Hometown Dentists, Advanced Science: Inside Rochester's Penz Dental Care and Its Tooth-Preserving Approach to General Dentistry

ROCHESTER, MN — When Dr. Matt Penz opened Penz Dental Care in 2016, he set out with a single, specific goal: to deliver exceptional dental care in a deeply personalized way, in the city where he grew up. Ten years, a brand-new clinic, and a 2026 building addition later, that goal has translated into a practice now staffed by four dentists, trusted by a growing patient base, and recognized with a 100 Dental.me Score alongside a 5.0-star average across 405 reviews — numbers that reflect sustained, consistent satisfaction rather than a single good season.

A Mission Built on Relationships

Penz Dental Care describes its purpose in four words: building relationships with patients and community through quality dentistry. That is not a marketing slogan tacked on after the fact — it has been the operating philosophy since the practice's founding, and it still guides how the team structures every appointment. "Relationships with our patients and our community are the most important aspects of our mission. I feel called to serve and impact lives through dentistry, and will strive to do so every day," says Dr. Penz. The practice backs that statement up with an explicit rejection of one-size-fits-all dentistry: instead, each provider works with patients individually to identify the treatment path that actually fits their needs, their anxieties, and their goals.

Hometown Training, Rigorous Credentials

What distinguishes the Penz Dental Care team is how many of its dentists trace their path back to Rochester itself. Dr. Matt Penz is a graduate of Mayo High School in Rochester who went on to earn his degree cum laude from St. Olaf College, where he majored in mathematics with a biomedical studies concentration and served as team captain and quarterback of the football squad. He completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, where the faculty recognized him with the "Quality Care in a Caring Manner" award at graduation — an early signal of the values that would define his own practice. He has continued his education at the Alleman Center for Biomimetic Dentistry, the Kois Center, and Spear Education, and holds memberships in the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, the Minnesota Dental Association, and the Zumbro Valley Dental Society.

He is joined by Dr. Christina Pauley and Dr. Nicole Pauley, both also Mayo High School and St. Olaf College graduates who returned to their hometown to practice after completing dental school at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Christina Pauley graduated magna cum laude from St. Olaf, discovered her passion for dentistry while leading a Global Medical and Dental Brigade to Honduras, and is a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics, having also earned an achievement award from the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. Dr. Nicole Pauley earned her DDS with distinction, served with AmeriCorps helping elementary students build reading skills, and volunteered extensively through UMN's Give Kids a Smile and TeamSmiles programs, which provide free dental care to underserved children. Dr. David Wold completes the team, which together brings a rare depth of shared training and shared roots to a single Rochester address.

Biomimetic Dentistry: Preserving the Natural Tooth

Perhaps the most distinctive clinical commitment at Penz Dental Care is its specialized training in biomimetic restorative dentistry, known as BRD — a minimally invasive method that preserves as much natural tooth structure as possible while using advanced bonding techniques designed to help restorations last longer than conventional approaches. Rather than defaulting to aggressive preparation, the team's BRD training shapes how cavities, cracks, and worn teeth are treated across the practice, applied alongside a full menu of preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and pediatric services that includes cleanings, digital X-rays, same-day crowns, dentures, implants, veneers, teeth whitening, and custom sports mouthguards.

The Patient Experience

The clinical philosophy is matched by an environment built specifically to ease dental anxiety. Patients are seated in massaging dental chairs, with television and music available during procedures, inside a modern space the team describes as deliberately not-your-typical dental office. The approach appears to resonate: patients have praised an "immaculate office, top tier equipment, and professional staff" who "care deeply," and others have called their visit the best dental experience they've had, crediting the doctors for taking real time to get to know them. That combination of comfort and clinical attentiveness is likely a significant driver behind the practice's 5.0-star average across 405 reviews.

Access and Community Roots

Penz Dental Care is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., giving patients a dependable weekday window for appointments. The office sends claims to most insurance plans and is in-network with Delta Dental Premier, and it offers financing options along with day-of-service payment reductions for patients navigating treatment costs. Having grown from its 2016 founding into a new clinic built in 2023 and expanded again in 2026, the practice has planted itself firmly in southeastern Minnesota, with a stated ambition to serve as an inspirational leader in oral health care delivery for Rochester and the surrounding region.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Penz Dental Care's approach to restorative treatment different?
The providers are trained in biomimetic restorative dentistry, a minimally invasive method that preserves natural tooth structure and uses advanced bonding techniques built to outlast traditional restorations.

What services does the practice offer?
A full range of preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and pediatric dentistry, including cleanings, digital X-rays, same-day crowns, dentures, implants, veneers, teeth whitening, and sports mouthguards.

What are the office hours?
Penz Dental Care is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closed Friday through Sunday.

Does the practice accept insurance?
Yes. The office can send claims to most insurance plans and is in-network with Delta Dental Premier, and financing options along with day-of-service payment reductions are available.

Who are the dentists at Penz Dental Care?
Dr. Matt Penz, Dr. Christina Pauley, Dr. Nicole Pauley, and Dr. David Wold make up the current dental team, three of whom grew up in Rochester and returned to practice in their hometown.

About Penz Dental Care

Founded by Dr. Matt Penz in 2016, Penz Dental Care is a general dentistry practice in Rochester, Minnesota, offering preventive, restorative, cosmetic, and pediatric care from a team trained in biomimetic restorative dentistry. The practice holds a 100 Dental.me Score and a 5.0-star average across 405 reviews. Penz Dental Care is open Monday through Thursday and welcomes patients from Rochester and the surrounding southeastern Minnesota community.

For more information about Penz Dental Care, visit penzdentalcare.com.

Verified Dental.me profile: https://dental.me/mn/rochester/practices/penz-dental-care-rochester-mn/
Rochester dentists on Dental.me: https://dental.me/mn/rochester/
Dental.me: https://dental.me/