Exhibit 99.1

Patterson Dental Company Reports Strong Second Quarter Results

St. Paul, MN—November 20, 2003—Patterson Dental Company (Nasdaq NMS: PDCO) today reported consolidated sales of $477,510,000 for the second quarter of fiscal 2004 ended October 25, an increase of 19% from $400,821,000 in the year-earlier quarter. Net income increased 27% to $34,886,000 or $0.51 per diluted share, from $27,545,000 or $0.40 per diluted share in the second quarter of fiscal 2003. Consolidated earnings for this period included a contribution of approximately $0.04 per diluted share from AbilityOne Products Corp., which was acquired on September 12, 2003. AbilityOne’s contribution was consistent with previously-issued financial guidance.

Sales of the Patterson Dental Supply unit increased 10% to $392,657,000 in this year’s second quarter. Substantially all of this growth was internally generated.

n Sales of consumable dental supplies and printed office products increased 5%. Patterson’s dental sales force totaled 1,330 at the end of the second quarter.

n Equipment and software sales rose 26%, paced by the continuation of strong demand for such new-technology products as the CEREC^® 3D dental restorative system and digital radiography. Software, including clinical software related to digital radiography and practice management products, also posted a strong sales gain in the second quarter.

n Sales of the Canadian dental operation rose 7% in the second quarter in local currencies.

Sales of the Webster Veterinary Supply unit increased 17% in this year’s second quarter to $53,011,000. Webster’s sales benefited from a temporary pharmaceutical distribution agreement that was converted to an agency arrangement during the quarter. As a result of this conversion, Webster’s third quarter revenue growth is expected to be more in line with overall market growth. Sales of the AbilityOne unit were in line with internal forecasts for the period from the date of closing of this acquisition to the quarter-end.

Peter L. Frechette, chairman and chief executive officer, commented: “We are very pleased with Patterson’s second quarter operating results. In the dental market, Patterson’s sales and profitability are continuing to benefit from our position as North America’s leading provider of new-technology dental equipment, software and turnkey digital solutions, which are enabling dentists to significantly strengthen the productivity of their practices. Our Webster unit has opened new sales territories in the states of Washington and Ohio, and the initial sales generated by this geographic expansion are encouraging. Finally, AbilityOne, the newest member of the Patterson family of valued-added distributors, fully met our sales and profit expectations for this period. As the leading, full-service distributor of products for the global physical and occupational therapy markets, AbilityOne is a logical extension of our specialty distribution strategy. All in all, we are optimistic about Patterson’s prospects for the balance of fiscal 2004, based on the vitality of our served markets and the effectiveness of our strategies aimed at meeting the needs of our customers.”

Patterson said it expects to complete a permanent financing package, totaling $650 million, later in November that will replace in part the $500 million bridge facility that was used to finance the $575 million purchase price of AbilityOne. The remaining debt capacity will be used for general corporate purposes, if drawn down.

Third Quarter Guidance

For the third quarter of fiscal 2004 ending January 24, Patterson is forecasting earnings of $0.57 to $0.59 per diluted share, which includes an estimated full-quarter contribution from AbilityOne of $0.06 to $0.07 per diluted share.

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.

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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 upon consummation of the transaction. 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 Executive Vice President & CFO 651/686-1600 Richard G. Cinquina Equity Market Partners 212/461-7145 or 612/338-0810

Patterson Dental Company

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PATTERSON DENTAL COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except for earnings per share)

(Unaudited)

	Quarter Ended						Six Months Ended
	October 25, 2003			October 26, 2002			October 25, 2003			October 26, 2002
Net sales	$	477,510		$	400,821		$	910,772		$	788,560
Gross profit		166,321			137,774			310,903			270,949
Operating expenses		110,043			95,316			209,616			189,628
Operating income		56,278			42,458			101,287			81,321
Other (expense) income, net		(373	)		1,688			1,720			3,010
Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change		55,905			44,146			103,007			84,331
Income taxes		21,019			16,601			38,728			31,710
Income before cumulative effect accounting change		34,886			27,545			64,279			52,621
Cumulative effect of accounting change		—			—			—			3,372	(a)
Net income	$	34,886		$	27,545		$	64,279		$	55,993
Before cumulative effect of accounting change:
Earnings per share—basic	$	0.51		$	0.41		$	0.95		$	0.78
Earnings per share—diluted	$	0.51		$	0.40		$	0.94		$	0.77
After cumulative effect of accounting change:
Earnings per share—basic	$	0.51		$	0.41		$	0.95		$	0.82
Earnings per share—diluted	$	0.51		$	0.40		$	0.94		$	0.82
Shares:
Basic		67,906			67,902			67,872			67,884
Diluted		68,849			68,604			68,640			68,555
Gross margin		34.8	%		34.4	%		34.1	%		34.4	%
Operating expenses as a % of sales		23.0	%		23.8	%		23.0	%		24.1	%
Operating income as a % of sales		11.8	%		10.6	%		11.1	%		10.3	%
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		7.3	%		6.9	%		7.1	%		6.7	%

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

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PATTERSON DENTAL COMPANY

SUPPLEMENTARY FINANCIAL DATA

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Quarter Ended						Six Months Ended
	October 25, 2003			October 26, 2002			October 25, 2003			October 26, 2002
Consolidated Net Sales
Consumable and printed products	$	306,080		$	261,688		$	587,474		$	518,033
Equipment and software		136,139			105,315			252,709			204,416
Other		35,291			33,818			70,589			66,111
Total	$	477,510		$	400,821		$	910,772		$	788,560
Rehabilitative Supply
Actual
Consumable and printed products	$	26,884					$	26,884
Equipment and software		4,477						4,477
Other		481						481
Total	$	31,842		$	—		$	31,842		$	—
Proforma	$	55,963	(a)	$	54,102	(a)	$	112,365	(a)	$	105,736	(a)
Veterinary Supply
Consumable and printed products	$	50,225		$	42,610		$	108,999		$	86,650
Equipment		1,297			1,851			2,876			3,723
Other		1,489			760			2,586			1,866
Total	$	53,011		$	45,221		$	114,461		$	92,239
Other Income
Interest income	$	1,365		$	1,751		$	3,263		$	3,091
Interest expense		(1,889	)		(2	)		(1,921	)		(11	)
Other		151			(61	)		378			(70	)
	$	(373	)	$	1,688		$	1,720		$	3,010

(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)

	October 25, 2003		April 26, 2003
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and short-term investments	$	203,752	$	217,448
Receivables, net		266,998		248,585
Inventory		152,665		125,340
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		35,484		14,744
Total current assets		658,899		606,117
Property and equipment, net		70,577		57,254
Goodwill and other intangible assets		670,010		135,070
Other		25,395		25,537
Total Assets	$	1,424,881	$	823,978
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	120,907	$	111,543
Other accrued liabilities		76,058		72,336
Current maturities of long-term debt		500,000		145
Total current liabilities		696,965		184,024
Non-current liabilities		21,933		6,268
Total liabilities		718,898		190,292
Stockholders’ equity		705,983		633,686
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	1,424,881	$	823,978

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CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

	Six Months Ended
	October 25, 2003			October 26, 2002
Operating activities:
Income before cumulative effect of accounting change	$	64,279		$	52,621
Depreciation & amortization		7,316			6,600
Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquired		(509	)		(33,761	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		71,086			25,460
Investing activities:
Additions to property and equipment, net		(6,861	)		(6,906	)
Acquisitions		(581,323	)		(4,527	)
Sale of investments		11,269			1,250
Net cash used in investing activities		(576,915	)		(10,183	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		503,402			1,768
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	$	(2,427	)	$	17,045