November 17, 2006

Retail Roundup

Dental duo opens Malonso Family Dental in Evergreen Village Square

By Carol Rosen
Staff Writer

Some children hate their parents’ careers, but not Jessica and Robert Malonso. The Malonsos, who recently opened Malonso Family Dental at Evergreen Village Square, are not just practicing dentistry, but are carrying on the family trade as second and third generation dentists.

Dentistry at Robert (right) and Jessica Malonso’s Family Clinic in Evergreen Square is totally high tech, with lots of new methods for detecting tooth problems and even some pleasant, painless methods of fixing the teeth. Photo by Carol Rosen

Robert, a transplanted New Yorker, and Jessica, a second generation Northern Californian who grew up in Evergreen, met at dentistry school at the University of Boston. Robert’s grandfather practiced dentistry in the Philippines, as did his father before moving to the United States. Jessica’s father also practiced in the Philippines and later moved to California. Jessica’s mom also is a dentist.

The two initially lived in Boston, but the weather and monthly trips to visit her family in California finally encouraged them to take another board exam to practice dentistry in California. Once here, Jessica worked part time with her parents, while Robert worked for a cosmetic dentist in Saratoga for the past three years.

In early November, they opened the clinic in Evergreen, “because we live here,” Jessica said. “We want to be active in the community we live in and this is ideal. Evergreen Square has that small town feeling and it’s perfect for us.”

The Malonsos have two daughters, Makena, who is five and attends Matsumoto Elementary School, and Zenia, who is three and in preschool. Often in the afternoons, the girls actually help reduce other children’s fears of visiting the dentist, Jessica said.

The clinic provides nearly everything. Jessica is certified to do Invisalign as well as traditional orthodontia and both do teeth cleaning, crowns, gum disease prevention, root canals and surgery, although they send the trickier cases to a specialist, Robert said.

“We practice preventative dentistry,” said Robert.

One new device is the DIAGNOdent. This tool is a laser that helps dentists discover hidden decay. Totally painless, the laser is passed over and around the teeth. If it spots decay within the tooth it causes a fluorescent glow that provides a numeric reading to the dentist. The higher the number, the greater the decay.

“This allows us to find decay at the earliest stages,” said Jessica. “Then we can monitor the tooth and if the decay gets worse, then we can fill the cavity.”

Another new item they use is called Perio Protect, which is a non-invasive method of treating moderate to advanced gum disease without patient reactions. People with gum problems are fitted with a tray filled with a hydrogen peroxide gel that is constantly delivered under the gums. Sometimes the gel also includes a small dose of antibiotic.

The gel super oxidizes the gum area, killing the bacteria, which thrive without oxygen. It’s a lot easier and less painful than current gum treatment, Robert said, which involves scrapping the teeth under the gums and cleaning the bacteria away. Often the latter treatment also requires antibiotics, which can cause adverse reactions, he added.

The new method, he said, is easy to maintain. As the condition improves, the tray is worn less until it is no longer needed.

Among their other new technologies are intra-oral cameras. These small wands take pictures of the teeth. In some ways, they are better than X-rays because they can show if a filling is failing, plaque and tarter buildup, faulty crowns or why a tooth broke.

The clinics are very high tech; dental rooms are wired with computers, and there is a screen over the chair. During procedures the screen can show videos or DVDs to get the patient’s mind off the work being done. However, during a check-up, it can also be used to show patients’ potential or existing problems, as well as videos that explain what is happening during a certain procedure.

Helping others
Every other year, the Malonsos join Jessica’s family for a weeklong trip to Philippine villages where her father grew up. One of her uncles does a census to find the poorest families that need dental and medical help.

They spend the week treating these villagers for free as well as providing medicine, food and clothing. Often their daughters bring along toys, which they pass out to the patients’ children.

Robert took his first trip to the country in 2005 and said the free care they provide is a labor of love for both dentists.

Exams
The initial exam at Malonso Family Dental takes about an hour, Robert said, because it’s a very important process. The dentist takes a history, photographs the teeth and checks out the tongue, gums, throat and mucosa.

“You can’t overlook anything,” he said, “because it’s not just about the teeth.”

For example, Jessica said, gum problems or plaque and tarter buildup can lead to other diseases including heart disease.

Another unique factor about the clinic is that it is totally digitized. Everything is on the computer.

Malonso Family Dental is located at 4095 Evergreen Village Square. It is open Tuesday through Saturday; from noon to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday; from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday; and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.