Comments about Mary from her teammates. . .

"Mary is very inviting to our patients.  She makes everyone feel at home and comfortable in our office.  She also works very hard to keep us all focused on our goals -- not only to meet them, but to always exceed them.  Patients always comment on how friendly Mary is."

"I know when Mary answers the phone that she has the knowledge to answer any questions the person calling may have.  Mary makes every patient feel special by the way she greets them and makes them feel at home in our office.  Mary is a team player and whe will do whatever it takes to get the job done and to make sure we achieve our goal.  Patients say that Mary is friendly and she makes them feel right at home."

 A Note from Mary. . .

The passion I have for dentistry started forty one years ago when I started my first job.  The changes I have seen have been incredible and have only made dentistry more exciting than ever.  When I started working at Dr. Rick Coker's Smile Studio, seventeen years ago, Dr. Coker was the leader in Cosmetic Dentistry in East Texas.  The exciting part of being involved in changing someone's smile, seeing the excitement when they really 'flash' that smile for the first time and the way just having a beautiful smile can change the way someone feels about themselves is just so rewarding.

When a patient says, "Everyone here makes me feel so special;" or "I can't believe I enjoyed coming to the dentist;" or just that "hug" you get from a patient -- makes working here so special.  I can go home at night and say to myself, "You know I really helped to make a difference!"

I started in dentistry forty-one years ago in Athens, Texas working for Dr. Earl Estep.  I helped him write several books about dentistry and traveled all over the United States and Canada lecturing with Dr. Estep.  I coauthored a book titled, "From the Other Side of the Chair," which was sold to dental offices all over the country.  I have visited many other dental offices and have learned something from each of them.

While working for the last seventeen years for Dr. Rick Coker, lots of continuing education has kept us on the forefront of dentistry.  I have spoken to dentists and team members at several dental seminars given by our office.  I feel that if I ever stop learning, dentistry will become a job and the passion will not be there.