Dr. Richard Downing, DDS

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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.

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