visits. The nurses there were so nice and helpful and, under the
supervision of the doctor, provided most of the treatment. This
was my first introduction to the healthcare field and I remember
wanting to be a part of this incredible profession.”
In 1995, Dr. Lopez was accepted to the world-renowned Mayo
Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to continue his oral surgical
training. He graduated from Mayo Medical School in 1999 and
finished his OMS residency in 2001. He returned to his home-
town of Houston and established a private practice in 2003 in
the Galleria area, where he continues his dedication to deliver-
ing compassionate patient care. “I knew from the earliest days
of my career that I wanted to make sure every patient was
treated with dignity and respect.”
“I actually love working with patients who are scared. From the
first contact, my staff helps put them at ease by walking them
through what to expect when they arrive for their appointment.
We make certain that patients know from the very first phone
conversation that we respect them and care about their comfort.”
As a young dental student, Dr. Lopez traveled to Guatemala on a human-
itarian mission to help provide dental care. Recently, he participated in a
humanitarian mission to San Juan Puerto Rico with the Houston
Hispanic Dental Association.
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Access and affordability are still barriers for many, but other
things can stand in the way of getting needed treatment. For
some patients, fear of dental surgery is a real and present con-
cern. Sometimes, the reason for their fear is hard to articulate.
Maybe they had a frightening dental experience as a child or
heard about an unpleasant dental experience from a friend. In
other cases, patients report that they are afraid of being in pain
or that they are afraid to be sedated. Dr. Lopez and his team are
prepared to address each patient’s concerns individually and
answer any questions they may have.
Surgeons don’t always gravitate to the profession out of a love
for interpersonal relationships, but Dr. Lopez is a natural people
person and he genuinely enjoys talking to patients. He has an
ability to instantly create a warm rapport and patiently earns
their trust.
When patients need oral surgery, anesthesia is sometimes an
obstacle to getting care. They may want to avoid missing work
or school, or may just be nervous about being sedated. Fortu-
nately, Dr. Lopez is well-versed in oral anatomy and is adept at
numbing techniques that allow him to do many procedures with
little or no sedation.
Patients are often surprised to find that they can have their sur-
gical treatment without ‘going to sleep’. Even fractures, wisdom
teeth extractions, and implant procedures can often be com-
pleted comfortably without sedation, thanks to Dr. Lopez’
extensive training and experience. If sedation is required,
Dr. Lopez and his team are certified and equipped to provide
safe sedation in a comfortable environment. Dr. Lopez has even
offered anesthesia training and simulations to his senior assis-
tants so they understand the procedure and what is involved in
providing the safest possible surgical care. Each team member
providing patient care is trained in aseptic technique and fol-
From the first phone conversation and office visit, patients are treated
with dignity and respect to ensure a positive experience.
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