Exhibit 99.1

Hold for Release Until:

6:00 a.m. Eastern

Thursday, February 19, 2004

Patterson Dental Company Reports Strong Third Quarter Sales and Earnings

St. Paul, MN—February 19, 2004—Patterson Dental Company (Nasdaq NMS: PDCO) today reported consolidated sales of $521,218,000 for the third quarter of fiscal 2004 ended January 24, an increase of 24% from $421,070,000 in the year-earlier quarter. Net income increased 33% to $40,061,000 or $0.58 per diluted share, from $30,102,000 or $0.44 per diluted share in the third quarter of fiscal 2003. Consolidated results include the first full quarter’s contribution from AbilityOne Products Corp., which was acquired on September 12, 2003. AbilityOne provided third quarter revenues of $52,989,000 and earnings of approximately $0.05 per diluted share.

Sales of the Patterson Dental Supply unit, Patterson’s largest business, increased 12% to $425,145,000 in the third quarter, with all of this growth generated from internal operations.

• Consumable dental supplies and printed office products increased 6%, led by U.S. consumables sales growth of 6.2%. Patterson’s dental sales force totaled approximately 1,335 at the end of the third quarter.

• Equipment and software sales rose 19% in the third quarter, paced by the continuation of strong demand for both basic and new-technology dental equipment and related software.

• Sales of other services and products, consisting primarily of parts, technical service, software support, and insurance e-claims, increased 21% in the third quarter.

Sales of the Webster Veterinary Supply unit increased 7% in the third quarter to $43,084,000, consistent with prior public statements related to the impact of converting a major but temporary pharmaceutical distribution agreement into an agency arrangement. This conversion was largely completed prior to the start of this year’s third quarter. Excluding the impact of the former distribution agreement, Webster’s revenue growth going forward is expected to be in line with the growth of the companion pet veterinary supply market. The absence of the distribution agreement also is expected to have a positive impact on Webster’s gross margins.

Peter L. Frechette, chairman and chief executive officer, commented: “The third quarter of fiscal 2004 was another very good period for Patterson. We believe sales of dental consumables are responding favorably to the strengthened focus that we started placing on this portion of our business earlier in the year. Our sales and profitability also are continuing to benefit from Patterson’s position as North America’s leading distributor of new-technology dental solutions. Sales of the CEREC 3-D® dental restorative system increased strongly in the third quarter as this product continues to gain momentum in the market place. Patterson is the exclusive North American distributor of CEREC equipment, and we recently signed an agreement with CEREC’s manufacturer to extend this relationship through September 2006. Demand also remains strong for digital radiography systems and related clinical software, as well as for our office networking solutions. Webster posted solid, on-plan results, and we are satisfied with the performance of AbilityOne, the world’s leading, full-service distributor of products for the global physical and occupational therapy markets. We are optimistic about Patterson’s outlook for this year’s fourth quarter, making us confident fiscal 2004 should be another year of record sales and earnings for Patterson.”

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004 ending April 24, Patterson is forecasting earnings of $0.64 to $0.66 per diluted share, which includes an estimated contribution from AbilityOne of $0.06 to $0.07 per diluted share. Patterson reported earnings of $0.49 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003. The Company expects full-year fiscal 2004 earnings of $2.16 to $2.18 per diluted share, which includes the impact of AbilityOne from the date of acquisition.

Patterson Dental Company

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About Patterson Dental Company

Patterson Dental Company is a value-added distributor serving the dental, companion-pet veterinarian and rehabilitation supply markets.

Dental Market

As Patterson’s largest business, Patterson Dental Supply provides a virtually complete range of consumable dental products, equipment and software, turnkey digital solutions and value-added services to dentists and dental laboratories throughout North America.

Veterinary Market

Webster Veterinary Supply is the leading distributor of consumable veterinary supplies, equipment, diagnostic products, vaccines and pharmaceuticals to companion-pet veterinary clinics in the eastern United States and the third largest nationally.

Rehabilitation Market

AbilityOne Products Corp. is the world’s leading distributor of rehabilitation supplies and non-wheelchair assistive patient products to the physical and occupational therapy markets. The unit’s global customer base includes hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics and dealers.

# # #

This release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are information of a non-historical nature and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company’s ability to control. The Company cautions shareholders and prospective investors that the following factors, among others, may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements: competition within the dental, veterinary, and rehabilitative and assistive living supply industries; changes in the economics of dentistry, including reduced growth in expenditures by private dental insurance plans, the effects of economic conditions and the effects of healthcare reform, which may affect future per capita expenditures for dental services and the ability and willingness of dentists to invest in high-technology products; the effects of healthcare related legislation and regulation which may affect expenditures or reimbursements for rehabilitative and assistive products; changes in the economics of the veterinary supply market, including reduced growth in per capita expenditures for veterinary services and reduced growth in the number of households owning pets; the ability of the Company to maintain satisfactory relationships with its sales force; unforeseen operating risks; risks associated with the dependence on manufacturers of the Company’s products; and the ability of the Company to successfully integrate the AbilityOne business. Forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by the cautionary language set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

For additional information contact:
R. Stephen Armstrong	Richard G. Cinquina
Executive Vice President & CFO	Equity Market Partners
651/686-1600	904/261-2210 or 800/522-1744

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PATTERSON DENTAL COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except for earnings per share)

(Unaudited)

	Quarter Ended						Nine Months Ended
	January 24, 2004			January 25, 2003			January 24, 2004			January 25, 2003
Net sales	$	521,218		$	421,070		$	1,431,990		$	1,209,630
Gross profit		190,873			147,765			501,776			418,714
Operating expenses		123,882			101,288			333,498			290,916
Operating income		66,991			46,477			168,278			127,798
Other (expense) income, net		(2,790	)		1,755			(1,070	)		4,765
Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change		64,201			48,232			167,208			132,563
Income taxes		24,140			18,130			62,868			49,840
Income before cumulative effect of accounting change		40,061			30,102			104,340			82,723
Cumulative effect of accounting change		—			—			—			3,372	(a)
Net income	$	40,061		$	30,102		$	104,340		$	86,095
Before cumulative effect of accounting change:
Earnings per share - basic	$	0.59		$	0.44		$	1.54		$	1.22
Earnings per share - diluted	$	0.58		$	0.44		$	1.52		$	1.21
After cumulative effect of accounting change:
Earnings per share - basic	$	0.59		$	0.44		$	1.54		$	1.27
Earnings per share - diluted	$	0.58		$	0.44		$	1.52		$	1.26
Shares:
Basic		67,994			67,797			67,913			67,855
Diluted		69,085			68,406			68,788			68,505
Gross margin		36.6	%		35.1	%		35.0	%		34.6	%
Operating expenses as a % of sales		23.8	%		24.1	%		23.2	%		24.0	%
Operating income as a % of sales		12.8	%		11.0	%		11.8	%		10.6	%
Effective tax rate, before cumulative effect of accounting change		37.6	%		37.6	%		37.6	%		37.6	%
Return on net sales, before cumulative effect of accounting change		7.7	%		7.1	%		7.3	%		6.8	%

(a) Due to the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.”

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Patterson Dental Company

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PATTERSON DENTAL COMPANY

SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL DATA

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Quarter Ended						Nine Months Ended
	January 24, 2004			January 25, 2003			January 24, 2004			January 25, 2003
Consolidated Net Sales
Consumable and printed products	$	307,109		$	247,336		$	894,583		$	765,369
Equipment and software		177,731			143,823			430,440			348,239
Other		36,378			29,911			106,967			96,022
Total	$	521,218		$	421,070		$	1,431,990		$	1,209,630
Rehabilitative Supply
Actual
Consumable and printed products	$	44,857					$	71,741
Equipment and software		8,066						12,543
Other		66						547
Total	$	52,989		$	—		$	84,831		$	—
Proforma	$	52,989	(a)	$	50,907	(a)	$	165,354	(a)	$	156,643	(a)
Veterinary Supply
Consumable and printed products	$	40,076		$	37,158		$	149,075		$	123,808
Equipment		2,028			2,427			4,904			6,150
Other		980			663			3,566			2,529
Total	$	43,084		$	40,248		$	157,545		$	132,487
Other Income
Interest income	$	1,500		$	1,681		$	4,763		$	4,772
Interest expense		(4,317	)		(34	)		(6,238	)		(45	)
Other		27			108			405			38
	$	(2,790	)	$	1,755		$	(1,070	)	$	4,765

(a) Proforma basis, as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of fiscal 2003.

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PATTERSON DENTAL COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

	January 24, 2004		April 26, 2003
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and short-term investments	$	222,552	$	217,448
Receivables, net		288,594		248,585
Inventory		164,614		125,340
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		33,541		14,744
Total current assets		709,301		606,117
Property and equipment, net		71,830		57,254
Goodwill and other intangible assets		694,447		135,070
Other		28,431		25,537
Total Assets	$	1,504,009	$	823,978
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	114,088	$	111,543
Other accrued liabilities		90,135		72,336
Current maturities of long-term debt		20,035		145
Total current liabilities		224,258		184,024
Long-term debt		484,564		129
Other non-current liabilities		44,262		6,139
Total liabilities		753,084		190,292
Stockholders’ equity		750,925		633,686
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	1,504,009	$	823,978

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PATTERSON DENTAL COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Nine Months Ended
	January 24, 2004			January 25, 2003
Operating activities:
Income before cumulative effect of accounting change	$	104,340		$	82,723
Depreciation & amortization		13,314			9,869
Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquired		(24,303	)		(58,377	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		93,351			34,215
Investing activities:
Additions to property and equipment, net		(11,290	)		(8,658	)
Acquisitions		(581,782	)		(4,956	)
Sale (purchase) of investments		14,731			(3,041	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(578,341	)		(16,655	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		504,825			(8,181	)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	$	19,835		$	9,379