Dr. Richard Downing, DDS

Media Releases

Get to know Exceptional Dentistry with Dr. Richard C. Downing.  Dr. Downing and his phenomenal team serve patients in Washington.

Dr. Downing is a general dentist with over 25 years of dental experience. His private practice, Hood Canal Family Dental graciously serves all of Mason County Washington. 

Striving to treat everyone with love, compassion, and care, his priority is to offer world-class service that is technologically advanced, comfortable, and value conscience.

Growing up in Walla Walla, Washington, Dr. Downing has worked as  a long-line fisherman in Alaska,  a roofer on the Kingdome project, and as a general construction laborer. He understands the value of a hard day’s work.

A 2001 graduate of the University of Washington School of Dentistry, he owned practices in Shelton, Tumwater, and Chehalis, Washington. During his time in Shelton/Chehalis, he played an instrumental role in establishing a clinic that provides free dental services to the residents of Mason County. For ten consecutive years, Dr. Downing also sponsored a free day of dentistry in his offices, seeing an average of over 100 patients and performing free dental services for the local community.

Working hard to maintain a diverse and broad-based background in his field, his experiences range from working as adjunct faculty in the Department of Oral Medicine at the University of Washington, to that of assuming the role of President of the Thurston Mason County Dental Society. 

During his 25 years as a general dentist, Dr. Downing has been fortunate enough to have worked as a volunteer in Honduras and Guatemala. He is also proud to be a Co-Founder of the Carr-Downing Smiling D.D.S Scholarship, an endowment scholarship that commits $1200 annually to worthy recipients studying at the University of Washington School of Dentistry.

Dentistry, also known as Dental and Oral Medicine, is a branch of medicine that consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the oral cavity. Dentists diagnose and treat dental issues and help patients develop better oral hygiene regimens. They clean teeth, correct bite issues, perform surgeries and extractions, and perform other duties to ensure that the teeth and mouth are healthy.  

Happily married, Dr. Downing cherishes spending time with his wife, Michelle, and their children - Archer, Forrest, and Hunter. They enjoy the Cub Scouts, camping, hiking, fishing, and traveling.

Recommended Articles

• Most Common Causes of Bad Breath

  Bad breath, medically known as halitosis, is an indicator of poor dental hygiene, but may also result from other health issues. The types of food you eat and your lifestyle habits strongly affect your breath. If you eat foods with strong odors, it is only normal that it changes the smell of your...

• What Are the Best Home Remedies for Dry Mouth?

  Ever felt your mouth suddenly going dry and the need to reach for some water to get rid of the dryness? This is a condition that may occur to you frequently. It is called, fittingly enough, dry mouth. Dry mouth is a condition that can occur due to reduced amounts of saliva in the mouth. Dry mouth is...

• Are Dental Crowns Useful?

  What is Dental Crowns?A dental crown, or a tooth crown, is a tooth-shaped sleeve, or cap, made of porcelain or metal, that is placed over the tooth. Crowns are utilized to restore the shape and size of a tooth. When implanted properly, the porcelain caps cover the crown of the tooth that is visible...

• Floss Your Teeth the Right Way

  Alla Wheeler, RDH, MPA, associate professor of the Dental Hygiene Program at the New York University School of Dentistry, says that since the results of flossing are not immediate, most people do not think that the technique actually works.In reality, this is the best technique, as it does...

• New Herbal Patch May Help to Heal Canker Sores Faster

  According to a new study presented at the 85th general session of the International Association for Dental Research, a novel over-the-counter patch containing licorice extract may help in the quick healing of canker sores. In this study 46 participants who had recurrent canker sores were recruited....

• Everything You Need to Know About Dental Bridges

  We often do not realize this, but our bodies are perfectly designed machines. Our jaws, for example, and the alignment of our teeth are designed perfectly for biting and chewing. Any change in the natural order could result in unfavorable consequences. Losing teeth is one such change that has less...