Meet THE DOCTORS

KRISTOPHER L. HART, DDS, FACS 

Dr. Kristopher Hart received his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University, his dental degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and completed his residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Eisenhower Army Medical Center/Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia.

Dr. Hart spent 8 years of active service with the United States Army. For four years, he worked as a staff surgeon in Darnall Army Medical Center at the largest military installation in the world, Fort Hood, TX. During this time, he treated a wide range of oral and maxillofacial conditions, but garnered particular satisfaction in helping soldiers by reconstructing complex explosive injuries and gunshot wounds sustained in war.

Dr. Hart is a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons. His education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence, and ethical conduct have passed a rigorous evaluation, and have been found to be consistent with the high standards established and demanded by the College.

Dr. Hart is Board Certified in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and is a Fellow in the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He is also Board Certified by the National Board of Dental Anesthesiology and is an active member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Society of Dental Anesthesiology, the Colorado Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons as well as the Chalmers J. Lyons Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Honor Society. Dr. Hart is certified in Pediatric Advanced Life Support as well as Adult Cardiac Life Support. Dr. Hart served as an abstract section moderator at the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons national conference for Maxillofacial Pathology/Regenerative Medicine/Pharmacology/TMJ.

Dr. Hart is at the forefront of new technology and surgical techniques. He has authored several scientific and surgical articles. Dr. Hart was the sole recipient of the oral abstract presentation award regarding his research on Sildenafil and skin flap reconstruction at the 87th Annual American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons meeting in conjunction with the British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Hart is on the medical staff at the Centura Medical Centers at Castle Rock and Parker. Dr. Hart is also on the facial trauma team at Castle Rock Adventist Hospital.

Dr. Hart is proud to live in Castle Rock and be a part of the local community he serves.  He has been chosen as a 5280 Top Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon every year since 2013.

Publications:

  • Hart, K., Bowles D. Reconstruction of Alveolar Defects using Titanium-Reinforced Porous Polyethylene as a Containment Device for Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2012; 70: 811-820.
  • Hart K., Thompson, S. Emergency Cricothyrotomy. Atlas of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinics of North America, 2010;18:29-38.
  • Rowshan, H., Hart, K. et al. Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Associated Facial Lipodystrophy Syndrome With Dermafat Graft Transfer to the Nasolabial Fold Areas: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2008; 66:1932-1938.
  • Tsai, J., Hart, K., et al. Evaluation of the Effect of Sildenafil and Vascular Endothelium Growth Factor Combination Treatment on Skin Flap Survival in Rats. Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery 2008; 32:624-631.
  • Hart, K., Baur D., et al. Short and long-term effects of sildenafil on skin flap survival in rats. Laryngoscope 2006; 116 (4): 522-588.

KAREN M. KEITH, DDS, MD 

Dr. Karen Keith received her undergraduate degree from Loyola University Chicago, her dental degree from Georgetown University School of Dentistry in Washington, DC, and completed her residency in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (Brooke Army Medical Center) in San Antonio, Texas, attaining her medical degree as well as OMS certification.

Dr. Keith spent 30 years of active service with the United States Army. During her military medical career, she served in numerous dental and oral and maxillofacial surgery positions across the United States and the world to include Korea, Italy, and deployment for one year in Kuwait and Iraq as the 10th and 21st Combat Support Hospital oral and maxillofacial surgeon during Operation Iraqi Freedom.  Prior to her retirement in 2020, she served as the Commander, Fort Bliss Dental Health Activity at Fort Bliss, TX, with responsibility for all dental operations and five clinics at Fort Bliss, TX, White Sands Missile Range, NM, and Fort Huachuca, AZ.  Dr. Keith has treated a wide range of oral and maxillofacial conditions throughout her career dedicated to treating those who wear the cloth of our nation in military service. 

Dr. Keith is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists. She is also and is a Fellow in the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. She is also Board Certified by the National Board of Dental Anesthesiology and is an active member of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Society of Dental Anesthesiology, and the American Dental Association.  Dr. Keith is a certified Pediatric Advanced Life Support Instructor as well as Advanced Cardiac Life Support Instructor.  Dr. Keith served as the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Consultant to the US Army Surgeon General for eight years, the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program Director at Madigan Army Medical Center for seven years, and as a board examiner and section co-chair for the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Keith is also the recipient of numerous awards and accolades from her military career to include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Expert Field Medical Badge, the Order of Military Merit and The Surgeon General’s “A” Proficiency Designator.

Dr. Keith is at the forefront of new technology and surgical techniques. She has authored several scientific and surgical articles, and she has provided numerous lectures across the country.

Dr. Keith was Dr. Hart’s assistant program director when he was a resident at Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

Dr. Keith is proud to live in Castle Rock and be a part of the local community she serves.

PUBLICATIONS:

  •  Keith, Karen. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in the Army, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Fonseca ebook, 3 volume set, 2017
  • Clark T and Keith K. Palatal Fracture in a Child.  The United States Army Medical Journal.  January-March 2011, pp. 82-86
  • Rowshan, H., Hart, K. et al. Treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Associated Facial Lipodystrophy Syndrome With Dermafat Graft Transfer to the Nasolabial Fold Areas: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2008; 66:1932-1938.
  • Keith KM. Case II.4: Maxillofacial reconstruction. In: Nessen SC, Lounsbury DEL, Hetz SP, eds. War Surgery in Afghanistan and Iraq: A Series of Cases, 2003-2007.  Washington, DC: Department of the Army, Office of the Surgeon General, Borden Institute, 2008: 65-69
  • Hart, K., Baur D., Keith, K. Short and long-term effects of sildenafil on skin flap survival in rats. Laryngoscope 2006; 116 (4): 522-588.
  • Manganaro A, Phillips K:  Rapidly growing periodontal enlargement.  OOO, May 2000

Julie A. Lesnick, DDS

Dr. Lesnick is a board certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with over 25 years of experience in treating patients in a private practice setting in Colorado. With her calm and caring manner, Dr. Lesnick is able to provide compassionate, quality care to patients with consistent results. Dr. Lesnick likes to build relationships with her patients as she listens to their concerns to learn and understand what they want.

Dr. Lesnick is a member of the Colorado Dental Association, the Metro Denver Dental Society, the American Dental Association, the Colorado Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, the American Dental Society of Anesthesia. She is a fellow in the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. She is a diplomate in the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Lesnick is certified in ACLS (advanced cardiac life support) and PALS (pediatric advanced life support).

Dr. Lesnick received her degree in science area from the University of Denver in 1987. She continued her education at the University of Colorado School of Dentistry completing her Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree in 1991. In 1992, she completed her first General Practice Residency at Denver Health Medical Center and went on to complete a second year General Practice Residency at the VA Hospital in Sepulveda, California in 1993. There she also over saw the training of four first year GPR residents. From 1993-1996, Dr. Lesnick returned to Denver Health Medical Center to complete the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program where she was Chief Resident of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery program her final year. She is honored to be the first female to complete the oral surgery program at Denver Health Medical Center.

After completing her residency program at Denver Health Medical Center in 1996, Dr. Lesnick joined an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery practice in Arvada. During this time, she was faculty at Denver Health Medical Center overseeing the training of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery residents. Dr. Lesnick was also former chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Lutheran Medical Center. She has provided facial trauma care at North Suburban and Lutheran Medical Centers. She has been a leader for Spear Study club and has volunteered for many Colorado Mission of Mercy Clinics.  


When not in the office, Dr. Lesnick enjoys the many activities the beautiful Colorado outdoors has to offer, especially gardening and spending time with her husband and two children. She has been chosen as a 5280 Top Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon every year since 2009.

Dr. Lesnick is proud to live in Castle Rock and be a part of the local community she serves.