HART & COCO PROSTHODONTICSrosthodontics is a little known specialty in dentistry—particularly in Ar-kansas. One of the reasons for that is the scarcity of this type of dentist. There are less than 3,200 of them in the United States. In fact, they are

the only two prosthodontists in the city and one is the only female prosth-odontist in Arkansas. Dr. Jonathan Hart is one of these rarities. Like every other general dentist in the state, he attended college, then dental school, and then began looking for a career in a private practice. That searching was cut short when he was recruited to enter a hospital-based residency program for general dentists – a yearlong advanced training opportunity that he states “was too intriguing to pass up.” While there, he learned more about the complexities of the mouth – in that it is more than just teeth, it’s a grouping of intricate or-gans that are part of a complicated system of joints (the TMJ) and the muscles of the face. “That just opened Pandora’s box for me,” Hart states. “I found myself just out of reach of the ‘answer,’ for what I thought was the secret of perfect dentistry.” Nearing the end of the hospital program, by invitation Hart met with the director of the Prosthodontic training program at the University of Tennes-see, and was immediately offered a position in a three-year program with the promise that he would know more about dentistry than he ever knew pos-sible. Hart states that what he discovered in this advanced training was that healthcare in dentistry should be better and safer; more predictable, longer lasting and in harmony with the natural workings of the body. “Dr. Suzanne Coco,” as Jonathan jovially puts it, is “the better half of the team – she makes us look good!” Her experience in dentistry began with 4 a.m. workday starts as a pre-teen in her father’s dental clinic in Mississippi. “I’m not so sure they wouldn’t call child services these days,” she laughs, but goes on to say that they were some of the best days of her life. “I grew up in the lab of that old dental clinic, and still use some of the techniques my dad taught me to this day.” That experience must have made an impression on her, as she went on to become a nationally board-certified dental lab technician; a career that

began with two distinguished tours of duty in the Air Force, before opening her own dental lab in Alaska. “Something about having my own lab reminded me of my father’s clinic, and really spurred me on to go back to dental school,” Coco remem-bers. “And I had a loving husband, who supported me in this idea. We sold almost ev-erything we owned, picked up our family of three, and moved down to Arkansas. I finished some college work, applied and was accepted to dental school, and somehow was talked into doing prosthodontics by the director of the program. Dr. Hart and Dr. Coco now find themselves members of an elite world-wide network of a rare species; the prosthodon-tist. In their practice, one can find quite an amazing array of

equipment that in no uncertain terms is quite impressive. “The technology isn’t just there for show and tell. It helps us do our job exceptionally well for folks right here in Arkansas, and truth-be-told, there’s not a whole lot we can’t accomplish with it. That’s important to us because our patients are kind of our family; they’re our neighbors, our friends, and friends of our friends. Their happiness is our biggest goal,” says Hart. “We spent a lot of time in training to be the best, and it makes my heart feel good to share that knowledge and expertise with patients,” Coco states. “We provide an opportunity for patients to have comprehensive, full-mouth dental treatment by a team of well-trained specialists, all under one roof. When Jonathan approached me with this idea, I knew this opportunity was where I was meant to be… It just felt right.” “Today,” Coco goes on to say, “We find ourselves in sync with the purpose to provide an exceptional level of dentistry. We have everything, including an in-house dental lab with a single technician dedicated to our work. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Dr. Hart and Dr. Coco offer dental options ranging from a single tooth-supported crown, to dentures to full mouth reconstruction with crowns or full mouth dental implant treatment. They also specialize in TMJ therapy, as well as making prosthetics for cancer patients and individuals suffering from traumatic injuries.

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501.319.7520 | 2300 Andover Court, #400 | Little Rock

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Dr. Suzanne Coco

Dr. Jonathan Hart