COMPETENCE, COMFORT, COMMUNITY
The doctors and staff of the Lakind Dental Group are dedicated to three enduring values – a high degree of competence in everything we do, the comfort of patients in a warm and friendly atmosphere, and continuing involvement in the Santa Fe community.
Our three doctors – Leslie Lakind, Russell Kirkland and Harvey Simon – each has decades of experience and together provide the full spectrum of general, cosmetic and restorative dentistry. We are committed to ongoing advanced training and leadership in professional circles.
Our staff of four dental assistants, three hygienists and two receptionists has been carefully selected and trained with patient comfort and friendliness in mind.
Beyond the health and comfort of our patients, we’re just as concerned with the well being of our community. A share of the proceeds from our practice is used to support a variety of community projects and organizations. New patients have the opportunity to help choose where this support is directed.
The links to the left will help you learn more about our team members and the welcoming environment we try to create.
LESLIE LAKIND, D.D.S.
Dr. Leslie Lakind is an active member of the Santa Fe community as both a dentist and a citizen. Dr. Lakind, who is carrying on a family tradition of dentistry (both his father and brother were dentists), received his D.D.S. from Temple University in 1976. That same year, he moved to Santa Fe and began his dental career in public health service at La Clínica de la Gente in Agua Fría Village. He began his private practice in 1979.
Dr. Lakind is founder and past president of the New Mexico chapter of the Richard Tucker Study Club, an organization dedicated to the propagation of clinical excellence in cast gold dentistry through mentorship. Having achieved much success with this model, he went on to form the Northern New Mexico Aesthetic Academy.
Dr. Lakind is a member of key professional organizations, including the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (a holistic dental association), the Santa Fe District Dental Society, the New Mexico Dental Association, and the American Dental Association. He is also a former 25-year member of the Academy of General Dentistry and former member of, and presenter for, the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.
Committed to continual professional growth, Dr. Lakind maintains a rigorous regimen of continuing education and study, which currently includes membership in the exclusive Frank Spear Study Club.
In addition to his professional and community involvement in the field of dentistry, Dr. Lakind is also a leader in local business and social activities. He is a founding member of the Santa Fe Business Alliance, and he was the founder and leader of the Santa Fe branch of the Tikkun Community, an organization committed to bringing a spirit of justice and compassion to our everyday lives.
HARVEY SIMON, D.D.S.

Dr. Harvey Simon is one of New Mexico’s leading practitioners of complex restorative and cosmetic dentistry. For more than three decades, he has taken on exceptionally challenging cases, with consistently beautiful and comfortable results. A significant proportion of the patients he treats are referred by other dentists who recognize his skill and expertise.
Throughout his career Dr. Simon has worked to incorporate the latest and most advanced technology and techniques into his practice. He participates regularly in seminars and study groups with dental masters throughout the country.
Dr. Simon provides the full range of restorative and cosmetic services, from simple crowns and single-tooth implants, to expertly applied porcelain veneers, to the most demanding full-mouth restorations. He places special focus on proper occlusion, or bite, a critical aspect of total dental health that is often overlooked. Complete and partial dentures (fast becoming a lost art) are also part of Dr. Simon's expertise, often utilizing implant assisted prosthesis.
Dr. Simon is dedicated to open and thorough communication with his patients. Following a complete examination, thoughtful diagnosis and detailed plan of treatment, he presents his findings in easy-to-understand ways that enable patients to choose the best options with understanding and confidence.
Dr. Simon holds membership in the American Dental Association and its state and local affiliates. He has also been a member of numerous other associations including the American Equilibration Society and the Academy of Osseointegration (implants.) He received his D.D.S. from the University of Detroit, where he also joined the faculty and taught for two years in the department of prosthodontics.
RUSSELL KIRKLAND, D.D.S.
Dr. Russell Kirkland has been practicing preventive, restorative and cosmetic dentistry for over 28 years.
Dr. Kirkland received his D.D.S. from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he graduated in the top 12% of his class. He began dental practice in 1981 in his hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas, and moved to Santa Fe in 1993. His primary focus in continuing education has been in the art of restorative and cosmetic dentistry.
Dr. Kirkland had his cosmetic training with Dr. David Hornbrook, one of the premier cosmetic dentists in the world. Additional training in cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, implant dentistry and occlusion was done with Dr. Frank Spear in Seattle.