There’s a bright new face in the community and his name is Nelson Charles Krum, DDS.

“Dr. Nelson,” as he is called, has practiced dentistry for 34 years. He brings a high standard of professional experience and newfound commitment to the island. Dr. Nelson is the only dentist in the Commonwealth who has received a presidential commendation from Ronald Reagan.

Dr. Nelson is no stranger to island life, as he had a thriving dental practice in the Grand Cayman in 1993. Saipan, however, has more to offer, he said.

“You have so much wonderful nature here,” he said, smiling. “The great beaches, the mountain, the jungle. It’s unique, and my wife Donna and I love it. We have only been here a few months, but are very impressed with the island and the people.”

Another difference from the islands of the Caribbean is the Asian component to the CNMI. “There are many so different Asian communities on Saipan: Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, and of course Filipino, and its Spanish heritage. What a great mix, and we look forward to all of the wonderful cultural opportunities!”

“Also shopping here is very interesting with all the Asian products on the shelves, and different languages being spoken. It’s hard to believe that this is the U.S.A.”

How Dr. Nelson and his wife turned up on Saipan seems to be straight out of The Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell.

After his stint in the Caymans, Dr. Nelson returned to his home state of Colorado and was instrumental in launching several innovative dental clinics. At one point he was managing dentist of 14 Colorado dental offices, and wore many hats—serving the customers, his fellow dentists, and the public.

Along the way, Dr. Nelson won many prestigious awards: “Nine Who Care” Award, Jefferson Institute Bronze Medal, and the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped.

He has also been highlighted in the media, including NBC’s Today Show, PBS Denver, NBC in Phoenix, ABC Denver, as well as numerous business journal articles.

Despite the accolades, Dr. Nelson and his wife longed once again for the island life and he kept a sharp eye on the dental trade journals, looking for a place that needed a top-notch dentist.

As luck would have it, he saw an ad for Dental Care (Garapan, located beneath Joshua Berger’s law office) and he applied for the position. The Dental Care clinic has been in business since 2002, and their slogan is “Quality care at reasonable rates.

One of the services that Dr. Nelson is offering is dentures, at a low price.

“Since Medicaid is no longer covering dentures, and so many people need them in the CNMI, it seemed like a helpful service to offer. Dental Care will offer a special, low-price denture package from now until Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 2).”

“We will charge only $375 per denture. It is important to serve the people here, and make their office visits as affordable as possible. We want to provide an inexpensive alternative, especially for people who need dentures.”

“Of course, we offer a full range of general dental care also, and can provide a new patient with a cleaning, examination, consultation and X-rays for only $59. In the States, it would cost three times that amount.”

If you would like to visit Dental Care, give them a call at 233-1100.

In addition to being an award-winning dentist, Dr. Nelson is also an author of two novels, and he has a keen interest in the history of the Marianas. He plans to write a book about Saipan and its history, although in novel form.

Dr. Nelson hopes someday to travel to some of the Northern Islands. He wants to see these wild, beautiful places before there is any modern development on them.

PHOTO: (supplied) Dr. Nelson Charles Krum and his crew at Dental Care in Garapan