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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 xoyvjd7E/4Rfshm6RfJWHQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-03-026265.txt : 20031009
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-03-026265.hdr.sgml : 20031009
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031009151410
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-03-026265
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031009
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031009

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PATTERSON DENTAL CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000891024
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-MEDICAL, DENTAL & HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [5047]
		IRS NUMBER:				410886515
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0429

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1031 MENDOTA HEIGHTS RD
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55120-1401
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6126861600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1031 MENDOTA HEIGHTS RD
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55120-1401

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KOCHMANN RICHARD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001243994

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20572
		FILM NUMBER:		03934963

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PATTERSON DENTAL COMPANY
		STREET 2:		1031 MENDOTA HTS RE
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55120
		BUSINESS PHONE:		651686

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1031 MENDOTTA HEIGHTSR
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55120
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd20154.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FRM4RAK100903
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-09</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000891024</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PATTERSON DENTAL CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PDCO</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001243994</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KOCHMANN RICHARD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PATTERSON DENTAL COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1031 MENDOTA HEIGHTS RD.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. PAUL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55120</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>V.P. - Subsidiary</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-09</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3756</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>22.875</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>62743</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNatur
e></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>22.875</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-09</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3756</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30054</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransaction
Amounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30054</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Options granted as follows: 4158 on 05/01/00 at $24.375, 22536 on 10/02/00 at $22.875, 2811 on 04/30/01 at $30.56, 1979 on 04/29/02 at $45.14 and 2326 on 04/28/03 at $39.93.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Options exercisable as follows: 3219.45 on October 2 of each year 2003-2009, 4158 on 05/01/2009, 2811 on 04/30/2010, 1979 on 04/29/2011 and 2326 on 04/28/2012.</footnote><footnote id="F3">All grants expire 10 years after grant date.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Matthew L. Levitt, by Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>



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