Dr. Cox grew up in Greenville, attending Rose High School and is proud to have been an ECU Pirate. After graduating from the UNC School of Dentistry in Chapel Hill, he served his country as a Dental officer in the United States Army in Germany. Upon his return to the USA he joined the faculty at UNC School of Dentistry and taught there for three years. He was then accepted for advanced studies in Orthodontics by the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco, California. There he received his Graduate Degree in Orthodontics. He has passed the Dental Board Exams in California, Washington State and the State of North Carolina. He was also awarded a license to practice orthodontics in Germany.
Following graduation, Dr. Cox was asked to join a private orthodontic practice in Germany with an International staff and patient family. The following year he opened his own practice in Landstuhl, near Ramstein Air Force Base. While in Germany he was afforded the opportunity of treating people from around the world as well as local civilian and military patients. His association and friendship with many international orthodontists also served to broaden his professional knowledge and skills. These relationships continue today. Here he also gained a wealth of experience treating patients whose cases he not only started but those who transferred to him from other orthodontists when their careers or military service brought them overseas.
Patients traveled to him from as far as Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, Romania, Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg. This experience of taking someone else’s patient and bringing them forward to a fabulous finish was invaluable in increasing his already large wealth of experience. Dr. Cox was among a select group of Orthodontists licensed to operate a private practice in Germany. Due in part to these experiences and a sense of duty, he is one of the few Orthodontists in Eastern North Carolina that routinely accepts transfer patients.
After eight years in Germany Dr. Cox returned home to Greenville to practice and be near his family. He is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, North Carolina Association of Orthodontists, American Dental Association, North Carolina Dental Society and East Central Dental Society. He also teaches as a preceptor at the East Carolina University School of Medicine’s Family Practice Dental Clinic where he oversees the integration of simple orthodontics into the Dental Residency program there.
Possessing a great sense of humor, Dr. Cox is adored by all his patients. They relax and enjoy an unhurried, caring professional atmosphere. He credits his excellent results to his attention to detail, sense of responsibility and ‘hands on’ practice. He is also known as well for the amazing office decor of collectibles and memorabilia he has amassed over the years. His office has been highlighted by WITN’S Country Rover and is even utilized as a teaching resource for some history classes in Pitt County.
Dr. Cox and his wife Ilene enjoy antiquing, the beach and supporting various community organizations including Smiles & Frowns Playhouse where he served as cast photographer for 15 years.
Their philanthropy extends to causes outside the area including the USO, The World War II Memorial, the American Air Museum in England and their most favorite, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Virginia (www.history.org). Their daughter Kathryn is an orthodontic assistant for a private practice in New York City and their best dog, Bracie, still lives at home!
Happy Bracie is our office mascot!