Dr. Mark Paxton was raised in Bellevue, Washington and received his undergraduate degree from Washington State University in 1976. Dr. Paxton received his Doctorate in Dental Surgery in 1980 from the University of Washington and then completed a one-year, hospital based, general practice residency, at the University of Washington Hospitals in Seattle, Washington. Following his residency, he practiced general dentistry with the United States Air Force, and was stationed in Washington, D.C. and Wiesbaden, Germany. In 1989, Dr. Paxton began a four-year Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Residency at Travis Air Force Base in Northern California. Dr. Paxton’s training provided extensive experience in orthognathic reconstructive facial esthetic surgery. Dr. Paxton is a Board Certified Surgeon and a Diplomat of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
Due to his interest in educational training and clinical research, Dr. Paxton was asked to remain on the teaching staff at Travis Air Force Base Medical Center following the completion of his residency. Through Dr. Paxton’s efforts as Research Director, clinical research projects on temporomandibularjoint (TMJ) surgery, maxillofacial reconstruction, rigid fixation and stability following orthognathic surgery, bone grafting and healing and many pharmacology studies have been completed.
In 1995, Dr. Paxton and his family re-located to Spokane, Washington and opened Spokane Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Shortly thereafter Spokane Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery became a JHACO and AAAHC accredited ambulatory surgery center, the first of its kind in the Pacific Northwest and Inland Empire. In July of 2000, Dr. Paxton opened a satellite office located on the South Hill of Spokane, and also welcomed Dr. Melanie Lang, D.D.S., M.D. as an associate.
In addition to providing patients with quality care and facilities, Spokane Oral and Maxillofacial along with the Northwest Foundation for Maxillofacial Research and Education offer various continuing educational lectures and events throughout the year. In 2001, Dr. Paxton was recently appointed by Governor Gary Locke to serve a three-year term as a member of the Washington State Dental Quality Assurance Commission. Dr. Paxton also served on the Executive Council for the Spokane District Dental Society, and was also appointed President of the Washington State Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Society for 2001. In addition, Dr. Paxton is a present member of the following professional organizations: American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Dental Association, Washington State Dental Association, American Cleft Palate Association, American Association of Hospital Dentists, Air Force Society of Clinical Surgeons, and the American College of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Paxton interest in the care of patients with craniofacial deformities has also enabled him to serve as a volunteer for the non-profit organization, Hearts in Motion. Over the past ten years, Dr. Paxton and staff have traveled on missions to Central and South America. During these surgical missions Dr. Paxton has provided care to many children and adults with cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial deformities.
Dr. Paxton is married to Dr. Diane Paxton, an orthodontist in the Spokane Valley. The Paxtons have two children, Christopher, 22 and Lindsey, 20. The Paxton family enjoys sailing, snow skiing, hiking, as well as spending time with family and friends.