We are proud to be serving our community and appreciate the support the community has given back to us.”

Dr. James Gunelson

Stanley Hometown Dentistry
120 West Fourth Avenue
Stanley, WI 54768
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In terms of bodily health, the teeth are often overlooked.
They shouldn’t be. With everything from plaque and cavities to periodontal disease and gingivitis to worry about, dental health can make a big difference in the overall picture.
That’s where Stanley Hometown Dentistry comes in. Located at 120 West Fourth Avenue in Stanley and owned by Dr. James Gunelson along with wife Roselenna, Stanley Hometown Dentistry has friendly staff and an inviting atmosphere, helping area residents take care of their teeth and avoid larger health problems in the process. Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday by appointment, Stanley Hometown Dentistry came about from a long process.
“I grew up in northern Minnesota in a small town named Pengilly,” Dr. Gunelson shared recently. “It’s a town of about 750 people. I graduated from Nashwauk Keewatin High School with 50 classmates in 2001, so I’ve always understood and enjoyed small town life. After high school I went to the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, then dental school at the University of Minnesota where I graduated in 2009.”
Coming from a family of dentists including his father, older brother, aunt, and brother-in-law, Dr. Gunelson is motivated in his work by a desire to help people.
“I always knew I wanted to be in healthcare as I’ve always had an affinity towards the sciences and an urge to help people,” he said. “After discussing the pros and cons of medical school and a career in medicine versus dental school and being a dentist with my family full of dentists, as well as my professors who were MDs, the dental route made more sense to me.”
Starting his career in Medford, Dr. Gunelson came to Stanley in 2011, at Medford until he bought the practice from Dr. Wayne Hove in 2015. According to rumor the building was once a Masonic lodge, sitting vacant prior to Dr. Hove’s practice.
“The rumor goes that our building was once a Masonic lodge that sat vacant until 1994 when Dr. Wayne Hove renovated it into a dental office,” Dr. Gunelson said. “Then in 2015 Stanley Hometown Dentistry was born when I bought the office from Dr. Hove. My wife, Roselenna, has lived her whole life in Stanley and our kids the same. So the Hometown portion comes from them and my desire to engrain myself and connect more with the community. I moved to Stanley in 2011, but worked in Medford before taking over the practice in Stanley. I felt like it was half connected to both towns, but really felt the desire to take my abilities to Stanley to help offer high end dentistry without people having to travel.”
So what does Stanley Hometown Dentistry offer its patients?
“We offer general dentistry including cleaning, periodontal cleanings, oral cancer screening, fillings, same day permanent crowns, extractions, root canals, dentures, night guards (made in-house), but also Xeomin injections for tight jaw muscles or to flatten out facial wrinkles,” Gunelson said. “ We also place and restore implants, do bone grafting, tissue grafting, IV sedation, and PRF (platelet rich fibrin) which uses one’s own blood to aide in healing after surgical procedure. We try to stay up to date with the most recent technologies and techniques to give our patients the highest level of care. Patients can expect high quality work and a very caring staff and atmosphere. We strive to make everyone’s experience as pleasant and comfortable as possible. We understand dental work can be a scary and anxious experience and we do everything in our ability to ease people’s minds and comfort them as much as possible.”
As to why personal dental health is important, Gunelson shared the following.
“The mouth is a major entry point of the body,” he said. “A healthy mouth helps prevent bacteria from entering the bloodstream. Conversely, an unhealthy mouth can be a seeding ground that can affect the rest of the body. Periodontal disease is a disease of the gum tissue when plaque (bacteria) spreads below the gum line and releases toxins which create an inflammatory response from the body, which then damages the gums and bone as supporting structures of the teeth. When this happens the gums separate from the teeth and pockets are formed and bone loss occurs around the tooth. This ultimately ends in tooth loss when left untreated. Periodontal disease has been linked to heart disease and stroke. It also can also make it harder for diabetic patients to control their blood sugars, cause pregnancy complications, and exacerbate respiratory diseases.”
Additionally, Dr. Gunelson said cavities also come from bacteria living in the mouth. Feeding on what we eat and excreting acid that softens our teeth, this bacterial plaque is then able to penetrate the tooth where it continues to feed on what we eat and go still deeper. Left untreated, this can then reach the soft inside of the tooth (pulp) and the nerve, leading to infection and abcess.
“At this point only a root canal or extraction are the treatment choices,” Dr. Gunelson said. “Therefore it is very important to treat cavities before they get symptomatic or large.” A root canal treatment is a dental procedure to remove inflamed or infected pulp on the inside of the tooth which is then carefully cleaned and disinfected, then filled and sealed. Root canal treatment is designed to eliminate bacteria from the infected root canal, prevent reinfection of the tooth and save the natural tooth, while extraction takes the tooth itself out, leaving an empty socket that can be replaced through either an implant, bridge or partial denture. That said, there is good news.
“The good news is that most oral conditions and diseases are preventable,” he said. “Good oral hygiene which includes brushing every morning and night and flossing before bed every night. We tell parents to start brushing their kids teeth as soon as they start appearing (erupt) in the mouth, which is usually around 6 months, but can vary a lot. This creates good life long habits that can prevent many dental problems. We also recommend having teeth cleaned and checked every 6 months for most people.”
Accepting most insurance plans and working with two finance companies, Stanley Hometown Dentistry also has its own Smile Club for patients without insurance. Staff include hygeniests Jenna and Courtney, appointment coordinator and insurance specialist Sue, as well as Jada, the assistant.
“We have an amazing team that works together very well to keep delivering the highest quality service possible,” Dr. Gunelson said. “We are proud to be serving our community and appreciate the support the community has given back to us.”
Need to make an appointment? Stanley Hometown Dentistry can be reached at 715-644-3601. Don’t delay, call today—your health could depend on it!