Meet Dr. Michael Bender

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Get to Know Dr. Bender

Dr. Michael Bender is happily smiling

‘‘“I am fortunate to work in a vocation I love so much and to work with our team, sharing our skills and knowledge with our patients. I feel a deep sense of gratitude to our patients for the trust they place in us and the relationships we have built with them and their families throughout the years.”

Dr. Michael Bender earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Marquette University and his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1986 from the University of Minnesota. After graduating, he attended a one-year Advanced General Dentistry Program at the Eastman Dental Center in Rochester, New York. He has been proudly practicing dentistry in Fort Atkinson since 1987.

Dr. Bender enjoys learning and loves to offer his patients comprehensive care. “My goal is to educate patients on their oral health. If they have concerns or dental needs, I want them to understand the pros and cons of various treatment options to meet those needs, with the goal of the patient being able to make an informed decision about their treatment and me providing that treatment.”

Dedicated to his craft and commitment to education, Dr. Bender was recognized by the Academy of General Dentistry with its highest honor, the LLSR – Life Long Service RecognitionOpen link in the new window, in 2020. At the time, he was one of only 368 of the organization’s 39,000 members to achieve this honor since its inception in 2005. This recognition is presented to AGD members who have gone above and beyond their Mastership by completing an additional 1600 hours of continuing education in 16 different dental disciplines and at least 100 hours of dental-related community service.

Outside of the office, Dr. Bender has been involved in various community organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Atkinson Area Foundation, the Fort Atkinson Rotary, and the Jefferson County Dental Society. Dr. Bender and his wife, Donna, enjoy traveling, boating, skiing, hiking, biking, and especially spending time with their three adult children and five grandchildren.

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A Little More about Dr. Bender

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    Education & Experience
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    Awards & Recognitions
Continuing Education & Accomplishments Related to Orthodontics, TMD, Growth, Airway, Laser Dentistry & Tongue Ties:

2009: Center for Occlusal Studies – Comprehensive Orthodontics Certificate (Dr. Jay Gerber, Dr. Richard Beistle)
2011: Center for Occlusal Studies – Advanced Level Orthodontics Certificate (Dr. Jay Gerber, Dr. Richard Beistle)
2012: Center for Occlusal Studies – Masters Gold Level Orthodontics Certificate (Dr. Jay Gerber, Dr. Richard Beistle)
2012: LVI – Computer-Aided Occlusal Evaluation System (Bill Wade)
2012: Center for Occlusal Studies – K7 Implementation & Clinical Usage (Dr. Jay Gerber)
2013: Center for Occlusal Studies – TMD/Occlusion and Orofacial Pain Certificate (Dr. Jay Gerber)
2012 & 2014: Center for Occlusal Studies – Scan Interpretation (Dr. Jay Gerber)
2009 – 2014: Studied and observed mentor Dr. Jay Gerber in clinical practice, Parkersburg, WV
2014: Center for Occlusal Studies Silver Level Recognition – recognizes completion of 250 hours of orthodontic and TMD CE Courses at the Center for Occlusal Studies
2016 – 2017: VIVOS/Biomodelling Solutions Provider Certification – Adult & Pediatric Sleep Disordered Breathing & Epigenetics (Dr. David Singh, Dr. Tammarie Heit)
2017: Basic Laser Science (Robert Levine)
2017: Academy of Laser Dentistry – Obtained Standard Provider Level Recognition for the use of laser instrumentation in dentistry (Dr. Robert Convissar)
2018: American Laser Study Club – Pediatric Tongue & Lip Ties and Laser Frenectomies (Dr. Mar>n Kaplan, Peter Vitruk, PhD)
2018 – 2020: ADA Airway Conference – Optimizing Pediatric Airway Health: The Critical Role of Dentists (Dr. Steve Carstens et. al)
2019: Healthy Start Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder Clinical Training (Dr. Earl Bergersen et. al)
2020 & 2021: American Laser Study Club Symposium – Breathe & Thrive (Dr. Soroush Zaghi, Dr. Martin Kaplan, Dr. Richard Baxter, et. al)
2020: Airway Health Solutions – Sleep Protocols in Children (Dr. Ben Miraglia)
2020: VIVOS/Airway Summit 2020 – (Miraglia, Ford, Gupta, Caulfield, et al.)
2021: Tongue Tied Academy Certification Course – Identification and Treatment of Pediatric Tongue & Lip Ties (Dr. Richard Baxter)
2021: Breathe Institute – Breathe Baby Course (Dr. Zaghi, Dr. Pinto)
2021: Pediatric Sleep Airway (Dr. Christina Carter)
2021: Invisalign GP Summit
2021: American Laser Academy Symposium
2022: Airway Health Mini-Residency (Dr. Ben Miraglia)
2022: CBCT Optimal Diagnosis for Optimal Patient Care (Dr. Richard Monihan)
2022: Breast Feeding & Frenectomies (Dr. Cissy Furusho and Jill Rabin)
2022: Pediatric Sleep Medicine (Dr. Maria Therese Galana-Boquiren)
2022: Airway Health Solutions – Airway Palooza (Dr. Ben Miraliga, Dr. Michel Gelb, Dr. Kevin Boyd, James Nestor, et. al)
2023: ACT Dental – Coaching Client – To the Top Study Club & Best Practices Seminar (Kirk Behrendt, CEO & Founder)
2023: Lasers (Dr. Convissar)
2023: Breathe Institute Update Program (Dr. Zaghi et. al)
2023: CBCT
2024: Breathe & Thrive Symposium

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