Jay Lala is an Iowa native originally from Cedar Rapids. Jay attended Mount Mercy College and the University of Iowa Dental school where he graduated in 1988. Jay completed his residency in Advanced Education in General Dentistry in 1989 in Iowa City. In 1993 Jay opened Central Park Dentistry here in Mason City and quickly became recognized as o­ne of the top dentists in Northern Iowa.

When Jay isn’t seeing his dental patients he enjoys snow skiing, water skiing, sporting clays, golf, ATVs, and hunting with his Golden Retriever. If Tommy Bahama ever holds an amateur golf tournament we’re pretty certain Jay will be there sporting his best Magnum P.I. inspired outfit by Tommy B. Go Jay! If you are a current patient or plan o­n becoming o­ne you’ll know (or quickly learn) what we mean by that comment! Jay is not your typical strait laced dentist. Be prepared to smile or even laugh during your dental visit. Jay’s carefully selected staff and partners are all receptive to patient’s fears and concerns.

Going to the dentist should be enjoyable and no more stressful than getting a hair cut. Jay learned early o­n how to treat fearful patients and this is just o­ne of many attributes that make Central Park Dentistry such a successful practice today. Dr. Lala will be working in Sheffield on Thursdays.

Hello,  I’m Dr. Matthew Hansen and I am proud of the opportunity to work at Central Park Dentistry since 2004! I am blessed to work with a caring, professional  team with a positive attitude. From the time you walk in the door you can feel the energy  difference in our office. So whether you come for a routine check up or the advanced dental work that we can provide — you will be well cared for by our team! We want to be your dental home for life.  We will work with you to create your individualized plan for better oral health.

I am a Provider of Invisalign Orthodontics,  of which I have over 18 years experience. I work with dental implants that we’ve been placing in the office for ten years. I also provide extractions, dentures , gum disease treatment , sleep apnea treatment and esthetic crowns or veneers.

In today’s world we know that dental health and whole body health are so tightly linked. We welcome the opportunity to put our experience to work for your health. We look forward to meeting you ! We invite you to come see the difference.

Thank you for choosing Central Park Dentistry!

During dental school, Matt accepted a full-ride scholarship for Dental School from the Air Force in 1997, and entered active duty Air Force service in June of 2000. He was assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. During his time at Wright-Patterson, he was a resident in the Advanced Education in General Dentistry program. Dr. Hansen graduated as “Top Grad” in July, 2001 when he also accepted his assignment to Rhein-Main Air Base, near Frankfurt, Germany. Matt and his family enjoyed his 3-year tour in Germany immensely, taking full advantage of living overseas in a small, German village and sight-seeing all over Europe. From there, they landed in Mason City after getting connected with Dr Lala. Mason City has been the perfect place for Matt to raise his five children. Outside of the dental clinic, Dr. Hansen is an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, along with other collegiate sports. He likes to try his hand at any sport including golf, basketball and running. He is an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church.

After growing up on an acreage near Albert City in northwest Iowa, Dr. Hansen enjoys the Iowa pace of life, friendliness, and community feel.

Professionally, Dr. Hansen is a member of the Iowa State Dental Association, the American Dental Association, and the Seattle Study Club.

Dr. Hansen will be working in Sheffield on Thursdays.

Jennifer Thackery (Nelson) D.D.S. is so happy to be a part of the Central Park Dentistry family! Jennifer was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She attended The University of Iowa for her undergraduate education, graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Integrative Physiology and a minor in Spanish. Dr. Thackery graduated from The University of Iowa College of Dentistry in June of 2015. While attending school, she stayed active playing in many softball and volleyball leagues. She was also selected to participate in an international exchange program where she spent three months studying at the dental school in Aarhus, Denmark.

Her husband, Seth, is a Clear Lake native. She is happy to be living near so many of her relatives in Mason City and having her in-laws and extended family in the Clear Lake area. She and her husband enjoy traveling, trying new breweries, and pheasant hunting with their black lab, Macallan Scotch Whisky- Mac for short. Dr. Thackery has also been known to do a little deer hunting- bow and shotgun- and even got her first deer with a bow on her first day out!

Being a mama is Dr. Thackery’s true joy (right next to dentistry, of course)! She and Seth have two boys, Gabriel and Asher. The boys are 19 months apart, so they keep their parents BUSY BUSY and always on their toes! Gabriel especially loves pouring and being outside, and Asher loves trying to keep up with his brother in whatever Gabriel is getting into! Both boys are incredibly talkative, a trait we’re sure they get from their mother.

Dr. Thackery loves taking care of patients of all ages. She is especially conscientious of kids and people who may be fearful of having dental treatment. Her compassion will put you at ease, and her sociable nature will keep you calm and comfortable throughout your visit.

Dr. Thackery is very excited to be a part of the outstanding staff at Central Park Dentistry. Dr. Thackery works in Mason City on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, in Sheffield on Wednesdays, and happily works in Osage when she is needed!

Dr. Briana (Lage) Brayton was born and raised in north central Iowa. She grew up on an acreage between Meservey and Thornton where her parents, Bret and Sue Lage, still farm. She graduated from West Fork High School in Sheffield in 2009. She then attended Wartburg College in 2013 with a B.A. in Biology. Briana was drawn to dentistry because of the lasting relationships that can be formed with patients and the ability to make a difference in people’s lives. After college, Briana completed her professional studies at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry and graduated with her D.D.S. in 2017. Immediately following graduation, Dr. Brayton joined the team at Central Park Dentistry.

Briana was initially drawn to Central Park Dentistry because of its outstanding reputation. The dentists at CPD exhibit great character and have proven to be committed to lifelong learning. She loves being a part of a team who provides exceptional dental care for patients in Mason City, Sheffield, Osage, and surrounding communities. Dr. Brayton is a dedicated dentist offering comprehensive dental services including crowns, bridges, veneers, dentures, Invisalign, Botox, and dermal fillers. She loves transforming smiles and using facial esthetics to boost confidence and create stunning, yet natural-looking results. Her favorite part of her job is making people fall in love with their smile!

Briana and her husband, Alex, couldn’t be happier to be living in north Iowa. They enjoy living close to family and being a part of the community that helped raise them. They have two kids, Gloria and Archer, who keep them on their toes! In her free time, Briana enjoys spending time with her family, spoiling her dog George, skiing, golfing, baking, and going to Iowa Hawkeye sporting events.

Dr. Rick Young is originally from Garner Iowa, where he graduated from high school in 2012. Following, Rick attended Waldorf University, graduating Magna Cum Laude, and also competing as a collegiate golfer. He went on to earn his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Iowa in 2021, where he was honored with the Brasseler USA Award for being the ‘Top Restorative Dentist’ in his graduating class.

Dr. Young is committed to staying at the forefront of dental advancements. He is a member of the Iowa Dental Association, American Dental Association, and the Seattle Study Club. He offers a full range of services, including Invisalign, full-arch and single tooth implant restorations, and comprehensive family dentistry. Restoring a patient's smile and giving them confidence through their oral health drives Rick to provide the best dental care possible to his patients.

Outside of the dental office, Rick enjoys spending time with his wife, Vanessa, and their four kids. Whether golfing, biking, enjoying the outdoors with his family, or cheering on the Vikings or Hawkeyes, he values strong community ties and a balanced lifestyle. Rick is also an active member of Grace Church in Mason City. A fun fact about Dr. Rick is that he is a self-taught juggler – it’s his hidden talent!

Dr. Rick loves being a part of Central Park Dentistry and providing great patient care while forming lasting relationships to his patients in Mason City, Osage, and all of the north Iowa area.