New dentists find Libby to be good fit

They share an office and a love for good dental hygiene.

Lindsey Worthington and Ryan Todorovich filled two dentist positions at the Lincoln County Community Health Center last fall. They began dating in dental school at the University of Washington and found a good fit in Libby after graduating last June.

The clinic offered a western Montana location with two dentist openings, a brand new facility and everything the outdoors has to offer.

“We drove through here about a year before and saw the mountains and everything – it was just beautiful,” said Worthington, who is originally from Eugene, Ore. “Coming here was a natural decision.”

Though Todorovich is from Butte, he never had much exposure to the western end of the state.

“You don’t hear that much about this place,” Todorovich said. “I had only been through here a couple times. I’ve been pretty impressed by all of the outdoor recreational places.”

They’ve been to Turner Mountain a half-dozen times.

“It’s close enough that you can go up for half a day, and there are no lines,” Worthington said. “We went up at New Year’s and it was the best powder I’ve ever seen.”

Living in a small community has had its challenges, too. The couple is still trying to learn the names of everyone in this “strong and close-knit community” and must “think outside the box” when figuring out where to shop for certain items.

Worthington and Todorovich began working at the county’s health center Oct. 10 after the center had gone about a month without a dentist. Last year, the center’s two dentists transferred out within months of each other.