Spear Education Welcomes Dr. Donna Stenberg to Resident Faculty

Dr. Stenberg will impart her expertise in orthodontics and multidisciplinary treatment in Spear’s advanced education offerings

Spear Education is pleased to announce orthodontist Dr. Donna Stenberg as its newest Resident Faculty member. Dr. Stenberg’s expertise in interdisciplinary treatment planning, orthodontic treatment, and the liaison with restorative and airway treatment will help drive Spear’s educational programs, including the three-day Orthodontic Clear Aligners in Restorative Practice workshop.

Dr. Stenberg earned her DDS at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, where she also completed her certificate and master’s degree in orthodontics. Shortly thereafter, she founded her namesake solo private practice, which she operated until transitioning to consulting and teaching in 2017. Dr. Stenberg, a diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, also served as a consultant for the cleft palate team at St. Paul Children’s Hospital for 20 years.

A history of sharing knowledge with Spear

At the urging of general practitioner colleagues in her community, Dr. Stenberg began a Spear Study Club in 2010. That club continues to meet and participate in seminars on the Spear Campus, a pattern of learning together that Dr. Stenberg instilled during the club’s early days.

Dr. Stenberg joined the Spear Visiting Faculty in 2011, mentoring dentists in the Treatment Planning With Confidence and Occlusion in Clinical Practice workshops. She also has contributed a Spear Study Club module, an online course and Spear Digest articles to the Spear learning library.

“I’ve always believed in sharing with colleagues the value that orthodontics can bring to patient care and that the collaboration between orthodontic and restorative treatment is the pathway to meeting today’s patient’s needs,” Dr. Stenberg says.

Build confidence and competence with clear aligner treatment

Orthodontic Clear Aligners in Restorative Practice, Spear’s new clear aligners workshop, “not only teaches the principles of orthodontic aligner treatment, it also builds skills that allow the participants to leave with the confidence to manage aligner cases when back in their practice,” Dr. Stenberg says. “Our focus is to develop competence in evaluating and designing aligner treatment, to ensure the desired outcome is achieved.”

Dr. Stenberg has served as president of the Minnesota Association of Orthodontics and the St. Paul District Dental Society. She is a fellow of the American College of Dentists and an active member of the American Association of Orthodontics, the Minnesota Association of Orthodontists, the American Dental Association, and the Minnesota Dental Association.

When she’s not practicing or teaching, Dr. Stenberg enjoys living on a Minnesota lake, kayaking, cycling and skiing with her family.