Dental health plays a vital role in overall well-being. Poor oral health can lead to heart disease, stroke and other serious conditions. Yet, in many rural areas, access to dental care is limited. To address that need, a new dentist is coming to town.
Drivers on U.S. 60 have likely noticed the large Desert Bloom Dentistry billboard just outside downtown Globe, positioned next to a building that has been undergoing steady renovation. That building will soon become the second location of Desert Bloom Dentistry, operated by Dr. Shawn Layton, who also runs the original practice in Safford.
The Globe office officially opens Dec. 15, though patients can be seen as early as Dec. 8.
Layton, who grew up in Globe, calls the new office the fulfillment of a longtime dream. His path took him from Globe to Northern Arizona University, then to dental school in Chicago, where he met Dr. Steven Cooper, who was also on a path to becoming a dentist.
Cooper will serve as the primary dentist at the new location. Originally from a small town in Idaho, Cooper says he appreciates being in an area where you get to know people, unlike a big city.
“I want people to feel like they’re not being judged by their teeth,” Cooper says. “There are circumstances that lead to dental issues. A lot comes into play.”
Creating a comfortable environment and helping people is central to his approach, he adds.
“I want it to be a place where people feel safe,” he says. “I talk to people like they’re an actual person and use terms they understand.”
Cooper adds that he intends to schedule appointments with enough time to give patients his full attention.
Though Cooper will be the primary dentist at the Globe location, Layton says they will rotate between the Globe and Safford offices.
“We want to be consistent, and they will be seeing the same doctor,” Layton says.
Layton’s wife, Christi, also assists with many aspects of the practice. She says her husband’s heart and soul are in Globe and they want patients to feel like they’re getting “the best of the best.”
To that end, the building has been fully renovated and equipped with all-new technology.
The practice will accept private insurance, with Delta Dental as its primary partner. Layton says they will not be contracted with the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System due to administrative challenges, but they would welcome a pediatric provider interested in sharing the office space.
Desert Bloom Dentistry will use the same fee schedule for all patients, whether they have insurance or not, and will work with payment agencies for those who self-pay.
The clinic will serve patients of all ages and offer a full range of services, including dentures, implants, and root canals. They also plan to provide after-hours emergency care, which will be new to this area.
Regular office hours will be Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with select Friday appointments.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 928-402-2222.
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