<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-8 No. 33-56764) pertaining to the 1992 Stock Option Plan, 1992 Director Stock
Option Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan and Employee Stock Ownership Plan, the
Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-03583) pertaining to the Patterson
Dental Company Capital Accumulation Plan of Patterson Dental Company and the
Registration Statements on Form S-3 (No. 333-19951, 333-41199, 333-61489 and
333-79147) of our report dated May 25, 2000, with respect to the consolidated
financial statements included in this Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Patterson
Dental Company for the year ended April 29, 2000.
Our audits also included the financial statement schedule of Patterson Dental
Company listed in Item 14(a). This schedule is the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our
audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule referred to above, when
considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
July 20, 2000
