At Hudson's Kell Dental Arts, a Spear Faculty Dentist and a Fresh DDS Carry a Three-Decade Family Practice Into Its Next Chapter

HUDSON, WI — In an era when dental offices change hands and identities almost as often as insurance plans, Kell Dental Arts has spent thirty years doing something increasingly rare: staying put, staying family-run, and staying sharp. Founded in 1996 by Dr. David Kell, the Hudson practice has grown into a two-dentist team that pairs decades of advanced training with a newly minted doctor of dental surgery, and it now holds a 99 Dental.me Score alongside a 4.9-star average across 223 patient reviews — numbers that reflect a practice patients keep coming back to, year after year.

A Founding Story Rooted in Wisconsin

Dr. Kell is a native of Eau Claire who earned his dental degree from the University of Michigan before returning home to open his own practice in Hudson. More than 25 years later, he is still in the operatory — and still in the classroom. Dr. Kell continues his education at the Spear Dental Learning Center, one of dentistry's more demanding continuing-education institutions, where he has advanced from student to member of its Teaching Faculty. That distinction means Dr. Kell isn't simply keeping current with modern techniques; he is helping train other dentists in them, a level of engagement with his own field that few community practitioners reach.

A New Generation Joins the Chair

In July 2024, Kell Dental Arts welcomed Dr. Mariah Johnson, a Minnesota native who earned her Biology degree from the University of St. Thomas before completing her Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry that same year. Her arrival gives the practice something many single-dentist offices can't offer: continuity of philosophy across two generations of training, from Dr. Kell's decades of case experience to Dr. Johnson's freshly sharpened, patient-centered approach. Patients have noticed the fit immediately — one reviewer wrote that "Dr. Mariah and hygienist Sierra did a terrific job on my teeth today," recommending both by name for their care.

Philosophy: Family Care, Taken Literally

The practice describes its mission plainly: "We are committed to bringing dedicated and personalized care to your entire family." That isn't marketing language so much as an operating principle. Patients describe multi-year, even multi-decade, relationships with the office — one longtime patient noted being cared for by Dr. Kell for more than 19 years, praising him as "mindful of options for his patients" and crediting the practice with helping their oral health "flourish." Another patient has returned for a full decade without, in their words, "a bad experience." That kind of tenure is difficult to manufacture; it has to be earned visit after visit.

Signature Services and Technology

Kell Dental Arts has built out a scope of care well beyond routine cleanings. Alongside general and family dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and restorative work such as crowns, bridges, and implants, the practice has developed a specific focus on airway and sleep dentistry — treating snoring, sleep apnea, and other breathing-related conditions through custom oral appliances and personalized treatment planning. That specialty is reinforced at the hygiene level: registered dental hygienist Sierra, licensed in both Wisconsin and Minnesota, brings specific expertise in airway health along with laser hygiene treatments for bacteria reduction and advanced scaling and root planing. For patients who feel anxious about dental visits or need more extensive treatment, the office also offers sedation dentistry, and the clinical side is supported by digital X-rays and laser-based tools designed to make care more precise and more comfortable.

The Patient Experience

What stands out across patient feedback is consistency of tone — warmth paired with clear explanation. One new patient described staff who "explained procedures in detail to calm my nerves," adding they had "never been excited to actually go back to the dentist" before that visit. Another patient recalled Dr. Kell taking the time to "carefully consider my dental dilemma," clearly laying out options and even sharing photographs of prior patients with similar cases to build confidence in the proposed solution. That same patient summed up the feeling many others echo: "I have faith that he has the knowledge and experience to care for me." One patient reported driving an hour to stay with the team, citing how welcome they felt and how thoroughly they were informed before treatment.

Community Roots and Team Depth

The practice's staying power shows in its staff tenure as much as its patient reviews. Office manager Shelby has spent more than eight years with Kell Dental Arts and over twelve years managing dental offices overall, serving as a steady point of contact for patients working through treatment decisions. Licensed dental assistant Michelle brings more than 30 years of dental assisting experience, licensed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. Together with Sierra's specialized hygiene credentials, the team reflects the same long-haul commitment that defines the doctors at the top of the practice. Kell Dental Arts serves Hudson and a wide swath of the western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota border area, including Roberts, River Falls, Baldwin, Somerset, New Richmond, Stillwater, Woodbury, and Cottage Grove.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the dentists at Kell Dental Arts?
Dr. David Kell, who founded the practice in 1996 and is a Teaching Faculty member at the Spear Dental Learning Center, and Dr. Mariah Johnson, a 2024 graduate of the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry who joined the practice that same year.

What services does the practice offer?
Kell Dental Arts provides general and family dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry including implants and bridges, sedation dentistry for anxious patients, airway and sleep dentistry for snoring and sleep apnea, and advanced dental technology such as digital X-rays and laser treatments.

What are the office hours?
The practice is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and closed Friday through Sunday.

Does the practice treat sleep apnea and snoring?
Yes. The airway and sleep dentistry program addresses snoring, sleep apnea, and other breathing-related conditions using custom oral appliances and individualized treatment plans, supported by a hygienist with specific airway-health expertise.

How can a new patient get started?
Patients in Hudson and surrounding communities are encouraged to contact the practice directly to ask about current availability, scheduling, and insurance details before booking a first visit.

Where is the practice located?
Kell Dental Arts is located at 2400 Foxglove Way, Suite, in Hudson, Wisconsin, serving patients throughout the surrounding western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota communities.

About Kell Dental Arts

Kell Dental Arts is a family dental practice in Hudson, Wisconsin, founded in 1996 by Dr. David Kell and now also led by Dr. Mariah Johnson, who joined in 2024. The practice holds a 99 Dental.me Score and a 4.9-star average across 223 patient reviews, built on a combination of advanced continuing education, specialized airway and sleep dentistry, and a staff whose tenure often runs into the decades. Kell Dental Arts is open Monday through Thursday and welcomes patients of all ages from Hudson and the surrounding region.

For more information about Mariah Johnson, visit kelldental.com.

Verified Dental.me profile: https://dental.me/wi/hudson/practices/mariah-johnson-hudson-wi/
Hudson dentists on Dental.me: https://dental.me/wi/hudson/
Dental.me: https://dental.me/