Tracing back to 1924, Dr. Forrest Curtis Cox came to Trenton from Salisbury and began what has been a long-standing tradition of family dentistry. The original dental practice was located over the former Stein’s Clothing Store in downtown Trenton and later moved down the street to a location above Trenton Hardware. Dr. Forrest Cox would be considered a “fix the problem dentist” in a day when a dentist simply solved what hurt.
Moving from Salisbury was not a favored move by his family, which included a brother who was also a dentist. The railroad brought Dr. Forrest Cox to Trenton and he saw the potential for a successful dental practice. His son, Dr. F. Curtis Cox II, joined his father in 1958 and together they looked forward to serving the community. Sadly, the health of the elder Dr. Cox prohibited him from practicing but a year after the father-son duo began working together and he was forced to retire from the day to day practice.
But even in retirement, both men continued to work together, with the elder Dr. Cox working in a home-based dental lab, where he built dentures for his son and the family practice. By this time, the family practice had relocated to 1011 Cedar St. where it remains today. The second-generation dentist began to focus more on preventive dentistry and restorative work. He became a pioneer in the field of implant techniques and practiced until his retirement in 2004.
The third generation Cox joined the practice in 1986 when Dr. Paul C. Cox returned home to join his father. Cox Family Dentistry on Cedar Street underwent two building additions designed to accommodate a growing practice and more extensive services to its patients. Dr. Paul says that in the 1970’s and 80’s, people became more preventive themselves and learned to take better care of their teeth than they used to.
“Technology has played a big part in dentistry trends and the types of materials used for preventions and services is changing,” he said. “Cosmetic dentistry is now very important with the ultimate goal – to make bright white teeth with big smiles.”
Dr. Paul, like his father, graduated from the University of Missouri Dental School. While in college, he worked in a dental lab, which gave him a thorough understanding of crowns, bridges and other dental prosthetics.
In 2013, the fourth member of the Cox legacy returned to Trenton to join his father in the family practice. Dr. Andrew P. Cox, a third generation UMKC Dental School graduate, vowed to continue the family commitment to always provide a positive impact on the health of the community and offer top of the line equipment and the latest in technology. Dr. Andy Cox has an emphasis on preventive care and reconstruction and is following in the shoes of his grandfather (Dr. Cox II), doing work in the field of dental implants.
The Cedar Street site of the family practice has seen many changes over the years and in 2012, the groundbreaking of the third addition to the building was completed, offering additional operating areas, a spacious waiting room and an expanded front office space. New and improved equipment was added with the patient in mind for a positive experience while in the office.
Giving back to the community has always been an important creed for the entire Cox family. Dr. Paul is a former member of the Trenton R-9 Board of Education, the Riverside Country Club Board of Directors, the Grundy County Industrial Development Corporation Board of Directors, Trenton Baseball Association, Boy Scouts and the Trenton Quarterback Club. Dr. Andy has followed right along, serving on the RCC Board, the Trenton Park Board, the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce Board, Boy Scouts and was a former member of the Trenton Ambassadors. Both men, along with their wives, are active members of the First Assembly of God Church, where both Dr. Paul and Dr. Andy serve on the church board.
Dr. Paul is married to the former Barbara Senf of Trenton, who is retired from the Trenton R-9 School System and is a member of both the Grundy County Nursing Home District (Sunnyview Nursing Home and Apartments) and Wright Memorial Hospital Foundation boards of directors as well as the PEO Sisterhood. She also directs the choir at the First Assembly of God Church.
Dr. Andy is married to the former Holly Foster of Trenton and they have two children – Ariana, age 4, and Evelyn, age 2, with a third little one on the way in March. She is involved in the PEO Sisterhood and the First Assembly of God Girls Ministry.
The Cox family dental practice has been in existence for 95 years and is still growing. With a staff of six, they are committed to being the best that they can be. And who knows who might join the legacy of caring, compassionate providers of family dentistry in the next generation? One thing is for sure – history speaks for itself and the commitment to offer the highest level of care has and will always be foremost to the Cox family; not to mention the opportunity to develop friendships with their patients and their families and the opportunity to restore a patient’s smile with skill, predictability and compassion.
A proud family tradition is what the Trenton Rotary Club and the Missouri Day Steering Committee sought in selecting their 2019 grand marshal and the Cox family is the perfect fit.