Dr. Brigette Koetter has been a leading dentist and inspiring presence in the Rockwall community for the past 17 years. She is the owner of Dental Professionals of Rockwall, providing area residents with compassionate care in comprehensive dentistry. Known for her warm and comforting demeanor, she treats all age groups from toddlers to adults, treating them like members of her own family.
Being a key part of her patients’ team means providing and maintaining the optimal oral care necessary for good health throughout their lives. The mouth is the human body’s portal to excellent health. “Keeping the teeth, mouth, and gums clean is an important step in the body’s overall wellness process,” she said.
Sleep Apnea and Snoring
Routinely getting a good night’s sleep plays an important role in overall health and well-being. Snoring, grinding, excessive wear, and erosion on back molars are all unwelcome signs of a potentially dangerous condition known as sleep apnea. With successive periods of interrupted sleep during the night, sleep apnea leaves you feeling unrefreshed and groggy in the morning.
Take-Home Sleep Study
Easy and convenient, the take-home sleep study is a simplified breathing monitor worn while sleeping. The monitor tracks a patient’s oxygen levels, breathing, and breathing effort. Results of the study are evaluated by a sleep specialist and sent to Dr. Koetter for review. If necessary, she’ll design custom oral appliances to alleviate these symptoms based on the patient’s results. Oral appliances are especially convenient for those who can’t wear a CPAP device.
Dr. Koetter prefers the TAP (Thornton Adjustable Positioner) device that repositions the jaw to treat snoring and sleep apnea. The TAP appliance consists of an upper and lower component connected by a hinge and pivot point that are fixed during sleep. The appliance holds the lower jaw forward and slightly open, pulling the tongue forward. This keeps the airway open between the back of the tongue and soft tissues of the throat while sleeping.
A Cohesive Team of Women
As a leading woman in her field, Dr. Koetter is proud to surround herself with a team of strong, professional women united by solid relationships and common interests. Each of them brings varied capabilities and expertise to the Dental Professionals of Rockwall team. Some have more than 20 years of dental experience, sharing their knowledge with each other and their patients.
“I’m blessed to be working with people who love what they do,” Dr. Koetter said. “We’re well-educated in the field of dentistry and demonstrate how healthy relationships facilitate a successful work environment.”
Dr. Koetter’s award-winning work in prosthodontics and orthodontics offers patients continuity of care throughout their dental treatment plan. Various options are available for developing a treatment strategy aimed at achieving each patient’s dental goals. Complete and convenient in-office services are provided so patients don’t have to venture outside the Rockwall area.
Mentoring Dental Students
Dr. Koetter enjoys passionately serving others. She’s actively involved as a mentor to young women through the dental assisting program at the Gene Burton Career Center in Rockwall. Each semester, she has two to three students working toward certification as registered dental assistants by the time they graduate high school. “It’s an amazing program that allows me to demonstrate what I love about dentistry,” she said.
Besides being a mentor, Dr. Koetter educates herself on an ongoing basis to remain knowledgeable and stay current with the most innovative dental technology and equipment. Her dedication and expertise allow her to be a leader not only in the field of dentistry, but the Rockwall community as well.
Elevating the Dental Experience
As dental technology continues to advance improvements in comfort and aesthetics, Dr. Koetter maintains her focus on elevating a patient’s dental experience with their well-being and convenience in mind.
Utilizing intraoral cameras and digital X-rays with small sensors makes routine exams easier and more pleasant. “We also have the most innovative method for creating dental restorations right here in our office,” she explained. CEREC is the revolutionary crown-development process where patients no longer have to have gooey, cumbersome impressions. Instead, patients can relax in the dental chair while Dr. Koetter replicates a 3D model of their mouth using a state-of-the-art scanner.
The scanned image provides a computer-integrated database of their teeth, allowing both the patient and Dr. Koetter to view results on a large screen. She then designs a custom porcelain crown that’s carved to her exact specifications. The patient goes home with the crown the same day, eliminating the need for a temporary restoration and extra appointments.
Family Time
Dr. Koetter is the mother of three children, ages 17, 14, and five. Her eldest daughter wants to pursue a career in dentistry just like her mom. She spends her summers working at Dental Professionals of Rockwall. The mother-daughter duo are also active members in the National Charity League, a local community service organization. They enjoy volunteering in and around Rockwall at Liberty Heights retirement home, Meals on Wheels, Patriot Paws, and many more organizations that appreciate their support. Dr. Koetter has future plans to include her son in the family business, too.
Her favorite activities include watching her children’s sporting events and traveling. She likes finding new, thrilling activities and seeing her kids learn and discover something for the first time.
She looks forward to welcoming new patients and delivering generations of happy smiles for years to come.
