Wake Forest, NC Health and Fitness

Dr. Christopher J. Gudger looks to advancements in dental technology to make his treatments as safe, pleasant, and thorough as possible. The office’s digital cone beam machine snaps high-definition, 3-D, surround-sound shots of teeth and bones to prepare Dr. Gudger for restorative procedures. Oral sedation—the dentist's specialty—gives patients the option to sleep through surgery, emerging on the other side with placid nerves and a gleaming grin.

Capital Golf Center beckons visitors to its 20 verdant acres sprawling with hands-on, family-friendly activities. A small river populated by poker-playing otters surges through the 18-hole miniature golf course and curves around daunting sand traps, where swingers can practice their short game, launching sandy balls onto smooth greens. For more serious swinging, head to the 25 sheltered and heated hitting bays at the practice facility, which is open year-round. Those in need of back-swing advice can bone up in lessons from PGA–certified instructor Jeff Robinson, who boasts two decades of experience to assist golf scholars.

From performing research and leading seminars for a leading manufacturer, Dr. Katherine E. Garrett DDS, PA experienced many facets of the dental world before opening her own practice in 2004. It’s within this clean, stone-accented office that she dotes on patients’ smiles during general and cosmetic services with modern equipment, including intraoral photos that post chompers’ good sides onto a computer monitor. In addition to teaching patients tips for maintaining their oral health, Dr. Garrett keeps her own knowledge sharp by attending continuing-education courses.

The Foot & Ankle Associates of NC, PLLC's presiding quartet of doctors tackles the various woes of lower appendages with a repertoire of techniques that ranges from routine checkups to corrective surgeries. At each of its three offices, the medical team rights a variety of foot-related wrongs, such as plantar fasciitis and toenail fungus. The doctors also address orthopedic issues, prescribing special shoes for diabetics with poor circulation and aspiring Fred Astaires with not enough pep in their step. Determined to stay on the technological vanguard, they employ modern cryosurgery equipment to treat tarsal-tunnel syndrome, plantar warts, and neuromas with quick, minimally invasive sessions of icy therapy.

Michael Hoehle knows first-hand the toll sports can take on the body. Years of football and ice hockey barraged his back, causing discomfort and weariness. Physicality nurtured Michael's passion for competition, and it would eventually inspire him to combat injury as a profession. With an athlete's drive, he conquered his undergraduate studies and completed the chiropractic program at Palmer College of Chiropractic. His mission of natural healing then led him to North Carolina, where his experiences gave him the knowledge necessary to open his own chiropractic office.

At Raleigh Chiropractic & Wellness, Michael aids patients in achieving a healthy state without invasive treatments or medications. His consultation services investigate backbone health and potential issues, and his meticulous adjustment treatments and chiropractic massage services reduce the aches that so often stem from giving piggyback rides to actual pigs.

The staff at Creekside Women's Center—board-certified ob-gyn Henry N. Pleasant, certified family nurse practitioner Robin Donta, certified nurse midwife Wesley Tyler, and physician's assistant Audrey Tinsley—combine their medical expertise to provide women of all ages with comprehensive care. As each appointment begins, the boutique-style office welcomes clientele with its cozy foyer and cups of coffee and tea. Once inside private patient rooms, visitors slip into cotton gowns rather than ones made of paper or chain mail. Then the staff conducts health services such as annual checkups, primary care, family planning, menopausal treatments, and medical massages. Pleasant and his team also assist patients in achieving weight-loss goals through medically supervised programs and nutritional counseling.