Meet Dr. Richard McDermott

I have always loved both art and science, so orthodontics is the perfect profession for me. I truly love what I do! I feel very blessed to be able to spend my day helping people improve their lives by giving them a healthy and beautiful smile.

It is an exciting day for the patients when their braces are put on, but it’s an even bigger day when they come off. The enormous sense of accomplishment that is felt by the patients and parents on that special day is shared by me and my entire staff!  

Dr. Richard McDermott is your experienced Arnold and Florissant, MO orthodontist. Call our office today to schedule your first appointment!

Education 

I completed my undergraduate studies at Brigham Young University between 1991 and 1996, and I met my future wife, Lisa, there. We were married four days before I started dental school at The University of Southern California (USC), where I received my Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) with honors in May 2001.  

I was accepted into the USC orthodontics residency program, where I spent the next three years learning the art of orthodontics with five other residents and some of the best orthodontists in the world. It was an amazing experience! I graduated in 2004 with a master’s degree and certificate in orthodontics, and have been perfecting the art every day since.

Outside the Office

My family and I settled in the St. Louis area in 2005 and have loved being part of the community. I’ve been married to Lisa since 1996 and we have three teenage boys — Parker, Scott, and Thomas — and a King Charles Cavalier named Padme. 

In the Office

I feel that it’s an exciting day for my patients when their braces are first put on. I try to make it an occasion to remember, because it is the beginning of the journey to the best smile of your life. To me, orthodontics is about taking something that has great potential and making it perfect. Thus, the biggest day of any treatment is when my patients’ braces come off. We all feel a sense of accomplishment.