Meet Our Founder

Richard Downs, DDS, FAGD, FICOI, D-GMDIA, D-ASBA

Dr. Downs is retired from the private practice of general dentistry, with special interests in implantology, dental sleep medicine, cosmetic dentistry, neuromuscular dentistry, periodontology, orthodontics, and endodontics. He is also studying the link between volatile organic compounds and viral contributions to periodontitis with a particular focus on cytokine immune response and its suppression by ozone, hypochlorous acid, and chlorine dioxide for his oral care products company at www.oracareproducts.com and his nasal rinse products company at www.USA-Guard.com.

He attended College from 1967 to 1969 on a scholarship in chemistry. He graduated from the University of Iowa, earning a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in 1971. Dr. Downs attended the University Of Iowa College Of Dentistry with an HR2 military scholarship and, in 1975, attained a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree.

Dr. Downs is a Diplomate of the American Sleep and Breathing Academy and is Certified in Nightlase Non-Surgical Gentle Laser Lift Airway Therapy.

He is also a member of the American Dental Association, the Iowa Dental Association, the Dubuque District Dental Society, the Dubuque County Dental Society, past member of the American Straight Wire Orthodontic Association, past member of the Misch Implant Institute, and American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, past member of the American Academy of Implantology, the American Society of Osseointegration, the International Association of Breath Odor Research, present member of the Academy of General Dentistry, present member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and the Fortune Practice Management - Platinum Circle division. Dr. Downs has been a consultant and coach for Fortune Practice Management and has taught seminars in practice management and marketing. He helped develop systems for organizing treatment plans and breakthrough technology in teams for Quest Seminars International which was later used by Fortune Practice Management. Dr. Downs was the editor of the Iowa Academy of General Dentistry newsletter for four years and is past President of the Iowa Academy of General Dentistry.

After graduating from dental school, Dr. Downs spent three years at the Great Lakes Naval Base as a Navy dental officer. He has attained a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry, a Fellowship in the Misch International Implant Institute, a Fellowship in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, a Diplomate in the Global Mini Dental Implant Association, and a Diplomate in the American Sleep and Breathing Academy. He has lectured on several topics, including cytokine immune response and wound healing, diagnosis and treatment of halitosis and periodontal diseases, nitric oxide and microbiome optimization in the oral cavity, and bacterial and viral cytokine inflammatory modulation pathways in periodontitis.

Dr. Downs started the American Breath Specialists website for those seeking help with that disorder and assisted in developing the ProBreath MD, LLC dental products company and website at www.oracareproducts.com. This most recent Oracare products website is a dental products company formed primarily around the technology of delivering optimal chlorine dioxide therapy in fresh unit doses since chlorine dioxide has a very short duration of action and must be produced fresh each time it is to be used. Its first product is the mouth rinse "Oracare" New products have been produced, including a post-op gel and special rinse for implant dentistry and a branch of ozone and hypochlorous acid products.

Dr. Downs has also formed a company for sleep dentistry social media marketing, www.sleepbalanceacademy.com, and other related sites, forming a new alliance of chiropractors, other allied healthcare professionals, and dentists for diagnosing and treating obstructive sleep apnea.

He is also the founder of USA-Guard nasal rinse products at ww.USA-Guard.com. His most recent projects include building a charitable teaching and treatment clinic called the Haiti International Dental Institute in Haiti. This project is associated with Hosean Ministries International at www.hosen.org.