Meet Dr. Urbanek

Richard A. Urbanek, JR., DDS, MS, PA

Dr. Urbanek was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio where he obtained his undergraduate degree-BS, dental school training-DDS, and four year residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery-MS.  He received the freshman scholar award as an undergraduate and the award for outstanding achievement in anesthesiology in dental school. Dr. Urbanek had the good fortune of training under one of the great leaders in this specialty, Dr. Larry Peterson; where he was awarded the position of chief resident in his final year.

Dr. Urbanek is a diplomate of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.  He is also a member of the Texas Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and American Dental Association.  He is two time past-president of the local 13th District Dental Society .  Dr. Urbanek is on staff at the local hospital, United Regional.

He is board certified in oral and maxillofacial surgery.  Dr. Urbanek has completed certification for the 2025 cycle.  Board certification is the standard for any specialty that should be met by any practitioner.  Recertification requires much time and effort, but maintains currency in ever-changing technology.

In 2023, the office required anesthesia evaluation was completed successfully.  Every five years, specialty requirements dictate an in house inspection of anesthetic equipment, emergency preparedness, and techniques.  Recently, on of my assistants passed the DAANCE certification.  This stands for Dental Anesthesia Assistant National Certification Exam.  Along with my RN sedation nurse, we have one more level of safety for our patients.

Dr. Urbanek has been repeatedly selected by his peers as an outstanding practicing dentist in Texas in oral and maxillofacial surgery. After an extensive nomination and research process conducted by MSP Communications, the results are published in Texas Super Dentists®, a special advertising section of TEXAS MONTHLY.

A career in the United States Air Force led Dr. Urbanek to Wichita Falls.  Along the way, he was Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at The United States Air Force Academy and Sheppard Air Force Base.  He brought dental implant technology to the Air Force Academy and was the first to place a titanium dental implant there in 1994.

He began “moonlighting” in Wichita Falls in 1999 while still in the Air Force.  His techniques and services with dental implants grew massively.  Dr. Urbanek opened his own private practice in 2005 with special emphasis on dental implants.
Dr. Urbanek has placed over 8,000 titanium dental implants over the last 30 years.  The technology for this today is light years ahead of the first dental implant he placed in 1990; one of the original Branemark’s.  In 2024, dental implants can be placed more predictably, with fewer and less traumatic surgeries.

“As an oral surgeon, no one is ever happy with having something removed from their body.  They may be relieved, but never happy.  Dental implants replace a missing part of the body.  The patient is happy, and I am happy when we can return something that was lost.”

Dr. Urbanek is married to his college sweetheart, Terri of Columbus, Ohio.  They met at Ohio State.  Dr. and Mrs. Urbanek have one son, Russ and his wife, Chevon.  They also live in Wichita Falls.  They have grandchildren Savannah and Skylar.

The Urbaneks enjoy outdoor activities and travel.  They split their time now between here and weekends in Southlake, TX.  Gateway Church in Southlake is their new home.  They still have their German Shepherd, Kodi.  He is nine now, doing great.  Coco, a female Schipperke born in 2018, is still his little buddy, she thinks.  They get along great; most of the time.