Meet Our Dentist in Ladera Ranch, CA

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Why Choose Us?

Richard D. Guthrie, DDS
Dr. Richard D. Guthrie is committed to providing the highest standards of quality and comfort in the persuit of your optimal oral health through the utilization of his extensive training and experience in preventative, restorative dental rehabilitation, orthodontics, implantology, dental surgery including widsom teeth removal, root canal therapy, and various cosmetic procedures. Truly, a Doctor of Dental Surgery, Dr. Guthrie and Mission Ranch Dental Aesthetics are also happy to say that all of these procedures can done in the comfort of our state of the art facility.  Dr. Guthrie and his highly trained team are enthusiastically prepared to greet each patient who visits our office with kindness, respect and careful attention to your individual and unique needs. Through our welcoming doors you can expect professionalism, kindness, dignity, respect, high proficiency, high quality, accreditation, innovative solutions, successful results, and an abundance of happy patients!  Dr. Guthrie and his practice in the Ladera Ranch/Mission Viejo region of Southern California have been delivering cosmetic, restorative, and functional solutions to patients in Orange County for over 20 years. Dr. Guthrie has achieved extensive training in all phases of orthodontics and various surgical modalities including wisdom teeth removal and surgical implant placement procedures.  Dr. Guthrie maintains a true “Family Practice” providing care to all ages from infants to patients of advanced years.  Dr. Guthrie’s believes that teeth are a vital element to an individuals’ overall health and impact quality of life.  Thus, his approach is conservatively minded and emphasizes maintaining the natural dentition when practical through monitoring and treating dental issues early to ensure the longevity of the dentition throughout an individuals’ lifetime.  Though our team is collectively committed to maintaining your natural teeth we pride ourselves in providing innovative solutions in the event that teeth are not salvageable.

Our office is committed to your safety and utilizes the latest, most robust and sophisticated methods of sterilization including the State of the Art SciCan Bravo Class B sterilizer and complete barrier protection for each patient.

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Who is Dr. Guthrie?

Dr. Guthrie is a highly accomplished and talented dentist in Orange County committed to the constant pursuit of continuing education and cutting edge advancements in the continually evolving field of dentistry.  Additionally, he is also a loving husband, father, private pilot aviator and musician. He plays lead guitar and Keyboards in the local rock band 21! Dr. Guthrie is an outdoorsman and enjoys adventure hiking, camping and travel. He has climbed to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa as well as trekked parts of the High Andes, Peruvian Alps and the High Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. While in school, Dr. Guthrie enjoyed his time as a white water river guide on Northern California’s famous and pristine American River!

Special Training:

Professional Memberships:

Honors and Awards:

  • Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI)
  • Omicron Kappa Upsilon – Membership, Chi Chi Chapter
  • Prince Award – LLUSD for outstanding demonstration of the qualities of scholarship, leadership and stewardship
  • The Fixed Prosthodontic Award – LLUSD for commendable skill in fixed prosthodontics
  • The Academy of Operative Dentistry Award – for outstanding achievement in operative dentistry
  • The American Association of Orthodontists Award
  • The Dr. William S. Kramer Award of Excellence – Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honorary Dental Society Supreme Chapter
  • California Dental Association Outstanding Achievement Scholarship for Dental Education
  • First Place Awards for Research: Marginal Adaptation of Root End Filling Materials: A Dye, Bacterial, And SEM Investigation.
    • Loma Linda University School of Dentistry Alumni Convention
    • California Dental Association Scientific Session
  • Third Place Award for Research Project
    • American Dental Association Scientific Session
  • The National Dean’s List
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Meet Our Team

Mission Ranch Dental Aesthetics is privileged to have a world class team of friendly, knowledgeable and highly skilled individuals who are collectively committed to delivering the best possible care to our patients. We invite you to visit our office anytime and meet the Doctor, staff and our wonderful state of the art facility. We look forward to assisting Dr. Guthrie in providing you the smile you desire and deserve!

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Carissa RDA Office Manager

Carissa has had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Guthrie since 2001, beginning as an intern while still in high school. Over the years, she has developed a deep understanding of dental care and patient relations. Outside of work, Carissa enjoys raising four beautiful children with her husband Jose. The family loves the outdoors, taking full advantage of the beautiful Southern California weather to spend time at the beach and hiking together.

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Debani RDA Assistant Office Manager

Born in Tennessee but raised in San Diego, I’m a proud wife, mom of three, and dedicated dental assistant with a passion for helping others through their dental care journeys. After spending many years focused on raising my children and supporting my husband through his 15-year career in the U.S. Marine Corps, I felt it was time to pursue a new path of my own. In 2022, once all of our kids were in school and my husband retired from active duty, I enrolled in a dental assisting program—a decision that combined my love for working with people and my interest in healthcare. Today, I’m proud to be part of the team at Mission Ranch Dental, where I bring compassion, attention to detail, and a steady presence to every appointment. Whether assisting chairside or helping patients feel at ease, I find joy in making a difference.

When I’m not at work, you’ll usually find me in the kitchen cooking for my family, or enjoying time outdoors at the lake. My life is grounded in faith, family, and service.

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Kristin RDA Office Manager

Born and raised in Southern California, I have dedicated my career to the dental industry since 1993. From a young age, I knew I wanted to be part of the dental field, and over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to grow and serve in various capacities—from dental assistant to my current role as Office Manager. With years of hands-on experience and a deep understanding of both clinical and administrative operations, I take pride in creating a welcoming and efficient environment for both patients and staff. My goal has always been to ensure that every patient feels cared for, while supporting the team to deliver exceptional service.

Outside of work, I’m passionate about music, dancing, and spending time at the beach. I am also deeply rooted in my faith and value quality time with my family and friends. As a proud parent of three adult children, family remains at the heart of everything I do.

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Ildi RDH

Ildiko Shirazi (Ildi) is a dedicated and highly respected Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) with over a decade of clinical experience. Originally from Romania, fluent in three languages (English, Romanian, Hungarian). She specializes in preventative oral health education and making every dental visit a comfortable experience. Ildi graduated with Honors from the Dental Hygiene program at Cerritos College in 2014 and has been a vital part of Dr. Guthrie’s practice since 2015. When she's not helping patients achieve optimal oral health, she enjoys spending time with her family, and can often be found traveling, hiking, or enjoying the local beaches.

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Edith RDH

I am a Dental Hygienist and committed to your optimal oral health and clean smile through thorough and gentle dental cleanings.