Gentling Dental Care Gentling Dental Care
(507) 288-7379 Book an appointment →
Rochester, MN · A legacy of excellence since 1948

Rochester's family dental home, not just tooth by tooth.

Five dentists under one roof — Kois Center and Dawson Academy graduates, teachers, and faculty at Mayo Clinic, Straumann, and Spear. We stop to get to know you, show you what we see, and plan care that lasts. Fee-for-service: no insurance middleman between you and your dentist.

Dr. Henrichsen, McColloch, Pattee, Eichwald & Gruwell Kois & Dawson Academy graduates CareCredit & Sunbit financing
What makes Gentling different

Comprehensive care, not single-visit dentistry.

Founded by Dr. Phil Gentling in 1948 and still serving the same families generations later. Our doctors stop to get to know you, show you what we see in your mouth, and plan care so your teeth last — not just one tooth at a time.

01 · Continuity

Same doctors, generations of families

Extended families have been coming here for decades. People move away for five, ten years and come back when they're home.

02 · Credentials

Kois & Dawson Academy

Our dentists are Kois Center and Dawson Academy graduates. Dr. McColloch teaches other dentists through IGE; Dr. Henrichsen teaches at Spear.

03 · Comprehensive

Whole-mouth planning

Risk assessments, 3D CT scans, iTero intraoral scans, and clear treatment plans backed by science — before anything starts.

04 · Fee-for-Service

No insurance middleman

We're 100% fee-for-service: your dentist decides what you need, not an insurance company. CareCredit and Sunbit for anything insurance doesn't cover.

05 · Minimum Intervention

Not shaved to nubs

You don't always need veneers or crowns for a prettier smile. Sometimes it's a little Invisalign, a little whitening, or a touch of bonding. We tell you which.

06 · Technology

AI-assisted diagnostics

Overjet AI highlights cavities and bone loss on your X-rays so you can see what we see. Curodont for incipient cavities before they need a filling.

Meet your dental team

Five dentists. One practice. Decades of continuity.

Dr. Phil Gentling founded the practice in 1948. His sons Kirk and Colin took it over. Ryan Henrichsen joined decades ago, Melissa McColloch 20 years ago, Phil Pattee 15 years ago. That consistency is why patients stay — and why their kids and grandkids keep coming back.

Dr. Ryan Henrichsen

Faculty at Spear

Teaches other dentists at the Spear Center while running comprehensive-care cases in Rochester.

Dr. Melissa McColloch

Dawson & Kois graduate

Twenty years with the practice. Teaches dentists through IGE. Focuses on comprehensive planning, minimum intervention, and smile transformations.

Dr. Phil Pattee

Fifteen years with the team

General dentistry with a conservative-first philosophy; part of the practice's long-standing CE culture.

Dr. Erich Eichwald

Comprehensive restorative

Rounds out the Gentling five-doctor team with a focus on restoration and prosthetics.

Dr. Scott Gruwell

Family & cosmetic

Family dentistry and cosmetic cases, part of the Gentling Dental Care clinical team.

The team

Trusted. Patient-first.

"A lot of people tell me they trust me. I go out of my way to explain what's going on with their teeth." — Dr. Melissa McColloch

Payment & investment

100% fee-for-service. No insurance middleman.

Gentling Dental Care doesn't let insurance tell your dentist what to do. We're fee-for-service, which means every recommendation is based on your mouth, not a plan's maximum. We'll give you a clear itemized estimate and walk you through CareCredit, Sunbit, and payment options so you can plan the care that lasts.

Request an appointment

Fill out the form — we'll call you back the next business day.

Real humans at the front desk, no auto-reply loops. Tell us the day/time that works and anything you want us to know up front.

Prefer to call? (507) 288-7379 · Or book online instantly →

Common questions

What to expect at your first visit.

Do I need to be shaved down to nubs for veneers?

Almost never. Dr. McColloch: "I think some people assume they have to have their teeth shaved down to nubs for veneers or crowns, and that's really not the case. Sometimes all you need is realignment, a little whitening, or a tiny bit of composite bonding." We tell you which option is actually right for your smile.

Are you in-network with my insurance?

Gentling Dental Care is a 100% fee-for-service practice. That means we work for you, not an insurance company — your treatment is based on your mouth, not a plan's annual maximum. We'll help you submit claims and we accept CareCredit and Sunbit for financing.

What technology do you use?

iTero intraoral scanner with Invisalign Oral Health Suite, Overjet AI (for cavity and bone-loss detection on your X-rays), Curodont (for treating incipient cavities without a filling), and 3D CT imaging for implant and periodontal planning.

I'm really nervous about dental visits. What should I do?

Dr. McColloch: "Drive on over, come in the front door and meet us. There are people who will listen to you, take your concerns seriously, and will take the time to get to know you." Our doctors have met with hesitant patients before an appointment just to ease their worries.

Where are you located?

2210 Broadway Ave N, Rochester, MN 55906. Free parking.

Visit us

Find us in Rochester.

Gentling Dental Care

2210 Broadway Ave N
Rochester, MN 55906

Phone: (507) 288-7379

New-patient appointments

We'll call you the next business day to find a time that works. For same-day availability, call us directly.

Request an appointment →