What do you like about your smile? What would you change if you could? At Exceptional Dentistry, we want to know that, so we can make appropriate recommendations to achieve your smile goals. Your journey to enhanced oral health and a more confident smile begins with your first visit to our beautiful Dubuque cosmetic dentistry practice. Because your overall health is our number one priority, we designed our new office with large windows that provide bright, refreshing views of the community. Our convenient location to Sams Club and many shopping areas means you can easily fit your dental visit into your busy day.

Dubuque dentist Dr. Ted Murray offers more than 30 years of experience, along with privileged LVI training and elite accreditation through the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. With a passion for innovative dentistry, Dr. Ted Murray has invested thousands of hours in post-graduate study to ensure you receive the most advanced care. He also participates in ongoing education so he can offer you cutting-edge techniques and the highest-quality dental materials.

Dr. Kristen Berning brings a fresh perspective to the practice. A member of the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry, Dr. Berning has participated in over a thousand hours of continuing education in various dental specialties. She enjoys working with people of all ages, solving their dental issues, and providing education to help achieve a lifetime of excellent oral health.

Dr. Alexia Oetken is the newest dentist at Exceptional Dentistry and the youngest daughter of Dr. Ted Murray. Dr. Alexia is excited to be back in Dubuque, helping our patients achieve their best and healthiest smile. She is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the Iowa Dental Association, and the American Dental Association as well as completing training at the Misch International Implant Institute with Dr. Ted Murray.

Cosmetic dentistry is an affordable, effective method to enhance and improve the appearance and health of your smile. At Exceptional Dentistry, our team of dental professionals works together to offer holistic services using the very latest technology and techniques:

Spend just a few minutes with Dubuque dentist Dr. Ted Murray, and you immediately sense his commitment to his patients, his practice and his community. A native of Dubuque, Iowa, Dr. Murray treats each patient with the utmost care, utilizing advanced training,cutting-edge techniques, and quality dental materials.

Dr. Murray is an AACD-accredited dentist. Dentists attempting to achieve AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) accreditation must undergo a stringent three-part process, consisting of a written examination, submission of clinical cases for evaluation and an oral examination.

Dubuque, Iowa native Dr. Kristen Berning is the eldest of Dr. Ted Murray's three daughters. A most distinguished 1998 graduate of Wahlert Catholic High School, Dr. Berning graduated summa cum laude with a Biology major and Chemistry minorfrom the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. During college, shealsocompeted on the St. Thomas varsity swim team for 4 years. She then went on to receive her DDS degree from The University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 2006. During her four years ofdental school, she worked with Dr. Murray Bouschlicher on dental curing light research studies.

Dr. Alexia Oetken is continuing the family tradition at Exceptional Dentistry with her father, Dr. Ted Murray, and sister, Dr. Kristen Berning. Dr. Oetken is excited to be in Dubuque, helping our patients achieve their best and healthiest smiles. As a student, Dr. Oetken recognizedthat herpassion for science and artistic talent would be fundamental to her future career in dentistry. She believes that a smile has the power to heal, give warmth, and share joy. She is thrilled to be a part of an exceptional family practice that focuses on relationship-based, individualized, comprehensive and health-centered dentistry.

AACD accreditation is a revered accomplishment achieved by a very small percentage of dentists worldwide. Dr. Murray is the only Dubuque dentist offering this elite accreditation, and one of only two Iowa dentists. He has helped many patients achieve the beautiful smiles of their dreams using his advanced training and attention to every cosmetic detail. He was awarded Best of Show at an annual AACD meeting for a cosmetic resin veneer case he completed on a patient in his practice.Dr. Ted Murray also has beenhonored by Academy of General Dentistryfor his lifelong service to the dental profession.

Dr. Murray graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 1977, completed a General PracticeDental Residency at the Iowa City Veterans Hospital, and then began private practice as aDubuque dentist. He then earned a Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) in 1983, and the prestigious AGD Mastership in 1995. He attended ThePankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education and has been committed to attending quality continuing education courses for 40 years. Dr. Murray was invited to be an LVI clinical instructor for Dr. Ron Jackson's posterior restorative courseand the esthetic anterior resin course.

Dr. Murray also earneda postgraduate certificate in Aesthetic and Contemporary Restorative Dentistryfrom the University of Minnesota. He is past president of both the Dubuque District and Dubuque County Dental Societies, as well as the Iowa AGD. Dr. Murray was an 8 year member of the University ofIowa Dental Alumni Board.He has served on the AACD Nominating and Leadership Development Committee for two 3-year terms. Dr. Murray was also selected to be an AACD Accreditation Examiner and has served on this committee examiningcases for member dentists working towards AACD accreditation. He has also served as a mentor for other dentists working towards AACD accreditation.He has volunteered with the Iowa Mission of Mercy, a largeevent that provides free dental care to those in need, and he has participated in Donated Dental Services by providing free dental care to local citizens in our community.

Dr. Ted Murrayreceived a Lifelong Learning and Service Recognition (LLSR) award from the Academy of General Dentistry in 2018. The LLSR award recognizes his extraordinary dedication to general dentistry, as less than 1% of AGD dentists achieve the LLSR award.LLSR recipients demonstrate their commitment beyond the Mastership Award by completing an additional 500 hours of continuing education and accumulating 100 service points in dental related community service and service to organized dentistry.

Dr. Berning chose to join her father in practice at Exceptional Dentistry, where she enjoys working with patients of all ages. She provides a wide range of general dentistry services, with a focus on quality and cosmetic dental care.She enjoys getting to know her patients and their families, and helping establish dental health andmake a smile more beautiful for a lifetime. She has a special interest in airway dentistry and how nasal versus mouth breathing can affect the growth and development of the structure of the mouth and face. She and her dental team screenpatients, especially growing children, for conditionsthat affect breathing, oral health, and everydayquality of life.

Dr. Berning has advanced training in laser dentistry. Sheuses a LightScalpel CO2 laser to releasetongue and lip tiesfor patient of various ages. For both adults and children, a restrictive lip or tongue tiecan lead to difficulties with eating,speech, breathing, and sleep. In babies, itcan contribute to difficulties with breastfeeding and/or bottle feedingdue to poor latch. She has helped hundreds of moms and babies improve their breastfeeding and/or bottle feeding relationship by releasing the tongue tie to improve latch and function.Dr. Berning has attended tongue-tiecourses by leading experts including Dr. Larry Kotlow, Dr. Bobby Ghaheri, Dr. Soroush Zaghi, and Dr. Richard Baxter.

Dr. Berning is a member of theAmerican Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, theAmerican Dental Association,theAcademy of General Dentistry, and the American Laser Study Club. Dr. Berning has attended the prestigious Las Vegas Dental Institute of Advanced Dental Studies (LVI), following closely in the footsteps of Dr. Ted Murray's esteemed training. She earned a Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) in 2011. In 2015, Dr. Berning earnedthe prestigious Mastership award from the AGD for completing 1000+ hours of continuing education in all aspects of general dentistry,making her one of a small number of female dentists in the state of Iowa to achieve the status.

Dr. Berning completed a rigorous 510 hour PostgraduateProgram in Contemporary &Esthetic Dentistry at the University of Minnesota and earned a Certificate in Esthetic Dentistry. She is committed to staying current in dental knowledge, and enjoys the continual learning available in her profession.

Dr. Kristen Berning has beeninvolved with the local dental groups including the Dubuque County and Dubuque District Dental Societies. She is a pastpresident of the Dubuque County Dental Society.She served on the Healthy Mouths/Healthy Children Board for several years. She volunteers at the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) dental assisting program helping dental assistants to learn various dental procedures. Dr. Berning also participates in the annual Give Kids a Smile Day by providing free dental work to children in need. She was a volunteer dentist at the 2016 Iowa Mission of Mercy in Dubuque. This event provided free dental care to hundreds of people in need.

Dr. Berning resides in Dubuque with her husband Tim, and their four children. In the community, Dr. Berning wasa Girl Scouts assistant leader and has been a volunteer youth soccer coach. She wasa certified swimming official with USA Swimming.She also has been involved withThe Rotary Club of Dubuque. She has volunteered her photography skills for parish and school events.

When she is not helping patients achieve better dental health and a more brilliant smile, she enjoys keeping up with her active children and photographing their activities, as well asbiking, reading, traveling, skiing, practicing yoga, and boating on the Mississippi River.