics and a Master of Science degree, also from the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Knudsen was drawn to the profession of orthodontics because of its unique combination of art and science, and he finds great satisfaction in achieving beautiful smiles through orthodontic treatment. To provide the very best care for his patients, Dr. Knudsen places emphasis on obtainingcontinuing education in the latest orthodontic techniques and technologies. Dr. Knudsen is certified by the American Board of Orthodontics, the highest level of professional achievement in orthodontics. He also volunteers his time for the CentraCare Cleft Palate Team, has served in the Minnesota Dental Association House of Delegates and is an activemember of the American Association of Orthodontists,American Dental Association, Great River Study Club andSt. Cloud Dental Society.
Outside of orthodontics, Dr. Knudsen has varied interests. Growing up on a farm, he raised and showed purebred Hampshire sheep. However, he also appreciates experiencing new places and cultures and is an avid traveler. Dr. Knudsen is aslalom and barefoot water skier, and is a past member of the Little Crow Water Ski Team in New London, Minnesota. Additionally, he enjoys music and is an accomplished saxophonist and pianist.
Were proud that both Dr. Becky and Dr. Kyle are board certified, a voluntary achievement that only one-third of orthodontists choose to pursue. To become board certified by the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO), an orthodontist must pass a written examination and be thoroughly tested by a panel of examiners to demonstrate their orthodontic knowledge, clinical skills and judgement. The ABO certification process signifies a significant step beyond the two to three years of advanced education required for a dentist to become a specialist. Successful completion demonstrates the orthodontists personal commitment to excellenceboth to the orthodontic profession and to the general public.
