Cookeville Regional Dental Staff

Dr. Josh

General Dentist

Dr. Joshua T. Gravelle graduated in 2012 from University of Tennessee College of Dentistry earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery after graduating from Freed-Hardeman University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in Chemistry.

He has worked and trained in practices focusing on cosmetics, surgery, and all types of prosthetics. With this experience, he is available to provide a wide variety of dentistry to patients of all ages.

He and his wife Whitney are very active at church and going on mission trips. They have gone on over a dozen medical mission trips to places such as Nicaragua, Haiti, Guatemala and Mexico, providing dental and medical care, but more importantly the Good News of Christ. He also volunteers at the Cookeville Rescue Mission providing and caring for patients at no cost to them.

He began working at Cookeville Regional Dental in the summer of 2013 and has since became an owner in the practice.

In his spare time he enjoys woodworking, traveling, playing softball and enjoying his animals.

He wants to thank you for giving him the honor of serving you and your family.

Cara B. Corning, DDS

Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Cara Corning is a board certified Pediatric Dentist. She was raised in Mt. Juliet and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in biology at Tennessee Technological University in 2006: Her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in 2010, graduating with honors and her Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital Medical Center in 2012.

Dr. Corning enjoys educating and encouraging families on the importance of oral health throughout their childhood and loves serving CRDA patients and parents.

Michael Sawaf, DMD

Orthodontist

Dr. Michael Sawaf received his D.M.D degree from Boston University where he remains a member of the Boston University Dental Alumni Association. He practiced general dentistry for 8 years as a former Naval Officer in the Dental Corps. From 2001-2004, he served as an assistant director of the general practice residency program at The Naval Medical Center San Diego. From there he went on to complete his orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics residency at Jacksonville University where he received a Certificate of Advance Studies in Orthodontics, C.A.G.S. Dr. Michael Sawaf has achieved board certification through The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) on June 1, 2007 and he earned his recertification on March 1, 2012.

He is a member of College Of Diplomates Of the American Board of Orthodontics, The American Association Of Orthodontists, and The American Dental Association.

Dr. Sawaf enjoys staying on the cutting edge of orthodontics and believes in precision orthodontic care from the first consultation to the final results. His goal is to not only straighten teeth, but to make someone's smile a perfect complement to their overall facial appearance stating, "We can do so much more with the braces today than we could a generation ago." Dr. Michael has been practicing in Tennessee since 2006. He is an active resident of the Brentwood and Franklin communities and involved in Williamson County Chamber of Commerce.

He and his family reside in the Brentwood community. On a personal note, Dr.Sawaf is a former soccer player. These days he enjoys running, swimming, coaching YMCA youth league and plays golf when the opportunity arises.

Jeffrey B. Carter, MD DMD

Oral Surgeon

Dr. Carter hails from Connecticut and received his Engineering degree from Tufts University in Boston, MA. He holds a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from University of Connecticut and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Vanderbilt Medical School. He completed his surgical training at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, TN. He began his career in academics in 1980 as the Director of the OMS residency at the Carle Clinic in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois and then relocated back to Nashville in 1986 to join the legacy OMS practice of Drs. Hill and Martin which became the Oral Surgical Institute. In 1992, he opened the first OMS Medicare certified ambulatory surgery center in the US and in 2012 his practice became the first IAC accredited Cone Beam CT Facility in North America Over the last thirty years, he has mentored 16 surgical fellows and 20 surgical interns. He served on the prestigious Examining Committee for six years for the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. In 2016, he was the recipient of the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Annual award for the Committee Man of the Year for his life-long contributions to the surgical specialty society. He is married to his wife, Toni, and has four grown children and three grandchildren. They reside in Nashville with their two great danes Mille and Maddie. His recreational interests include squash, tennis, and summer travel to Nantucket.

Justin Chafin, DMD

Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Justin Chafin is a board certified Pediatric Dentist. He was born and raised in Florence, Alabama. He is a graduate of Lipscomb University in Nashville with his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science. He attended The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry where he obtained his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. Following dental school, he attended New York University College of Dentistry and graduated with his Certificate of Advanced Education in Pediatric Dentistry. Along with working at CRDA, he also teaches other dentists oral conscious sedation in pediatric patients. He is married to his wife, Kayla, and they have a shih tzu named Willow. In their spare time, they enjoy travelling, trying new restaurants, hiking, camping, and being outdoors.

Joel Gaw, DDS

General Dentist

Dr. Joel Gaw began practicing general dentistry in Gainesboro, TN in August 2012 with his father, Dr. Ted Gaw. He highly values his father’s commitment to providing high quality dentistry as affordably as possible, and will work daily to ensure this continues in his practice. Dr. Joel is looking forward to assisting all who would like to improve their oral health, restore their mouth to proper form and function, and enjoy a more beautiful smile. Dr. Joel grew up and attended school in Jackson County, Tennessee. He graduated from Jackson County High School in 2003 and continued his education at Tennessee Tech University where he earned his B.S. degree in Biology in 2007. He then attended the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in Memphis, TN where he graduated on May 25, 2012. Dr. Joel enjoys spending time with his family and friends, playing sports of all kinds, and worshipping God and being with his church family. He loves being outdoors and spending time running, hiking, hunting, and camping