Life’s best moments begin with a smile

Dr. Rick Alter was born in Los Angeles and raised in Southern California’s San Fernando Valley, where he attended Birmingham High School. The youngest of four children, he grew up in a close-knit family with parents originally from New York, who are still very happily married. His father is a retired orthodontist, and his mother is a practicing marriage and family therapist—an upbringing that emphasized both discipline and compassion. Much of Dr. Alter’s youth was devoted to the martial arts, including karate, taekwondo, and kung fu, earning a second-degree black belt by age sixteen. He also excelled academically and athletically, graduating high school with honors.

Dr. Alter attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he majored in Biology and Psychology. While at UCSB, he competed as a Division I springboard diver and became the Big West Conference Champion on the 1-meter and 3-meter boards for three consecutive years. He went on to earn his doctorate in dental surgery from the University of Southern California, followed by specialty training in orthodontics at the Medical College of Virginia / Virginia Commonwealth University. During his residency, Dr. Alter also completed a Master’s degree focused on biomechanics, further strengthening his expertise in orthodontic treatment. Upon graduating, Dr. Alter moved back to Southern California and joined Drs. Redmond and Buto, who were the original founders of this practice more than 45 years ago.

Outside of the office, Dr. Alter is an avid surfer and snowboarder who has traveled the world in search of the perfect wave and powder mountain.  He met his wife on a surf trip to Costa Rica, and they have been married for 18 years. Today, they are raising their two sons, Julian and Dylan, in Thousand Oaks. As both a parent and an orthodontist, Dr. Alter understands the trust families place in their child’s care and is committed to creating an environment where patients feel comfortable, supported, and heard—because a great orthodontic experience begins with trust. Creating the perfect smile is a daily pursuit for Dr. Alter, one grounded in careful planning and attention to detail. Ultimately, Drs. Alter and Zermeno, and their team, focus on the overall patient experience, building positive, lasting relationships so that when patients look back on their orthodontic journey, they remember it with nostalgia and a smile!

Dr. Zermeño was raised right here in Ventura County by two teachers who taught him the importance of kindness, family, and creating a welcoming environment for everyone. He brings those same values to his practice, ensuring that every patient—both kids and adults—feels comfortable and cared for. Dr. Zermeño is proud to serve the Ventura County community he once again calls home.

After graduating from Fillmore High School, Dr. Zermeño attended Harvard University for his undergraduate studies where his interest in dentistry first began. His research in dental anthropology took him all the way to a particle accelerator in France, resulting in several scientific publications—and the realization that he preferred working with living patients over Neanderthal fossils. He went on to earn his dental degree, masters degree, and orthodontic residency certificate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Although Dr. Zermeño thoroughly enjoyed his time practicing as a general dentist in San Diego, he could not be happier that he devoted the time and extra training to work in the field he loves, orthodontics.

When he is not in the office with his awesome patients, you can find Dr. Zermeño enjoying so much of what the great state of California has to offer. He tries to leave as many footprints in the surrounding mountains as possible. Some weekends you can find him surfing in Ventura with friends (but don’t believe for a second he’s anywhere near the surfer Dr. Alter is). When the snow is falling in the Sierras you can find him carving, and occasionally tumbling, down the slopes of Mammoth Mountain. As you can guess, he is happiest outside. But he does have a deep appreciation for quality times with family and friends, which is why is so happy to be back in his home of Ventura County.