Dr Rick Leppo

Dr. Leppo is known for his caring touch and humorous tone, making even the most nervous patients comfortable. A native of northwestern Illinois, Dr. Leppo completed his undergraduate studies at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and obtained his Doctor of Medical Dentistry from SIU School of Dental Medicine. A natural perfectionist, Dr. Leppo received additional post-graduate training at the most renowned American dental & medical institutions. He was accepted into Louisiana State University's program, where he completed additional dental surgical training. In recognition of his unique skill set and clinical knowledge, he was bestowed the honor of Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry. He is proud to bring this knowledge and enhanced skills to the Columbia-Waterloo communities. Fearful & apprehensive patients are pleased that Dr. Leppo offers oral and IV sedation, allowing for a virtually anxiety-free dental experience. Sedation may be implemented for various dental procedures for a relaxing dental visit. Dental procedures that are traditionally completed across multiple appointments can now be finished within one visit. He completed his advanced sedation training at Seton Hall University's St. Joseph Hospital. He was awarded the level of Master's by the College of Sedation in Dentistry, the highest honor that the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology can award. In addition to his advanced training in dentistry and anesthesiology, Dr. Leppo is dual-certified in CPR and ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support). Dr. Leppo completed advanced training in dental implants & bone grafting techniques to better support patients within the Columbia-Waterloo area. Dr. Leppo completed an Implant Residency at the Medical College of Georgia, one of the most respected and comprehensive training programs for implant dentistry. This training prepared him with the skills to replace missing teeth and stabilize ill-fitting dentures. As an active member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), Dr. Leppo is committed to maintaining the highest standards in dental implantology. As an active participant in the dental community and to say thank you and give back to the community that has supported him, Dr. Leppo has participated in the "Give Kids a Smile" program since 2004. This non-profit organization provides underserved children with free comprehensive dental care. Dr. Leppo is a proud member of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and Waterloo Rotary Club. He lives in Columbia with his wife and daughter where she attends school at Immaculate Conception. His dedication to the community is evident in his personal commitment to quality care, integrity, and leadership.