About Us — Tooth Shop of Ocala

Our Practice is Committed to Delivering the Highest Quality of Dental Care

It is with the greatest pleasure that we welcome you to our dental practice here at The Tooth Shop of Ocala.

Thank you for choosing our office for your dental needs. We appreciate the confidence and trust that you have placed in us. My dental team and I are very proud of the dental services that we provide. We look forward to becoming your partner in your long term oral health. Our practice is focused on prevention because we know that detecting problems early saves our patients valuable time and money in the end. Our practice is committed to delivering the highest quality of dental care.

We consider ourselves to be a comprehensive care dental practice.

This means we consider both your periodontal condition (gum health), as well as the functional condition (tooth health) of your mouth. Comprehensive care in our office means that we do not let fees or insurance decide what is best for you. We recognize each patient as an individual and our goal is to help you retain your teeth in comfort, function, and appearance for a lifetime. We do this by tailoring your specific concerns with your current state of dental health. You may notice our treatment plans our more complete than other offices. We like to give our patients choices in their dental care. We may have even given you more than one treatment plan. This is because there are often good plans, better plans, and a best plan for each individual. It is important to us that you are given all the information about your dental health so that you can make choices that are right for you. Our philosophy is to develop a complete plan for your ideal health. This treatment philosophy lets us look at your long-term dental picture, creating a plan that will allow for your mouth to be its healthiest now, and in the future.

A comprehensive plan for ideal dental health consists of 3 basic things:

1) HEALTH: We believe that the foundation for good dental health begins with healthy gums. Scientific research relates gum disease to heart disease, diabetes, and many other health problems. Healthy gums and bone are given top priority in our treatment sequence.

2) FUNCTION: The replacement of missing teeth and the restoring of broken or decayed teeth allows one to optimize tooth comfort, function, and appearance. Teeth play an important role in communication, speech, biting, chewing, digestion, and supporting facial structure.

3) ESTHETICS: Esthetic dentistry can give you a smile makeover by restoring chipped, worn, discolored, misaligned, broken, or stained teeth. There are various ways that we can help to enhance your smile. We believe a person’s smile can affect the physical, social, and psychological aspects of a person’s life. We want to help you look your best. We believe that helping you have better dental health is based on mutual trust, communication, and understanding. We strive to keep you informed of your treatment options, including the risks, the benefits, and the consequences of no treatment. We want you to choose what is best for you. When you do, we are here to help you achieve your optimum dental health. If you have questions or concerns about the treatment that has been recommended for you, please do not hesitate to call, email, or make an appointment at no charge to discuss further. We look forward to seeing you.

Dr. Syska

Dr. Syska received his DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) from the Ohio State University in 2000. He started his undergraduate degree at the University of Cincinnati majoring in Architectural Engineering. Dr. Syska only attended UC for the 93-94 school year and then transferred to OSU. While transferring his classes, he tested out of much of the course curriculum necessary for entry into dental school. He entered the College of Dentistry in the fall of 1995, making him the youngest person in the country to enter dental school that year. For this accomplishment, Dr. Syska was recognized before the House of Representatives in the state capitol building in Columbus. This award is proudly displayed in his office.

During his time in dental school, Dr. Syska would spend much of his time outside the clinic in geriatric nursing homes. He was instrumental in helping to set up the geriatric dental program at OSU. On graduating, Dr. Syska received an award from Proctor and Gamble, the makers of Crest toothpaste, entitled the “Crest Award for the Elderly.” This too is proudly displayed in the office.
Since graduating from dental school, Dr. Syska has continued to further his education in dentistry. In 2006, Dr. Syska became a graduate of the Misch Implant Institute in Detroit, MI. He completed over 100 hrs. of lecture and hands-on training in the art of placing and restoring dental implants. Then for the 2006-2007 school year, Dr. Syska returned to OSU for an Implant Fellowship. His responsibilities included treatment planning and restoring dental implants as well as educating the predoctoral students.
In the fall of 2007, Dr. Syska took extensive training in the use of CEREC. CEREC is a computer design and milling machine that allows crowns to be made in the office. In 2008, Dr. Syska received the necessary training to administer oral and IV sedation from Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Syska is currently a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the Ohio Dental Association, the Florida Dental Association, and the Central Florida District Dental Association.
Dr. Syska moved to Florida in early 2010. His mother was a Florida native and grew up in Punta Gorda. As a child, Dr. Syska spent much time visiting family and family friends all over the state. Dr Syska settled in Lake County to be outside the city of Orlando but remain centrally located. He enjoys working in Lake County and living the lifestyle Lake County has to offer.
Dr. Syska enjoys many outdoor activities including boating, waterskiing, and riding ATVs and waverunners. He is an avid auto enthusiast, and he can often be found at local auto shows. Dr. Syska tries to stay in shape by landscaping. He enjoys planting shrubbery and flowers with his wife and kids. Dr. Syska also obtained his pilot’s license in 2010, but he doesn’t get to fly as often as he would like.

Meet the Team

All professionals at The Tooth Shop of Ocala maintain the highest levels of accreditation and pursue ongoing education to stay abreast of the latest trends in the dental field.

Cindy, a graduate of Santa Fe Community College in 1990, has a rich history with this office. She began her journey here, working with the previous dentist until 2009. Following that, she joined Dr. Syska and has been a dedicated member of his team since.
Originally from Ocala, Cindy is happily married with adult children. Family time holds a special place in her heart, and she loves nothing more than cherishing moments with her loved ones.
When she's not at work or with family, Cindy thrives in the great outdoors. Whether it's running, biking, or enjoying the water, be it kayaking, dragon boating, or simply being on a boat, she finds joy in nature!

Katie loves to spend time with her family and her beloved pets! Her husband is a local sheriff. Together, they have a six year old daughter as well as 3 horses and 3 dogs and 4 goats!
When she is not working, she enjoys riding horses and watching her daughter show her horse. They also enjoy traveling when time allows!

Laura brings 28 years of experience and dedication to The Tooth Shop of Ocala. Her passion for dentistry and assisting is profound. As a proud Florida native, she loves to travel and explore national parks and destinations near and far.

Tiffany, a certified registered hygienist, earned her credentials after graduating from the Santa Fe College Dental Hygiene program in December 2012. Beyond her professional life, she finds immense joy in spending her free time with her husband and their beloved dog.

Heather is a CRDH and USF alumni! She is a vibrant individual blessed with a loving husband and children. With a deep appreciation for the outdoors, sports, music, and games, she finds joy in every moment spent with her family and friends. In her free time, Heather thrives in the sunshine, engaging in water activities and exercising. She cherishes moments listening to her husband's tales of racing, exercising and cherished family stories. Dedicated to her career, Heather delights in making new connections and forming lasting friendships wherever she goes.

Ellie is a proud graduate of Greater Lawrence Technical High School in Massachusettes and AADOM member. Her passion for helping patients shines through every day. Nothing brings her more joy than seeing their smiles after completing major treatments. Being part of the team and the practice is where she thrives, especially appreciating Dr. Syska's commitment to educating the team on various topics, a role she's embraced for the past 8 years.
Outside of work, Ellie loves spending time and making memories with her husband, three children, and two fur babies! In her free time, Ellie indulges in her favorite pastimes: interior design, event planning, acquiring new skills, immersing herself in a good book, and bringing order to her surroundings through organizing.

Sherry is a seasoned dental professional with over 30 years of dedicated service at the Tooth Shop of Ocala. Throughout her tenure, she has consistently demonstrated her commitment to patient care and dental excellence. Sherrie retired in 2024 from dental hygiene.

Maggie, a dedicated dental assistant, has been on a journey of continuous learning and growth. In 2019, she achieved certification as an EFDA at the Academy for Dental Assistants. Currently, she's pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Health Sciences at the University of Central Florida (Charge On!), with aspirations to attend dental school in the future.
Maggie holds certifications in Basic HIPPA Privacy & Security and Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary. Actively involved in her academic community, she is a proud member of the Pre-dental Students Association at UCF and a student member of the Organization for Safety, Asepsis, and Prevention (OSAP).
In her role as a dental assistant, Maggie finds fulfillment in enhancing the dental experiences of her patients, making their visits comfortable and positive.
Outside of work and school, Maggie's loves a good adventure! She enjoys mountain bike riding with her family, nurturing her garden, and cherishing moments with her friends. She finds joy in outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and contributing to wildlife conservation efforts.