Smile Science Dental Spa · Glendale, AZ
Dr. Richard Dawson, DMD
Co-Founder of Smile Science Dental Spa. Full-Arch Implant Dentist with ICOI Fellowship and OCS certification. Clinical focus on dental implants, bone grafting, full-arch rehabilitation, complex extractions, and sedation dentistry.
Dr. Richard Dawson
Full-Arch Implant Dentist
Credentials
- Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
- ICOI Fellow, Oral Implantology
- OCS, Permit 1303, Arizona
- Invisalign Certified Provider
- Academy of Laser Dentistry Certified
- NPI: 1427672690
Education
- DMD, Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine
- BS Music (Cello Performance), University of Utah
About Dr. Dawson
Patient-Centered Care, Surgical Depth
Dr. Richard Dawson grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, studied cello performance at the University of Utah, and earned his DMD from Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine in Glendale, Arizona. He co-founded Smile Science Dental Spa with Dr. Turke in 2023. He is a general dentist, not an oral surgeon, who has built surgical depth through post-graduate fellowship training, earning ICOI Fellowship and OCS certification in Arizona.
With ICOI fellowship training, Dr. Dawson performs many implant and surgical procedures in our office.
Patients often note that Dr. Dawson tells them what they do not need as readily as what they do. He does not inflate treatment plans to fill a schedule. Appointments run long enough to do the work right and answer questions fully. That is not a marketing claim, it is the practice model he built from the ground up.
Schedule a ConsultationClinical Focus
What Dr. Dawson Treats
Every procedure Dr. Dawson performs draws on the same foundation: surgical training, restorative planning, and an in-house team that handles everything from imaging to final restoration.
Patient Perspective
Why Patients Choose Dr. Dawson
No Unnecessary Treatment
Patients who have seen multiple dentists often remark that Dr. Dawson is the first one who told them what they did not need. He presents findings honestly, without inflating treatment plans to fill a schedule.
Unhurried Appointments
Every appointment is scheduled with enough time to do the work right and answer questions fully. There is no sense of being moved through like a production line. Patients notice, and come back.
Everything In-House
From CBCT imaging and bone grafting to sedation and implant placement, most of what patients need is handled here. Fewer referrals. Less travel. A single team that knows your full history.
Surgical Depth, Not Just Experience
His ICOI Fellowship and collaboration with Dr. Barrett, a visiting provider for complex zygomatic/pterygoid implant cases, give patients access to mentorship and co-surgical support. Complex implant care, IV sedation by a dentist anesthesiologist, and 3D CBCT planning are all available in our Glendale office.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. Dawson
No. Dr. Dawson is a general dentist. He completed his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree at Midwestern University and pursued advanced post-graduate training in implant surgery and sedation, earning ICOI Fellowship and OCS certification in Arizona. General dentists with fellowship-level implant training routinely perform implant surgery, the distinction from oral surgery is academic licensing, not clinical scope. Dr. Dawson handles the full cycle of implant care: imaging, planning, placement, and restoration, entirely in-house.
Dr. Dawson's primary clinical focus is dental implants, bone grafting, complex extractions, full-arch rehabilitation, and sedation dentistry. He also provides comprehensive general and preventive dentistry for all ages. For the most complex full-arch and revision implant cases, he works in collaboration with Dr. Christopher Barrett, a nationally active full-arch implant dentist and visiting provider for complex zygomatic/pterygoid implant cases who sees patients at Smile Science by appointment.
ICOI stands for the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Fellowship (FICOI) is a post-graduate credential awarded to dentists who complete an advanced curriculum in implant dentistry and pass a clinical examination. It indicates a structured commitment to implant education beyond dental school and is recognized internationally as a mark of advanced implant training.
Yes. Dr. Dawson holds OCS (Oral Conscious Sedation) certification in Arizona, which allows him to administer oral sedatives that reduce anxiety and discomfort during treatment. For patients requiring deeper sedation for complex or lengthy procedures, Smile Science works with a board-certified dentist anesthesiologist who administers IV sedation on-site. This allows patients with significant dental anxiety or complex treatment needs to be treated comfortably in the dental chair.
Yes, Smile Science Dental Spa accepts new patients. You can schedule online at any time through our booking system, or call (480) 530-3663. For emergencies requiring same-day care, call the office directly and we will do our best to accommodate you the same day.
Yes, Smile Science was designed specifically with anxious patients in mind. The practice is structured to avoid the assembly-line feel of high-volume dental offices. Appointments are not over-scheduled. Dr. Dawson takes time to explain every step before it happens. For patients who need pharmacological support, oral conscious sedation and IV sedation options are available.
Smile Science is in-network with many major dental insurance plans. For a current list of accepted plans, please contact the office at (480) 530-3663. Essential Care: $199 per year. 20% off other treatment. Gum Care: $399 per year. 20% off other treatment, including the deep cleaning. Essential Care: Add an Adult: $149 per year. 20% off other treatment. Add a Child: $99 per year. 20% off other treatment. With a parent on Essential Care or Gum Care. Gum Care: Second Member: $349 per year. 20% off other treatment. A second Gum Care member in the household. The 20% member discount doesn't apply to orthodontics, Invisalign, sedation, our packaged fees (implant, root canal, All-on-X and denture packages) or the $99 new-patient special, and doesn't combine with other offers. Membership is not insurance. After your exam we'll recommend Essential if your gums are healthy, or Gum Care if you need treatment for gum disease.
Ready to Schedule with Dr. Dawson?
New and existing patients welcome. Same-day emergency appointments available. Call or book online.
The Whole Team
Meet the Full Team
Dr. Dawson works alongside Dr. Turke to deliver a full spectrum of care under one roof.
Dr. John Turke, DMD
Emergency and Restorative Dentist. CAD/CAM crowns, Digital Smile Design, Invisalign, cosmetic makeovers.
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