Dr. Tanner Olson

Background and Education

Dr. Tanner grew up in Horace, North Dakota and earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Gustavus Adolphus College graduating magna cum laude. While in undergrad, Dr. Tanner worked for an oral surgeon’s office in nearby Mankato, assisting with anesthesia monitoring for patients undergoing surgical procedures. At Gustavus, Dr. Tanner was also awarded a scholarship that allowed him to work at a summer camp for kids in Gothenburg, Sweden while he applied to dental school.  After undergrad, Dr. Tanner decided it was time for a break from the cold and moved to San Francisco to complete his Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). During dental school, Dr. Tanner was involved in multiple pediatric-focused organizations and helped organize UCSF’s annual Give Kids a Smile Day, an event that provides free exams and preventative services for children in San Francisco. He also worked for the Office of Admissions as their Outreach Assistant for two years, helping create admissions content as well as hosting webinars for prospective students.

While in his last year of dental school, Dr. Tanner matched to UCSF for his residency in pediatric dentistry. He was thrilled as it meant he could stay in the warm weather a little longer. In residency, Dr. Tanner served as the academic chief resident and completed his Master of Science degree in Oral and Craniofacial Sciences. Following residency, he worked at a community clinic and private practice in the greater Bay Area before making the trek to Minnesota to be closer to family. When he’s not in the clinic, you can find him reading books, taking fitness and yoga classes, visiting family in Minnesota and North Dakota, and traveling to new places. 

Additional Training

Dr. Tanner is board-certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and is CPR/PALS certified. 

 

Practice Philosophy

Dr. Tanner aims to make the dental office a place where patients arrive and leave happy. He cares deeply that kids have a good experience and understands that each patient and family is unique. When met with challenging scenarios, he strives to go through options with parents to ensure their own goals are met while never compromising quality or safety. He places a strong emphasis on prevention, and will take the extra time to educate families to set them up for a lifetime of optimal oral health.