Meet Dr. Stevenson

A dentist’s dentist, trusted for precision, judgment, and consistency

CLINICIAN – ARTIST
SCIENTIST – MENTOR

Richard G. Stevenson III, DDS, FAGD, FACD, is a board-certified operative dentist, one of roughly 80 in the country certified by the American Board of Operative Dentistry. He has taught since 1992, including 26 years on the faculty of the UCLA School of Dentistry, where he chaired the Division of Restorative Dentistry for 17 years and holds the title of Professor Emeritus of Clinical Dentistry. His clinical work centers on occlusion, esthetics, and gold restorations, and he is widely regarded as a “dentist’s dentist,” trusted by patients and peers alike for his precision, judgment, and consistency.

Beyond private practice, Dr. Stevenson is the inventor of several dental instruments used by students and practitioners worldwide. His commitment to advancing the profession extends into education, where he mentors dentists through lectures, publications, study clubs, online education, bench courses, ADEX preparation, and continuing education programs.

He is the author of The Stevenson Restorative Reader: A Compendium of Materials, Adhesion, & Technique, published in 2026, along with book chapters on cast gold restorations and implant occlusion. He has published 29 peer-reviewed articles and 11 research abstracts on dental materials and restorative technique, in journals including Operative Dentistry, Dental Materials, and the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, and he serves on the editorial board of Operative Dentistry.

He has treated orthodontic cases for nearly 40 years, and that work, together with early research on craniofacial growth, led him to airway-focused dentistry. With Dr. Mark A. Cruz he co-created Airway Nexus, a 32-day, 256-hour clinical program hosted at Stevenson Dental Solutions, where he serves as Co-Director and Clinical Liaison. He has written six airway syllabi covering airway-focused diagnosis, pediatric growth guidance, high-resolution pulse oximetry, and the treatment of upper airway resistance syndrome, and is a member of the Airway Collaborative and the American Academy of Physiological Medicine & Dentistry.

Driven by a belief that quality oral healthcare should be accessible to all, Dr. Stevenson founded the Stevenson Dental Research Institute in 2022 and the Stevenson Dental Foundation (SDF) in 2023. Through community outreach, dental career education, and research initiatives, the foundation addresses oral health disparities and improves care delivery.

At every level—clinical, educational, and philanthropic—Dr. Stevenson’s mission is the same: elevate standards, mentor with intention, and deliver outcomes that stand up to the highest scrutiny.

Portrait of Richard G. Stevenson III, DDS, board-certified operative dentist and Director of Education at Stevenson Dental Solutions
Dr. Richard Stevenson evaluating a typodont during a bench exam mock assessment

Teaching to the Standard of Evaluation

Bench exams—and U.S. dental school practicals—reward consistency more than isolated results. Dr. Stevenson trains candidates to understand the “why” behind each requirement and to build a method that holds up under time pressure and objective grading criteria.

Consistency is not talent—it’s a system.

Rather than practicing in isolation, students learn how evaluators assess reduction, clearance, finish lines, anatomy, and overall form. The goal is to reduce guesswork, eliminate common point-loss patterns, and make performance repeatable across multiple attempts.

Don’t just prepare the tooth. Prepare for the evaluation.

This approach sharpens technique and clinical judgment at the same time—so dentists leave with a clearer framework for self-assessment, shorter correction cycles, and results that translate to both exam settings and real patient care.

Educator to Dentists Worldwide

Dr. Stevenson is known not only for his depth of knowledge but for the way he teaches it. His instruction is clear, structured, and often infused with humor and wit—tools he uses intentionally to make complex concepts intuitive and memorable. By relating technical principles to everyday experiences, he helps students grasp ideas quickly and retain them long after the course ends.

He makes complex concepts simple—and unforgettable.

Students often remark that a single hour of instruction with Dr. Stevenson delivers more clarity than years of formal training. His ability to distill evaluation criteria, technique, and judgment into simple, repeatable concepts leaves a lasting impression—one that continues to guide decision-making throughout a dentist’s career.

One hour of instruction that stays with you for a career.

By creating an engaging, supportive learning environment, Dr. Stevenson makes high standards approachable. His teaching balances rigor with relatability, ensuring that students not only understand what is expected but also feel confident applying those lessons under real-world and exam conditions.

Dr. Richard Stevenson engaging with dental students during hands-on instruction
Dr. Richard Stevenson guiding students at the bench during hands-on mentorship

Mentorship That Sharpens Clinical Judgment

Some of the most meaningful learning happens in moments of close observation and guided correction. Dr. Stevenson works side by side with students at the bench, helping them recognize the subtle details that separate acceptable work from excellent outcomes.

Confidence comes from knowing what matters—and why.

Through direct, hands-on mentorship, students learn how to evaluate their own preparations with greater clarity. Rather than relying on trial and error, they are guided to view their work through an examiner’s lens—understanding what matters, where points are commonly missed, and how small adjustments can significantly improve results.

This approach builds confidence and clinical judgment simultaneously. By learning how to assess work objectively and make corrections in real time, dentists develop skills that extend beyond exams and into long-term, thoughtful practice.

Credentials

Education

  • BS, Chemistry, UCLA, 1982
  • DDS, UCLA School of Dentistry, 1986
  • Certificate, Advanced Education in General Dentistry, UCLA, 2001
  • Fellowship in Medical Education, UCLA School of Medicine, 1999
  • Graduate, Kois Center

Academic appointments

  • Teaching since 1992
  • Professor Emeritus of Clinical Dentistry, UCLA School of Dentistry, 2018
  • Chair, Division of Restorative Dentistry, UCLA, 1999 to 2014
  • Director, pre-clinical operative dentistry course, UCLA
  • Director of Education, Stevenson Dental Solutions, 2017 to present
  • Co-Director, Co-Creator, and Clinical Liaison, Airway Nexus, with Dr. Mark A. Cruz

Board certification and fellowships

  • Diplomate, American Board of Operative Dentistry, 2007. One of roughly 80 nationally
  • Fellow, Academy of General Dentistry, 1993
  • Fellow, Academy of Dentistry International, 1998
  • Fellow, American College of Dentists, 2002
  • Fellow, Pierre Fauchard Academy, 2003
  • Member, American Academy of Restorative Dentistry, inducted 2006
  • Member, Academy of Osseointegration
  • Member, American Academy of Physiological Medicine & Dentistry
  • Member, the Airway Collaborative

Leadership and service

  • Past President, Academy of Operative Dentistry, 2003 to 2004
  • Past Secretary, Academy of Operative Dentistry
  • Editorial Board, Operative Dentistry
  • Founder, Stevenson Dental Research Institute, 2022
  • Founder, Stevenson Dental Foundation, 2023
  • Commander, Dental Corps, United States Navy Reserve, 1996 to 2005

Awards

  • Richard V. Tucker Lecture of Excellence, Academy of Operative Dentistry, 2025
  • Clinician of the Year, American Academy of Gold Foil Operators, 2011
  • UCLA School of Dentistry Alumnus of the Year, 2011
  • Award of Excellence, Academy of Operative Dentistry, 2010
  • Golden Apple Teaching Award, American Dental Association, 2009
  • Richard V. Tucker Award, 2008
  • UCLA Academic Senate Distinguished Lecturer Award, 2003
  • Teacher of the Year, UCLA School of Dentistry, six times

Publications

  • The Stevenson Restorative Reader: A Compendium of Materials, Adhesion, & Technique, 2026. Library of Congress Control Number 2026918103
  • Chapter, Cast Gold Restorations, in Summitt’s Fundamentals of Operative Dentistry, 4th edition
  • Chapter, Restorative Dentistry, in Best Practices in Dentistry: Complications
  • Chapter, Implant Occlusion, in Implants in the Esthetic Zone
  • 29 peer-reviewed articles and 11 research abstracts, in Operative Dentistry, Dental Materials, the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry, the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry, and the Journal of Oral Implantology
  • 13 University of California course readers and syllabi
  • Six airway syllabi: Foundations: The Identifier; The Stabilizer; Treating the Airway-Compromised Child; The High-Resolution Pulse Oximetry Digest; Treating the Less-Than-Six-Year-Old Patient; Treating the UARS Patient

Learn From Dr. Stevenson

Dentists from around the world come to Stevenson Dental Solutions to refine technique, sharpen clinical judgment, and prepare for evaluation at the highest standard. Whether your goal is exam readiness or
long-term excellence, instruction is grounded in clarity, mentorship, and repeatable outcomes.

Explore Courses