COOKEVILLE – Dr. Andrew Johns has fond memories of Cookeville. He grew up here, canoeing the Caney Fork, camping around the region. He also watched from afar the growth of Johns Family and Implant Dentistry, the practice that his parents, Dr. Steve and Dr. Mary Linda Johns, worked hard to establish.
He always planned to return – not only because he followed in his parents’ footsteps, graduating with his doctor of dental surgery degree from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in Memphis – but to fulfill his goal of practicing alongside them. Last year, that mission came to fruition.
Johns joined Johns Family and Implant Dentistry in Cookeville in mid-2015. The practice, a 2014 Ovation Award winner for Excellence in Professional Services, was founded in 1981 – this is its 35th year – a stretch that looks to continue for many more with the addition of the couple’s youngest son.
“I always knew I would come back to Cookeville; carrying on the tradition of serving the people of the Upper Cumberland through dental expertise and quality care was important to me,” Andrew Johns said. “I was overjoyed and humbled when the opportunity presented itself to return. We have an amazing medical and dental community, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
While still early in his professional career, Johns has already made continuing education a priority – it’s a necessity, he says. Since finishing his residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he’s completed more than 550 hours of continued education in the past year through the Advanced Dental Implant Institute. This clinical residency afforded him the opportunity to be trained and mentored by Dr. Hilt Tatum Jr., a lively octogenarian regarded as one of the fathers of implant dentistry, an honor Johns says will be tough to match for the rest of his career.
Johns has also attended numerous additional trainings since joining the family practice – an effort that’s been key in helping bring new services not yet available to patients in the area.
Johns Family and Implant Dentistry, which offers general, preventative, cosmetic and comprehensive implant dentistry, recently expanded its treatment options to include tissue grafting, IV sedation and modular periodontal therapy, all of which offer a myriad of benefits to patients.
“Our goal is to provide state-of-the-art treatment that is comfortable and personalized to the needs each patient,” he says.
Tissue grafting is a procedure that can – in many cases – reverse gum recession, or the exposure of the tooth root surface that makes teeth more susceptible to cavities and root damage. The natural barrier of healthy soft tissue is needed to maintain their health and longevity.
“Problems related to exposed root surfaces are a top cause of tooth loss,” Johns said. “The procedure is relatively pain free with quick recovery time and predictable results.”
IV sedation, meanwhile, is an increasingly common offering. Medication is used to help patients relax during dental procedures; IV delivery allows doctors to regulate the amount of sedative so comfort levels are constantly maintained and only the amount of medication necessary is administered. The practice has recently added a full-time veteran nurse to provide an extra level of safety and comfort to patients, Johns said.
And modular periodontal therapy, another treatment methodology sourced by Johns, is a novel approach to treating gum disease, the existence of which is linked to increased incidences of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, adverse pregnancy outcomes, osteoporosis, tooth loss and more. A 2012 study released by the Centers for Disease Control found nearly 50 percent of American adults suffer from periodontal disease – a number that climbs to 70 percent in adults 65 or older.
“If we can understand the cause of the disease, we can prescribe the correct treatment,” Johns said. “By identifying the specific bacteria causing the infection, we now have the ability to cure patients, limit the total amount of procedures required, and in many cases, reverse the damage caused by the disease. This approach is targeted and tailored to each individual’s specific needs.”
Outside of work, Johns enjoys spending time with his wife, Casey, and their two children, William, 2, and Eleanor, 1. The couple is a member of CityScape, and the dental practice is a founder patron of the local nonprofit this year.
“I am excited about the growth the Upper Cumberland is currently experiencing and hope the businesses and business owners growing roots here are excited about the top medical advancements in this region,” Johns said. “Our practice continually strives to provide the same level of care and service found in large metropolitan areas so our citizens can experience this service with the convenience of being close to home. This is one of the most exciting times in the history of our community, and I feel blessed to be living here with my family.”
Dr. Andrew Johns, DDS, practices general, implant and IV sedation dentistry at Johns Family and Implant Dentistry, located at 121 S. Washington Ave. in Cookeville. For more information, call (931) 528-6547, email smile@johnsdentistry.com or visit https://johnsdentistry.com.
