At Alliance Dental, we work with our patients to achieve and maintain optimum dental health so you can truly enjoy life to the fullest! That means that we begin with prevention in mind. Dr. Spaska Malaric provides comprehensive oral exams so that we can address any current dental conditions you might have and even prevent them in the future!
When you come to our office, you will always receive personalized care designed to meet your specific needs. Everyone's dental health is different and requires an individual approach. A comprehensive oral exam will allow us to discover exactly how to support your dental health in the best way possible. Dr. Malaric will perform a complete exam of your teeth, gums, and the delicate tissues inside your mouth to develop an accurate assessment of your oral health and any possible dental diseases that require your attention.
At your regular appointment, we look for common conditions such as decay, periodontal disease, TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders, bone loss, cysts, tumors, and infections. With this information, we can provide you with exactly the type of dental care that will protect your smile for years to come.
If you are like many of our patients, you may wish to improve the appearance of your smile. A comprehensive dental exam can help us determine the types of cosmetic dental procedures that will give you the beautiful smile you have always wanted.
Once Dr. Malaric completes your exam, she will design a treatment plan that addresses any immediate needs, dental conditions, and any goals you have for your smile. Whether you need to address some health concerns or you want to explore cosmetic dentistry to improve the aesthetics of your smile, her customized treatment plan will provide you with the guidance you need to keep your teeth looking and feeling great for many years to come.
High-quality dentistry begins with having a clear plan and quality routine care. Dr. Malaric is committed to providing you with the best that modern dentistry has to offer and the guidance to make good decisions regarding your dental health.
We recommend that all of our patients visit our Fort Myers dental office every six months for a regular dental appointment and cleaning. Routine cleanings include removing any plaque, tartar, and bacteria from the surfaces of your teeth. Each cleaning with your hygienist includes a professional polish of your teeth to remove any surface stains and restore shine. When you combine regular dental cleanings with excellent home care, you can prevent many common dental conditions, such as decay and periodontal disease.
Periodontal (Gum) disease is an infection in your gums, and it can be caused by a lack of professional dental care, poor home care habits, or certain medical conditions. Some of the symptoms associated with periodontal disease include sore gums, bleeding, sensitivity, recession, inflammation, and bad breath.
We diagnose periodontal disease by taking measurements between your teeth and gums and assessing the bone loss around your teeth on your X-rays. Your gums should fit snugly around your teeth, creating a tight seal. When you have gum disease, pockets can form and collect bacteria, which further worsens your infection.
If you experience any of these symptoms, call Alliance Dental, and we can create a custom treatment plan that will improve your health and comfort. In its early stages, we can treat gum disease with specialized dental cleanings that gently remove tartar and bacteria from below your gum line, which promotes healing.
Until your gums heal completely, you might benefit from more frequent dental cleanings. Dr. Spaska Malaric will recommend a plan of action that will meet your health needs. When left untreated, gum disease can cause tooth loss and complicate systemic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses.
When you have deep pockets between your teeth and gums, Dr. Malaric may recommend a localized antibiotic treatment to promote healing. By placing antibiotic treatment directly at the infection site, we treat your condition at the core. In many cases, Arestin, combined with deep dental cleanings, may save a tooth that otherwise would require an extraction.
Oral cancer is a particularly deadly form of cancer. Maintaining regular dental appointments can be beneficial because when it comes to diagnosing oral cancer, your dentist is your first line of defense and is often the first to diagnose potentially cancerous lesions.
While oral cancer is not particularly difficult to treat in its early stages, it is often diagnosed later in its development, which makes it more deadly. The five-year survival rate is approximately 57 percent. While it is an improvement over the last decade, it is one of the lowest survival rates, making it a particularly dangerous cancer.
Certain risk factors increase your chances of oral cancer:
Your dentist is your best defense against oral cancer because dentists are trained to recognize the early symptoms of oral cancer. In some cases, the symptoms are subtle and may resemble a canker sore. In other cases, you may have a red or dark-colored lesion. Some of the symptoms include:
If you have any lesions or changes in your soft tissue that last more than 14 days, you should make an appointment with your dentist.
At Alliance Dental, in addition to regular visual inspections, we utilize ViziLite Plus, the latest technology in oral cancer detection. It uses a special fluorescent lighting system that highlights oral cancer in its earliest stages. If we find a suspicious lesion, we will recommend a biopsy to rule out oral cancer. By choosing a dentist who uses ViziLite oral cancer detection, you increase your chances of early diagnosis and survival of oral cancer. This is just one reason why maintaining your routine dental exams is essential.
Treatment of oral cancer often includes a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. The earlier you seek treatment, the less invasive treatment will generally be.
Call our Fort Myers dental office today at (239) 939-2433. Our friendly and helpful dental team looks forward to welcoming you to our dental family and providing you with the outstanding dental care you deserve.
