Cooke Orthodontics

Dr. Cooke’s projects for 2013

mary — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:48:36 +0000

As you know, 2011 and 2012 brought on one of my toughest projects… developing a new office. The results have been phenomenal and I am thankful for all of the help I received!

This building was sad and tired as it sat vacant for five years.

The new Cooke Orthodontics building compliments its surroundings.

Now that our new location is established, a few new projects have come along. The first one is visiting schools as the tooth fairy. The tooth fairy reviews brushing and flossing and making good food choices. If your first and second graders would like the tooth fairy to visit, please call the office at 707-255-4400.

The tooth fairy is visiting elementary schools in the Napa Valley!

The second project is more personal! My family and I are very excited to announce we will be adding a new addition to the family! Gary & I are expecting another boy in July 2013 (let the fireworks begin)!

Our second boy is expected in July!

Wayne is very excited about being a big brother (when he is not asking “why are we doing this?”).

Dr. Cooke and her son Wayne show off their teeth!

Once I knew we were expecting a new addition and that I would need coverage for my maternity leave ( I will be gone only July and August), I began working on getting the best possible coverage for my patients.

You already know Dr. Chad Sears. He will be covering the bulk of my maternity leave. The other doctor who will be working with us is Dr. Earl Johnson. He has worked in private practice in Mill Valley for over 30 years and now concentrates on teaching at UCSF. He lectures nationally on orthodontic efficiency and excellent outcomes. You will really enjoy working with both of them!!!

What are some retainer types?

mary — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 23:00:38 +0000

There are literally hundreds of different dental retainers. I wanted to go over a few different types for you.

Clear Retainer

The clear retainer is the most common retainer used in my practice. For the typical patient it works really well at holding the teeth in place and preventing enamel wear. This is the type of retainer that I made for myself when my braces came off 7 years ago. They are comfortable, and if there is some slight movement, they are efficient in re-aligning teeth… which is not the primary purpose. They can be called “Essix retainers”, “Tru-Tain retainers”.

Hawley Retainer

The Hawley retainer is one of the most popular retainer types in orthodontics. It is very good at stabilizing the arch form and allows some “settling” of the teeth. Settling is sometimes needed if your teeth are not meshing together at the end of treatment. I like to use Hawley retainers for patients who will need crowns, bridges or implants placed. They are also extremely helpful when I have done some expansion of the upper jaw or if the patient has had orthognathic surgery in conjunction with orthodontics.

Positioner

The positioner is used when there needs to be some “tweaking” or “minor movement” of the teeth after braces are removed. Models are taken of the patients teeth. The lab technician repositions the teeth into a more ideal bite and then they fabricate the positioner from the idealized tooth position. Normally, these are worn full time after braces are removed. It is somewhat bulky and interferes with most everyday activities. I shy away from using them because compliance in most cases is unrealistic.

Vivera Retainers

Vivera retainers are similar to the clear retainers except they are made by Invisalign. In my practice, I use them for patients who were treated with Invisalign. I am able to fabricate the Vivera retainer from the last Invisalign aligner used, so the patient is spared the time and annoyance of an impression.

Permanent Retainer

Permanent retainers are another popular alternative in orthodontics. I do these less than 5% of the time. Permanent retainers don’t last forever and they need relatively frequent monitoring over the lifetime of the retainer. I would prefer to use a retainer that does not require regular visits to the orthodontist for the rest of your life (or the life of the retainer). We would love to see your smiling face just because you missed us or you wanted a cup of coffee!

New Features at Cooke Orthodontics

mary — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 20:01:28 +0000

We are very happily established at our new office at 3392 Solano Ave! The first few days went remarkably well with very few hiccups. Despite only seeing patients here for one week, it feels like home!

I wanted to share a few of the most exciting things about the new office:

The new treatment bay has small privacy walls to make treatment discussions more private, while still maintaining the open feel!

Treatment Bay

We have also added one extra room for those who would like privacy.

Private treatment room

We have expanded our cyber cafe.

Cyber Cafe

We have plenty of room for those who would like to grab a French Vanilla Cappuccino from our new coffee machine.

Reception room

I guess you will just have to come down and find out for yourself! Looking forward to seeing you!

A college student’s perspective on wearing braces

mary — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:28:13 +0000

My name is Sara Shimel. I graduated from New Technology High School in June of 2011 and knew I was headed to college at the University Santa Cruz in the fall. Coming from an impoverished background. I have put most all of my time and energy during my high school years into ensuring that I would be able to obtain an opportunity to further my education unlike anyone in my family ever has. I was very proud of how much I had accomplished and for being recognized for my years of hard work. It seemed that with enough dedication anything was possible. Dr. Mary Cooke furthered this belief when she accepted me for full orthodontic treatment. I was pleasantly overwhelmed with how kind Dr. Cooke was to me despite me being low-income.

In July of 2011, a mere month after graduation and two months before my freshman year of college, I had my braces put on. Walking into the door of the clinic, as to be expected, I was a little nervous. I couldn’t help but wonder how silly I would look as a college student with braces.

Sara’s self portrait

As soon as I walked into the door, however, all my nerves died down. I saw the warm and smiling faces of both Dr. Cooke and of her orthodontic assistants. I was treated very kindly, all of my questions were answered very realistically, and the overall environment made me feel more as though I was at a spa than at a medical office. After I had my braces put on my friends and family continued to comment on how adorable they look. Though it took me a few days to get used to, I can’t help but agree with them.

I have now had braces for exactly a year and if everything goes according to plan, I should be able to get them off in the winter. I have learned to love my braces and to be honest, I will miss them a little when they are taken off. However, I continue to look forward to each appointment not only because of how kind the staff are but because with each appointment I see serious progress and my teeth are very noticeably straighter.

I have not a single regret with being a college student with braces. In fact, I have noticed that there are plenty of students at my school who either have braces or who have had them before and it’s never been a big deal. I am so incredibly pleased with every experience I have had not only with my braces but with Dr. Cooke and her staff entirely. For anybody who is afraid to get braces before heading off to college, I assure you, there is absolutely nothing to fear. Nobody will judge you, you won’t make any less friends, and with the flexibility of Dr. Cooke’s staff, appointments are non-intrusive and easily fit into any busy college student’s schedule. Getting braces has boosted my confidence, made me more willing to smile, and was by far the best choice I have ever made.

What are some soft foods I can eat with braces?

mary — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 18:13:57 +0000

I found out that my team and I are really good at letting you know what you CAN’T eat. We also have lots of options for what you can eat, but they aren’t super healthy. So with this in mind, I decided to look for some healthy, soft, brace-friendly recipes for my patients and their families.

Paleo Apple Muffins (Everyday Paleo)Ingredients:2 1/4 cups almond meal4 omega 3 enriched eggs1 organic apple finely chopped1 very ripe banana1/4 cup coconut oil

1/3 cup water

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 heaping tbsp cinnamon

Pre heat oven to 350. Have a two year old attack and kill an apple while you peel the banana and using a fork, mash the bananna in the bottom of a large mixing bowl. Using a hand held chopper if you have one, finely chop the freshly killed apple, and add to the bowl. Add all other ingredients and mix by hand. The batter will not be super thick, but more like a cake batter. Using a bit more coconut oil, grease a muffin tin. Fill the tins about 3/4 of the way full. Bake for 15-17 minutes. You will know they are done when you can insert a toothpick into the middle of a muffin and it comes out clean. Serve hot out of the oven with some ghee melted on top, accompanied by eggs over-easy, and hot black coffee. If you eat them all at once, don’t blame me… Makes approximately 16 muffins.

Enjoy!! We are always happy to sample them at Cooke Orthodontics ;-)

Paleo Czech Meatballs (Well Fed)

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground pork
1/2 tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon caraway seeds
1 tablespoon black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon grainy mustard

Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients together until well blended and form into meatballs. I made them fairly-large – about 9 per pound of meat. (mostly because I get bored rolling meatballs. You could also make these burgers, but balls are more fun. [Heh. I said 'balls are more fun.'])

2. On the grill: Heat grill to high, then cook meatballs five minutes with lid closed, flip, and cook an additional five minutes, until nicely browned. In the oven: Preheat oven to 400F and cook 15 minutes or so. On the stovetop: Brown in a hot saute pan, then cover with a lid and reduce heat to medium-low until cooked through.

These are wicked good: tender, flavorful, and perfect for Fall. If you need a taste-tester, we are always willing to offer our services!

Green Eggs & Turkey (Paleo Comfort Foods)…. this is a quiche without the crust! Wait, is that a frittata?

Ingredients:

2lbs ground turkey

1 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp salt (optional)

1 tsp of coconut oil

2 c onions, chopped

2 c broccoli florets, chopped

2 c artichoke hearts, chopped

couple handfuls of fresh spinach, roughly chopped

1 tsp smoked paprika

3 tbs fresh basil, chopped

12 large eggs

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large skillet, brown turkey meat with salt and pepper. Drain liquid off and spread turkey meat into bottom of greased 9″x13″ baking dish. Using the same skillet, heat coconut oil over medium heat. Add onions and stir, cooking onions until translucent. Add broccoli, artichoke, spinach and paprika and cook until broccoli is tender and spinach wilted. Add basil and remove from heat. Whisk eggs in bowl. Pour vegetable mixture over turkey meat, then pour eggs over veggies and meat. Bake for about 45 min or until eggs are cooked through.

PLEASE SEND ANY RECIPE IDEAS TO ME SO I CAN INCLUDE THEM IN A FUTURE BLOG : smile4maryc@gmail.com

Sarah B. – Financial Coordinator Extraordinaire!

mary — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 23:20:36 +0000

Sarah B. has been with me the longest of all my team members. She started out as receptionist, insurance biller, new patient coordinator, part time custodian and marketing director (all at the same time!). As our practice grew, she could no longer juggle 5 jobs and we were able to delegate some of those responsibilities as time went on. Currently, Sarah B. is our financial coordinator and fill-in scheduling coordinator.

I remember when Sarah was first referred to me. An assistant told me that Sarah, a friend of hers, was one of the hardest working and loyal people she knew. BOY, was she right! I hired her on the spot and I am thankful each and every day that she is part of my team!

Sarah B. & Dr. Cooke

Sarah is the third child in a family of four girls. She was born and raised in Napa, with a brief stint in Reno, Nevada. She is very thoughtful, caring and determined.

She married her husband Steve in August 2010. In addition to gaining a wonderful husband, Sarah became the loving step-mother to Ozzy. The family is rounded out with two dogs, lulu and cookie (she assured me it had nothing to do with my name :).

Sarah B. and her step-son Ozzy

Sarah is very active. She currently runs a gym with her husband, Napa Valley MMA, and trains for submission wrestling/grappling competitions during the year. She enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, skating, running and playing at the beach.

We keep Sarah in the fish bowl most of the day. You will notice if you look over there that many of the other team members like sneaking into her office and touch base with her. That is because she always gives level-headed advice and cares about our patients and our team. Please don’t hesitate to go tap on her “bowl” or give her a snack…. you will be rewarded.

Sarah is not only a fabulous employee, and I am honored to be her friend!

Beautiful Sarah B!

Mom and Mother’s Day

mary — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:26:30 +0000

I love working with children. My mother did too. She started her career in London, England as an RN before she immigrated to San Francisco to take care of her grand-uncle.

Lilly Cooke

My mother grew up in County Kerry, Ireland. As a teenager, she moved to London to do her nursing training and by the time she was 20 years old, she moved to California. She worked as an RN until she had four children (of which I’m the oldest, followed by Andrew, John & Martina). It is hard for parents to manage two full time careers outside the home when you have four children, so that is why my mom decided to open a day care center in our home when I was in kindergarten.

From 1978 through 1994, when she passed away suddenly from a heart attack, my mom cared not only for her four children, but for many children in the community. I was touched by how many people loved her and still remember her to this day. Of course, everyone that she watched is now an adult themselves, but when they see me or my siblings, they always mention our mom.

April and May are always hard for us because of her birthday, mother’s day and the anniversary of her passing happen within 4 weeks. While bittersweet, it reminds me that my desire to work with children started at home!

Is Invisalign actually orthodontic treatment?

mary — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:40:14 +0000

This is a question I that I hear all the time. The answer is a definitive YES! Invisalign is actually orthodontic treatment!

Did you know that all orthodontists are dentists? I went to dental school for four years at UCLA, passed two national exams and the California Board Exam to become a licensed dentist in the state of California. After that I went to UCSF for three more years to train to become an orthodontist.

These were my co-residents at UCSF 2004-2005. I’m in the back row and Dr. Sears is in the front row!

During those three years I studied and treated all types of malocclusions (improper bites). We learned in depth the mechanics of tooth movement and the biological and physiological components of treatment. Braces is the most conventional and well known tool used by orthodontists. Invisalign is another.

I enjoy using both braces and Invisalign to correct teeth alignment and bites. It is very important to me that if I choose to use Invisalign as my treatment method for you or you child that I am not only able to get the same results, but that I am addressing all the bite issues too. This is because straightening teeth without addressing the bite issues can actually worsen your dental condition in certain situations. As an orthodontist, I feel I have the education, knowledge and experience to get the results you deserve!

I augment my education by attending at least 5-6 continuing education courses every year. I like to attend both orthodontic and dental courses so I can communicate better with your dentist and provide them with the foundation to do the rest of your dental work, if needed.

Last year I was asked to be the Invisalign Lecturer at UCSF Division of Orthodontics. I am very honored to be giving them instruction in this area!

If you want to know how to choose between Invisalign and braces, see my blog How to choose between braces and Invisalign.

Always a student

mary — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 02:56:23 +0000

I would love to be a career student! Fortunately, in some ways I am! I am writing this blog from Scottsdale, AZ while attending a 3- day course on “Creating Esthetic Excellence” at the Spear Education Campus. This is the forth course I’ve taken this year alone!

Attending this course was more special to me. I didn’t have to travel to this course alone… I was joined by 6 other local dentists!

Dr. Varlakova, Dr. Yousefzadeh & Dr. Claus (Dr. Riley was taking the photos)

We had the opportunity to learn from an internationally respected prosthodontist, bond over dinner and enjoy 90 degree weather in April (at least during lunch).

Dr. Cooke, Dr. Varlakova & Dr. Poh-Matacio

Learning and expanding my understanding of comprehensive dentistry makes what I do as an orthodontist more fun!

Dr. Pratt & Dr. Claus

Cooke Orthodontics New Building – A Labor of Love

mary — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:43:44 +0000

I always felt my dad, Paul Cooke, had an influence on my future career.

He had lots of expensive tools that he used to build things and to make homes beautiful and functional. He always made people smile and could create amazing things. He was a contractor.

Almost forty years later, I have some pretty expensive tools and I build beautiful smiles and functional bites. Maybe the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

My dad, Paul Cooke, walking me down the aisle!

At the age of 68, my father is now building my new office. He spends 6 to 7 days a week on site, reviews plans every night and lives, breathes and eats the details of our new home. I visit the new site a few times every week. The subcontractors who work with my dad love working with him. I hear this from people he met last month to people he has known for 4 decades. My son Wayne calls the new office “Papa’s work”, not “Momma’s work”. I wonder if he will remember that when he gets older.

My dad (Paul Cooke) and my son (Wayne)

Side by side with my brother John Cooke, my father is making my new office a labor of love. When I get wrapped up on the stressful details of a remodel and move, I just have to remember that and know I’m in good hands.

Thank you Dad! I love you!

My Dad showing me around the new office.