President & Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Golden Laser Dental
Spirit of UDM: Alumni Achievement Award
2016
Bio:
Richard M. Golden, D.D.S. ’71 earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree and went right to work at Golden Dental Center, founded by his father more than 40 years earlier. Today, that practice is more than 75 years old and operates in Detroit.
Golden has been an innovator in dentistry early in his career, launching the first advertising campaign for a dental practice in the state of Michigan. It brought in many new patients and led to an expansion of the practice.
He is also the inventor of a groundbreaking dental instrument that redefines how tooth extractions are done. Years of experimentation led to Physics Forceps, which applies principles of physics to pulling teeth. Extractions that normally took 20 to 40 minutes can now be done in less than two minutes.
Golden Dental Solutions, the manufacturer and seller of the Physics Forceps and other innovative dental products, is also a leader in continuing education for the dental industry through courses offered at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry, where Golden is an adjunct faculty member.
A strong supporter of his alma mater, Golden recently completed a term on the UDM Board of Trustees.
Citation:
In his 40 years as a dentist, Richard Golden, D.D.S., established a reputation as not merely a fine dentist, but also as an innovator and inventor who transformed his profession.
Shortly after joining Golden Dental Center, a practice founded by his father, he launched the first advertising campaign for a dental practice in the state of Michigan. This novel decision led to a major expansion of his Detroit-based practice and brought greater attention to dental health.
His development of the Physics Forceps, which uses the principles of physics to help pull teeth with less stress on the patients, means extractions that normally took 20 to 40 minutes are now completed in two. He has since developed other dental care products for professionals and home use.
Recognizing the value of keeping current in treatments and procedures, he is a leader in continuing education for members of the dental community through courses offered at the School of Dentistry, where he is an adjunct faculty member. He is also a former member of the University’s Board of Trustees.
Distinguished graduate of the School of Dentistry, Richard M. Golden, was honored with the Spirit of UDM: Alumni Achievement Award on April 24, 2016.