Cosmetic Dentist,
Dr. Richard D. Ragnell, D.D.S.
In Addison, Frisco, Dallas, McKinney and Plano, Texas
Dear Friends,
In June of 2008, I, Dr. Avant, will have completed my 43rd year in the practice of dentistry and as you might expect, I have been thinking of slowing down a bit. As I approach retirement, I have decided to reduce the days that I practice the profession that I so dearly love. To offset the reduced time and to continue the standard of dental excellence to which you are accustomed, I have decided to merge my practice with that of another Dallas cosmetic dentist with over thirty years of clinical experience. Accordingly, I am extremely excited about and very pleased to be able to announce several wonderful additions to our dental practice.
I would like to introduce to you Dr. Richard D. Ragnell and his staff consisting of Mari Baird, the hygienist, and Adelaida Guiterrez, the appointment coordinator and insurance specialist. Dr. Ragnell’s assistant is presently attending Baylor Dental Hygiene and will join us when she concludes her studies in 2009. Of the many colleagues I considered as a partner/associate, Dr. Ragnell is the best qualified to provide the quality of care, the attentive ear and the friendly nature you have come to expect. Dr. Ragnell is a native Dallasite, attended Highland Park High school, Texas A&M University in College Station, and graduated in 1976 from Baylor College of Dentistry here in Dallas. He has practiced in the North Dallas area since that time and he and his staff are joining us on May 19, 2008.
Dr. Ragnell has over 2000 hours of post graduate continuing education, having trained under instructors from the renowned Panky Institute, Las Vegas Institute, and received his Certificates of Advanced Implant Surgical and Prosthetics training from the Misch Implant Institute in 1993. He is an Associate Fellow in both the American Society of Osseointegration and the American College of Oral Implantology and holds Diplomat status in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. Between 1995 and 2001, Dr. Ragnell taught Surgical and Prosthetic Implant procedures for Lifecore Biomedical, one of the largest dental implant manufacturers in the U.S. Additionally, Dr. Ragnell received his Dental Anesthesiology Certificate from USC School of Dental Medicine in 1988. His strong background in Implant Surgery and Prosthetics as well as Cosmetic and Reconstructive Dentistry will be a welcome addition to our practice.
Dr. Ragnell and his wife have two sons. Jordan, age 18, graduated from Greenhill School Class of 2008 and is attending Southern Methodist University School of Dentistry. Ryan, age 13, is in the eighth grade at Parish Episcopal School and enjoys playing basketball and baseball for several youth teams, both in and outside of school.
Dr. Ragnell has always had a “love of learning” and this is apparent in the amount of advanced training he has in Dentistry. As a child he assembled his own ham radio at age 12 because he has always had to know how things work. His love of flying at an early age motivated him to earn his private pilot’s license in 1981. He now holds both multi-engine and instrument flying ratings as well as an Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics License earned in 1994.
It is apparent to me that challenges inspire Dr. Ragnell. It is also apparent that he enjoys working with his hands. Not surprisingly, in 1987 he finished building his own experimental aircraft having required more than 4000 man hours of personal labor. It flies at more than 230 MPH, has retractable gear, is instrument equipped for all-weather flying. Since that time he has flown it all over North America and logged over 1.2 million miles. He has over 2500 hours in complex, multi-engine and instrument flying and in 1987 won a national award for outstanding craftsmanship with his aircraft. He is the consummate do-it-yourself-er. In 1990 he remodeled his own home by adding a room, remodeling his kitchen (gourmet style), laying marble flooring, installing a sprinkler system, pouring a patio, adding French doors in exterior walls as well as completely updating the HVAC systems. He also enjoys racquetball, gourmet cooking (his wife is the sous chef) and makes fine furniture in his spare time.
Dr. Ragnell has my highest recommendation and complete confidence in his ability and desire to care for you, your family, friends and co-workers. Please join me and my staff in welcoming Dr. Ragnell and his staff into our dental practice.
Click here to view Dr. Richard D. Ragnell's Curriculum Vitae
