Our Surgeons
Hello, I’m Dr. Richards
My personal mission is to use the experience I’ve gained over 30 years of residency and private practice to provide the highest quality care that is available in modern dental science.
Oral Surgeon Dr. Richards grew up in Lakeland Florida. His father was a general dentist and his grandfather was a general surgeon. As such he was exposed to medicine and dentistry at an early age. His father could fix anything and enjoyed flying, motorcycling and boating so Dr. Richards was exposed to all of these things in his youth.
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After high school Dr. Richards attended Emory University in Atlanta Georgia where he received a Bachelors degree in chemistry. He was accepted to Emory University School of Dentistry where he received his dental degree in 1976. While in dental school he developed a love of surgery so he pursued a residency in Oral and Maxillofacial surgery in Jacksonville Florida. He served one year as a fellow in the Department of Anesthesia at Jacksonville Health Education Programs and completed a three-year residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the same hospital in 1980. He moved to Lakeland in 1980 and joined Dr. Lawrence Musser, they have practiced together for over 30 years. He has practiced oral and maxillofacial surgery in Lakeland since 1980. He is board certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and is a fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Richards is also a Diplomate of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He is a member of the Florida Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association, West Coast Dental Association, American Dental Society of Anesthesiology and Polk County Dental Association where he served as President. He has served at Lakeland Regional Medical Center as Chief of the Division of Oral Surgery and Dentistry many times.
Dr. Richards has been an innovator in implant dentistry. He recognized that a business model providing both the surgery and restorative work under one roof would provide a valuable service to his patients. Over the years he and Dr. Musser’s practice has evolved in this direction providing teeth the same day for thousands of patients. In June of 2007, Dr. David Kirkpatrick joined Dr. Richards and Dr. Musser. In October 2007 Dr. Richards traveled to Toronto Canada to operate with Dr. Lesley David. There he learned the technique for placement of zygoma implants. He then brought this to his practice and taught his partners this valuable technique. Florida Dental Implants and Oral Surgery is one of the few practices that places the zygoma implant. FDIOS operates from a 10,000 sq. ft. (soon to be 15,000sq.ft.) facility that is state of the art. In addition to providing a relaxing atmosphere for their patients the facility provides a venue for education seminars given by Dr. Richards and his partners.
Dr. Richards has provided many hours of volunteer work to the community. He currently works Pro Bono at Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine on a routine basis. He has served on the Lakeland chapter of the American Cancer Society where he also served as president. He currently serves as a board member for the Sun ‘n Fun International Fly-In and Expo. Sun ‘n Fun is the second largest civilian fly-in in the country. Dr. Richards has a love for aviation and is an accomplished pilot. He has a commercial pilot rating, single engine land and sea rating, multiengine land and sea rating as well as instrument and rotorcraft ratings. He currently owns and operates a Robinson R 44 helicopter. He has never lost his love for motorcycles and in addition to his Harley Davidson Road King he owns six vintage Honda motorcycles.
Dr. Richards is married to Martha and has three children. They reside in Lakeland, Florida.
Hello, I’m Dr. Musser
Pleasing my patients with my technical skills has been my greatest professional reward.
I’ve been an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon practicing in Lakeland, Florida, since 1976 (FL License #006930).
Dental implants have always been my special interest. I actually placed my first dental implant in 1973 while a senior in dental school at the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Dentistry.
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My residency was completed at Kansas City General Hospital and Medical Center, now called The Truman Medical Center.
Prior to dental school, I attended the University of Nebraska for one year and the University of Kansas for two years. I was selected for early admission at UMKC School of Dentistry.
I was certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in 1978 and was the first surgeon at Lakeland Regional Medical Center to perform complex facial bone repositioning surgery (orthognathic surgery) for cosmetic and functional corrections of the facial skeleton.
I look forward to giving you the best teeth you can possibly have. Come to one of the free seminars provided by Florida Dental Implants or schedule a consultation to talk to me about the possibilities.
Hello, I’m Dr. Kirkpatrick
Dr. Kirkpatrick began his post-graduate education with a dental degree from the University of Kentucky. Then he completed a surgical residency in Maxillofacial Surgery from the University of Florida in Jacksonville. Maxillofacial surgery requires 4-7 additional years of hospital-based formal post-graduate training in general surgery, anesthesia, emergency medicine, ENT, pediatrics, and plastic surgery. Dr. Kirkpatrick practices a full scope of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery with an emphasis on cosmetic facial surgery.
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Dr. Kirkpatrick has received numerous educational awards and has published multiple articles in peer-reviewed medical journals. He has also done presentations on a variety of surgical topics at national meetings throughout the United States and Europe. He remains an active student himself, frequently attending continuing medical education courses in the latest techniques in cosmetic surgery.
Dr. Kirkpatrick is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Florida and is certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, Florida Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Florida Dental Association, American Dental Association, West Coast District Dental Association and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Kirkpatrick manages a wide variety of deformities and defects relating to the head and neck. He also specializes in a variety of facial cosmetic surgical procedures at Lakeland’s only full-scope facial cosmetic surgery center. Dr. Kirkpatrick has expertise ranging from cosmetic facial surgery to corrective jaw surgery to pathology. He can also diagnose and treat craniofacial disorders, cleft lip and palate, traumatic facial injuries, and skin conditions that respond to full laser treatment.
Dr. Kirkpatrick serves as the facial trauma surgeon for the Athletic Department of Florida Southern College.
Regardless of the type of surgery you are contemplating, Dr. Kirkpatrick is committed to getting you the results you want.
