Ahmann has made lasting ‘impression’ in dental office here

A lot has changed in the dental industry in the last 45 years. As well, a lot of has changed in the Minneota Family Dental office over that time.
One thing that hasn’t changed here over those 45 years, though, is the same employee coming to work.
Denise Ahmann marked her 45th anniversary as a dental assistant at Minneota Family Dental on Thursday, December 15. During that time, she has worked for three dentists; Dr. Robert Schulte, Dr. Tracy Grossman, and currently for Dr. Alexandra Lentz.
“I’ve always loved my job,” Ahmann said, matter-of-factly. “I’ve enjoyed every day here. I have made a lot of lifelong friendships working here. My co-workers are like family.”
After graduating from high school, Ahmann attended the Canby Vocational-Technical School for Dental Assistant. While there, students were able to get on-the-job training. Ahmann received her job shadowing from Dr. Schulte.
“Dr. Bob then offered me a job in 1977 and I’ve been here ever since,” Ahmann said with a laugh.
Ahmann’s primary duties over the years have been to assist in taking impressions and x-rays.
“It has changed a lot since I first started,” Ahmann said. “We used to have to develop the x-rays ourselves (much like a darkroom for photographs). Then when Dr. Grossman came in 2012, we got an automatic processor. Now we have switched over to digital.”
As of Dec. 1, Ahmann has scaled back from a full-time assistant to just one day a week now.
“I discussed it with Dr. Lentz and I will fill in whenever I’m needed,” Ahmann said. “It’s been convenient having a job in the town I live in. But I want to be able to do some other things like travel and spending time going to the grandkids’ events.”
Ahmann admitted the 45 years have just flown by.
“When Dr. Lentz first came here, she said that she wanted to be here for 40 years,” Ahmann recalled. “I told her that she would wake up one day and it will be 40 years before you know it. It will happen in the blink of an eye.”
Ahmann said she would likely retire completely sometime in the near future.
“I’m having mothers bring their kids in now and they tell me that I was here when they were kids going to the dentist,” Ahmann said. “I think I want to retire before grandmothers come in and tell me the same thing.”