David Clay was born and raised in southeast Minnesota graduating from Lanesboro High School in 1966. He attended Winona State College graduating with a B.S. degree in 1970. David went on to the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry graduating with a D.D.S. degree in 1974. Following dental school, he spent two years in the U. S. Navy as a dentist where he was stationed with the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa Japan for one year followed by a second year in San Diego.
Dr. Clay returned to the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1976 for two years of specialty training in Prosthodontics, obtaining an M. S. degree in 1978. He continued as a full-time faculty member at the School of Dentistry in the Department of Prosthodontics and also established a part time private practice at Southdale Medical Building in Edina limited to the specialty of Prosthodontics. After twenty years at the University of Minnesota he gave up his appointment at the School of Dentistry in 2000 and joined with Dr. Joy Lua to establish a full-time private practice limited to Prosthodontics in Edina.
In 2015 he sold his practice to Dr. Delima, however, continues to practice as an associate a limited amount of time. In addition, he has returned to the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry as an Adjunct Assistant Professor two days a week in the Division of Prosthodontics.
He lives in Eden Prairie with his wife Mary. They enjoy traveling and spending time throughout Minnesota. David tries to spend as much time as possible on the biking and hiking trails of Minnesota or in the boundary waters and fly fishing on the many trout streams throughout the area.