Our Caring, Experienced Dental Team
A dental practice may have all the technology and services in the world, but they aren’t worth much if there isn’t also a team there that you can feel truly comfortable and at ease with. Here in Ann Arbor, we love getting to know our patients well and providing them with a cheerful, warm outlook throughout their checkups and procedures. To learn more about our experienced team members, keep reading below:
Heather – Accounts Receivable/Billing Specialist
Heather has been a member of Dr. Cocco’s staff since 2014. One of Heather's favorite things about this office is the close relationships she has built with other team members and the patients. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Michigan University.
When Heather’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and 2 young daughters. She also enjoys shopping, traveling, being outdoors and spending time with family.
Kelly – Administrative Assistant
Born and raised in Michigan, it was only natural for Kelly to pursue her studies at Central Michigan University. Since joining our team, she has thoroughly enjoyed working alongside her amazing coworkers and serving our lovely patients!
In her free time, Kelly loves rock climbing. In fact, she has her Climbing Wall Instructor certification! Other interests of hers include playing Dungeons and Dragons, exploring new restaurants, and playing board games with her partner.
Samantha — Administrative Assistant
Samantha started with our team in 2024, but her experience with us goes back over 30 years! She, her parents, and even her grandparents have been patients at our office for as long as she can remember. Today, Samantha loves helping her fellow patients have the most confident smiles possible.
Outside of work, Samantha volunteers with a non-profit that does hospital visits and community charity events as superheroes and princesses (she likes to say that her best friends are Batman and Wonder Woman). When she’s not out and about, you can usually find her at home crafting and sewing.
Danielle – Dental Hygienist
Danielle has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan Dental School and has been working in dentistry for over ten years. Her responsibilities include cleaning teeth, providing patient education, evaluating patient homecare, and making sure you have a great experience in the office. She also takes pride in stabilizing patients with periodontal needs and assisting in the maintenance of their unique care. Building relationships with her patients is one of her favorite parts of the job.
Danielle, her husband, and their daughter and son live in the area. Together, they enjoy going to sporting events, traveling, cooking, and relaxing at home. She also enjoys being active, dancing, shopping, catching up with friends, and spending time with family.
Ashley – Dental Hygienist
Ashley grew up in Westland, MI and attended the University of Michigan. Her job duties here at Dr. Cocco’s office include educating patients on oral health and hygiene, taking X-rays, screening for decay and periodontal disease, and helping them achieve a clean mouth!
Since Ashley was very young, she’s always enjoyed going to the dentist. In the 7th grade, she realized that she wanted to be a hygienist and take care of patients. Today, her favorite part of her job is getting to know the people she treats on a personal level and building relationships with them. She enjoys helping people feel comfortable and making dental appointments a great experience.
Ashley was married in September of 2015 and has two young sons that keep her busy! When she is not working, she is always with her family. Her hobbies include baking and shopping.
Casey – Dental Hygienist
Casey has been in the dental field for over 7 years now and absolutely loves connecting with each and every one of her patients. After graduating from Kingsford High School, she attended Owens Community College to receive her formal education. Since then, she’s completed certification in Basic Life Support and CPR.
Originally from Blissfield, Casey is currently married to her husband Ken and together they raise a son named Colton. She also has a dog named Ellie and three cats named Waffle, Bizi, and Titan. In her spare time, she enjoys camping, hiking, reading, video games, macrame, and riding dirt bikes and motorcycles!
Cindy – Dental Hygienist
Cindy has been a part of the dental world for over 40 years, and we’re so fortunate to have her on our team! She says that the people she sees every day are by far the best part of her job, referring to both her patients as well as her fellow team members. Cindy completed her training at the University of Michigan Dental School, and she also has a master’s degree and an adult training and education certificate
Cindy and her husband, JP, have an adult son and daughter who still live in Michigan. Family and friend time is extremely important to her, and she also likes to workout, read, and craft. On any given night, you’ll find her in the kitchen experimenting and creating new dishes!
Banu Sakina — Dental Assistant
Banu Sakina has over a decade of experience in dentistry, and she loves that being a certified dental assistant allows her to work one on one with her patients to ensure they only receive the best treatment and service. She attended Rajiv Gandhi University in India for her dental degree, and she also has a certificate in orofacial pain from the University of Southern California.
Banu is the youngest of five children (as well as the only girl!), and she lived in a few different countries before immigrating to the U.S. Because of this, she likes to travel and spends much of her free time hiking or going on long drives.