A STORY OF OUR CONTEST
It all started on April 16th when…
Dr. Coker decided to offer a FREE SMILE MAKEOVER to a Covid-19 First Responder. We had been hearing so much about the dedication of people in this fight against the pandemic… how they were risking their lives and even the lives of their families while trying to help people who had been affected by this very contagious virus.
In a Facebook post on April 16, 2020, he asked for people to respond via e-mail. As you can imagine, he got many responses, but the one from Jessica Dunn really spoke to him.
“I am a Critical Care Tech/ CNA in the ICU at our local critical access hospital. I am also a nursing student and intern at the same hospital. I’ve always been very insecure about my smile and had bad teeth. I’m 26, married with two children, 5 and 2. I was trying to get my teeth fixed before this covid ordeal and needed 3 root canals. Then the lock down happened and all the dentists closed, except one who does not do root canals. I was in severe pain, but desperately needed at the hospital to work. One tooth abscessed and it hurt so badly. I ended up getting two teeth pulled so I could continue to help out at the hospital during this. When I was younger I broke my two front teeth and had to get crowns, and they’re very large for me and stick out. The rest of my teeth are in poor condition and I’m just in pain all the time. It affects how I can eat. I’m embarrassed to laugh or smile. It would be life changing to be able to be happy with my smile. Just to be able to eat without pain would be life changing. ”
Before
Before she arrives…
Because Jessica is from another state, Dr. Wayne Sutton volunteered to take x-rays and make models that he could send to Dr. Coker. That was a big help which will facilitate the creation of Jessica’s smile in less than a week, while she is in Tyler.
We will start the case…
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Jessica will arrive in Tyler at about 7:00 pm on Wednesday evening and Francie Hodges from Donna Cummings Photography will come to the office to take some “before” photos.
Thursday, July 9, 2020
On Thursday morning at 7:00, Jessica will arrive at the office to begin treatment. An exam will be done, x-rays will be taken, decay restored, models will be poured up and then the preparation of her teeth will begin.
Alex Leroux from KLTV will be there interviewing and filming as there is time between 7:00 and 8:30 am.
At the end of the appointment, Jessica will have a new smile made of temporaries. These temporaries are usually worn for one to two weeks while the permanent porcelain teeth are made in the lab. However, we have been fortunate that our lab, Elite Ceramic Dental Lab and the owner and chief technician, Bianka Nethery, will do this case at no cost. She will work on it all weekend and will get it finished and ready to seat it by 7:00 am on Tuesday morning (July 14, 2020).
Before 10:00 am, Francie Hodges will send 2-3 ‘before’ photos of Jessica to Chris Dudley at KETK for the Skype interview with Dr. Coker at 11:20 am.
At 10:15, Dr. Coker will talk with Chris Dudley about directions for doing the Skype interview.
At 11:20am Dr. Coker calls into the phone numbers Chris Dudley has given him for the Skype interview at the 11am newscast “East Texas Live”. (Dr. Coker will be using his computer camera as well as a cell phone with ear buds to hear the anchor).
“TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Jessica Dunn, a certified nurse assistant from California, is in East Texas to get a free smile makeover. Dr. Rick Coker, in Tyler, wants to thank first responders and healthcare workers the best way he knows how. KLTV’s Alex Leroux spoke with Jessica before her initial procedure.”
“Dr. Rick Coker’s Smile Studio is well known in East Texas for its consistent emphasis on creating great smiles and happy patients. Their team represents over a hundred years of dental experience, combined with up to date digital technology to provide excellent care for their patients. The dedication to education and staying up to date has been a theme throughout Dr. Coker’s career, in both attending continuing education and teaching in various dental settings.”
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
At 7:00 Tuesday morning, Jessica will come into Dr. Coker’s Smile Studio to get her final smile seated.
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
At 7:00 on Wednesday morning, after a night’s rest, Jessica will come back in to the office for a final adjustment on her smile.
At 8:30 on Wednesday morning, Jessica has an appointment for hair and make-up at The Fairest Salon. Her ‘after’ photos will follow with Francie Hodges at Donna Cummings Studio.
Alex Leroux, from KLTV, will be on hand at the Photo Studio.
Jessica - BEFORE and AFTER
“TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - Jessica Dunn, a nurse assistant from California, got a free smile makeover from Dr. Rick Coker, in Tyler, as a thank you for being a COVID-19 front-line worker. We shared her story last week, and now we’re showing you the final product. “My husband says that he’s seen me smile in this last week way more than he’s seen me smile in our relationship,” said Jessica Dunn.”
Before 10:00 am, Francie Hodges will send 2-3 ‘after’ photos of Jessica to Chris Dudley at KETK for the Skype interview with Dr. Coker.
At 11:10am Dr. Coker calls into the phone number Chris Dudley has given him and then Chris will tell Dr. Coker (while on the phone from first number) when to dial into the Skype number…for the Skype interview at the 11am newscast “East Texas Live”. (Dr. Coker will be using his computer camera as well as a cell phone with ear buds to hear the anchor).
Click here for a link to KETK’s story
“The results of the Smile Makeover on Jessica Dunn, a Covid-19 first responder are here! Dr Rick Coker started his practice in 1972, and it has consistently been seen as a forward thinking and progressive practice, fully embracing high technology, and continuing education to stay abreast of current techniques.”
Jessica will depart for the airport by 12:00 after having had a wonderful experience!