The Ohio State University
Bachelor of Science, Zoology/Ethology, 1976
Doctor of Dental Surgery, 1979
After much consideration, Dr. Rick retired from dentistry in 2021. He maintains his licenses and continuing education in order to be available to provide holiday or vacation coverage for the office if necessary.
A native of Ohio, Dr. Richard Bankhead met Dr. Groipen in dental school and began a lifelong friendship. After graduation, they decided to become business partners. Dr. Rick is drawn to the intricate details of dentistry as it’s often the little things that make a person’s smile. His patients know him as a perfectionist; he never rushes, taking time to make sure the procedure and the aesthetics are superb.
It comes as no surprise that Dr. Rick loves the arts. He has taken classes at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and at Massachusetts College of Art. He paints with both oil and acrylic, although he prefers oil. Dr. Rick loves local theater and takes in a production whenever he has a chance. He also has a passion for helping people. He is currently volunteering at Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a shelter for homeless and at-risk children and adolescents.
Dr. Rick balances his love of the arts with his love of the outdoors. His undergraduate studies in zoology and ethology (animal behavior) caused him to be very environmentally conscious. Dr. Rick had a bike rack installed at our Belgrade Avenue location. That will certainly help with the gas prices rising! He tries to carve out time to enjoy cycling, running, and hiking, but he always feels he should be doing more!
Dr. Rick is a current member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Massachusetts Dental Society. He taught at the Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene for 7 years. Dr. Rick is a certified provider of Invisalign short-term orthodontic treatment, and also a certified provider of porcelain CEREC restorations.
