New North named Accredited Economic Development Organization by IEDC
A shining ‘Star’ of restoration and community philanthropy
November 17, 2025
SHAWANO – Wolf River Dental is enhancing its patient care with a new, larger facility at 1040 Engel Drive – which Business Manager Kate Mantz said features advanced technology and extended service hours.
Mantz – who co-owns the Shawano practice with her husband, Paul (DDS) – said the expanded location, which broke ground in late fall 2024, officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony last month.
A welcoming, patient-focused design
Located about a mile from Wolf River Dental’s previous location, Mantz said the new clinic is now in a stand-alone building.
“We [used to be] in a mini mall,” she said. “[Now], we have a park-like setting where every room has a window. It was really important for us to create a comfortable setting. Previously, we had zero windows. Our patients’ reactions [about the new space] have been great.”
Understanding that dental visits can be an intimidating experience for some, Mantz said the team was intentional with the design of the new space to ease patient anxiety and create a more welcoming atmosphere.
“There is something very intimate about going to the dentist and being vulnerable with one’s all-important features: our smile,” she said. “Our team provides compassionate understanding and care to people from all walks of life. We create a positive environment that allows for transparency to maintain lifelong dental health. This can include general routine cleanings or specialty conditioning for patients with conditions – such as periodontitis. We provide pediatric and special needs care, implant services and cosmetic dentistry.”
New space = second dentist, new equipment
As the practice expanded, Mantz said it became increasingly clear that changes were necessary – not just in the space, but in the practitioners.
“The biggest issue was that new patients, and even those returning for hygiene appointments, were being pushed further down our waitlist,” she said. “It became apparent that we needed to see more patients, but in the space that we were in, we did not have the ability to bring in more practitioners.”
As is common in the dental industry – and it had been at Wolf River Dental – Mantz said new patients typically experience wait times of eight months to more than a year for routine care, unless emergency treatment is required.
From a practical standpoint, Mantz said they added additional hours of operation in an effort to improve the overall patient experience and cut down on wait times.
“We are fairly unique in dentistry, because we are open five days a week – from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays,” she said.
However, Mantz said even with the extended hours, the issue persisted.
So, in addition to the new, larger space, Mantz said Wolf River Dental welcomed a second dentist – Marcus Bitter – to the team, boosting the clinic’s capacity to accommodate more patients and offer a wider range of services.
“Marcus came to us with exceptional experience and compassion for patients while increasing access to care,” she said. “By doubling our team, we have decreased that initial wait time to approximately four months. As we continue to expand our team, the goal is to continue to decrease that to under a month.”
Mantz said the need for a second dentist and an expanding range of services inspired the decision to create a larger facility.
“We have doubled our square footage from our previous office to 5,000 square feet,” she said. “We previously had four operatories [where patients are treated] split between hygienists and our dentist. [We also] doubled our surgical suite for conducting various types of endodontic procedures. There is an extra one that we have not outfitted, but we are planning to expand.”
Mantz said that not only has the building itself expanded, but the technology inside has also seen significant growth.
Staying on the forefront of industry technology, she said, helps streamline the patient experience.
“We invested in a lot of new equipment [with the new building],” she said.
An example of this, Mantz said, is the Sierra machine – a cutting-edge piece of technology that can mill crowns in-house.
Previously, she said, crowns had to be sent out to a lab, which meant a waiting period during which patients had to wear temporary crowns.
“Patients now leave the office the same day with their permanent crown,” she said. “We are also exploring the use of laser technology and the possibility of Botox for TMJ patients, as well as oral appliances used to treat sleep apnea… We also have a 3D printer that we use for making different [dental] appliances.”
Above all, Mantz said the primary focus is on the patient and improving efficiencies.
“Our providers are continually expanding their knowledge in areas like endodontics (root canals), periodontics and prosthodontics using imaging technology to [create] a full set of dentures in fewer than three appointments,” she said.
As one might expect, Mantz said the larger facility, new dentist and upgraded equipment naturally led to the addition of more staff members.
“We started with a team of seven and are continually expanding,” she said. “Our current team is 13, and we are actively hiring for multiple positions… As we continue to expand our team, the goal is to continue to decrease that [wait time] to less than a month.”
Balancing risk and reward
Mantz said patient loyalty plays a significant role in their success, with many willing to travel great distances to receive care.
“Some patients will drive an hour to our office,” she said. “We are located in Shawano County, and people will come to us from the north lakes and other rural areas, because once you get out of Shawano County, there are very few dentists. Our volume has increased now that we can provide the [additional] care [in the new facility].”
As with any business growth strategy, Mantz said there is always a risk-and-reward dynamic.
“We feel really privileged that we are given that opportunity [to expand],” she said. “It’s a big risk for us, but we feel such a debt of gratitude for all the people that worked with us on our project in order to build this from the ground up, including our architect, the contractors, the construction company – it’s been a really great experience. And to have the support of the community and the City of Shawano means everything to us.”
For information, head to wolfriverdental.com.
