Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Elizabeta Cokovska.
Hi Dr. Elizabeta, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am going to include my story that I just wrote for a book. This is a summary of how I got to be where I am today.
It was a quiet morning, the kind I love most, with a perfectly hot cup of coffee in my hands and a good conversation flowing with a friend. Somewhere between laughter and reflection, something struck me: how success, once achieved, starts to feel ordinary. We reach milestones we once dreamed about, only to find ourselves looking forward again, planning, striving, wondering what’s next. You don’t always stop to realize how far you’ve actually come. I smiled into my coffee that morning because when I paused long enough to reflect, I saw a story, my story: one that’s filled with determination, resilience, and the quiet power of never taking “no” for an answer.
I’ve always known who I was, even at a very young age. I was almost six years old when I first learned what it meant to believe in myself, even when others didn’t. I wanted to start school and I still remember overhearing my teacher tell my father that I wasn’t ready for school and the mix of fear and determination I felt as I listened. But my father disagreed. He stood up for me, loked that teacher in the eye, and said that I was ready and that I could do it. And just like that, I started school, exactly as I wanted. Looking back, that moment planted a seed in me, that sometimes the world won’t see your readiness, your potential, or your fire, but you have to hold on to it anyway. That lesson has stayed with. me all my life: when others doubt you, you have to believe in yourself twice as hard.
I rose to the top of my class, not because I aimed to simply pass tests, but because I was driven to truly understand the essence of my chosen field. I studied day and night, determined to build a strong foundation for everything I hoped to become. When I graduated from dental school in Europe, I dreamed of becoming a prosthodontist which is a specialist focused on restoring smiles and rebuilding confidence. But once again, I was told it wasn’t possible. The program was exlusive, reserved for the privileged few. I didn’t have that kind of background, but I had something else: drive. I was offered a spot in every other specialty, but my heart refused to settle. I wanted prosthodontics or nothing at all. So I kept applying, kept trying, kept believing. I didn’t want just any career, I wanted the one I was meant for. And one day, I got in. That moment didn’t just prove that dreams are possible, it proved that determination is stronger than doubt. Every “no” I heard brought me closer to the one “yes” that mattered.
Not long after that victory, life brought a new challenge; one that would change my story completely. My husband, an engineer, and I decided to migrate to the United States. There was a war in our country, and we wanted a safer, better future for our family. We applied through the U.S. Embassy and we were granted an interview. They say the selection process is random, but deep down, I believe they look for something more: people with strong educational backgrounds and the potential to contribute something meaningful. We had a young daughter and another baby on the way. It was a leap of faith, one of those life-changing decision where you can’t see what’s ahead, but you know you have to jump anyway. Then, on one ordinarily beautiful day we got the news that were one of the few people that were chosen for a green card.
We came to America with two suitcases, an icon, and only $10,000 in our pockets.
I’ll never forget the moment we landed in Florida. The second those airport doors opened, the hot, heavy air hit my face: a wave of warmth that felt almost symbolic, like an embrace from the new world I was stepping into. I didn’t know what awaited us, but I knew I was exactly where I needed to be. That moment was over 20 years ago, and yet I can still feel that warm air, that mix of fear and excitement, that quiet whisper in my heart saying, “this is your new beginning.” It was the first moment of the rest of my life.
I was a doctor, but in a new country, that title didn’t mean much at first. I was seven months pregnant when I got a job as a dental assistant. My English was limited, but my gratitude was limitless. I’ll never forget the doctor who believed in me enough to give me that opportunity. That kind of faith, someone taking a chance on you, can change the entire course of your life. We didn’t have much, but we had each other, and that made us rich in all the ways that truly matter. Happiness, I learned, doesn’t come from comfort, it comes from gratitude. We were grateful for every meal, every moment, and every opportunity.
I worked hard, step by step, from dental assistant to dental hygienist, but deep down in my soul I knew I wasn’t done. My heart longed for prosthodontics, the specialty that defined my purpose. Dentistry wasn’t just my career, it was my passion. I loved restoring not just teeth, but confidence, identity, and joy. I wanted to help people smile again, not just on the outside, but from the inside out. So I did something most people thought was impossible: I went back to school again, this time in the United States, to earn my credentials all over and reclaim my title as a prosthodontist here.
There were days when exhausting felt endless. But every challenge reminded me of something my journey had already taught me, that nothing is impossible when your purpose is bigger than your struggle. My passion and faith were too big to be silenced by fear or fatigue.
Through the never-ending help and support of my wonderful husband and children, I achieved my goal and began practicing again. Working for other dental offices helped me gain experience and refine my skills. I soon realized that I no longer wanted to work for anyone else and a quiet voice inside of me began to whisper again: It’s time to build your own. I realized I was ready to create something of my own that reflected my vision, my values, and my dedication to my patients.
That’s how Makris Dental Prosthodontics was born.
The name “Makris” is special. It’s a combination of my daughters’ names, a tribute to the two people who motivated me through every obstacle. They were my reason, my inspiration, and my reminder that dreams are worth chasing. Building my own practice was more than a career move; it was the realization of a dream I had nurtured for decades.
I spent months searching for the right location, driving around Florida, walking empty plots of land, and trying to imagine where my dream would take root. When I stepped foot on the land in Lake Nona, located in the heart of Orlando’s Medical City, I knew instantly it was the right spot. It felt alive and full of innovation, growth, and hope. Florida had welcomed me when I arrived with nothing, and now, it was the place where I would plant new roots and give back to the community that gave me so much. I designed and built my practice from the ground up, every wall, and every detail filled with my vision and passion.
Every time I walk through the doors of my practice, I feel immense gratidue for my patients, my team, and the life that I’ve built. I get to do what I love every single day and live my dream to restore smiles, rebuild confidence, and make a difference in people’s lives. That’s not just my job; it’s my calling. What fulfills me most isn’t the success itself, it’s the journey that made it possible. It’s knowing that no matter where you start, you can build the life you envision if you have the courage to keep going. Success, I’ve learned, isn’t just about achievements or titles. It’s about impact. It’s about the people you help, the moments you share, and the legacy you build.
If there’s one lesson my story carries, it’s this: never let anyone define what’s possible for you. People will tell you no. Life will test you. But if you know who you are and what you want, you’ll always find a way. Success doesn’t happen overnight, it’s built day by day, through persistence, passion, and purpose.
In my life, I have taken two oaths: the Hippocratic Oath and the Oath of Allegiance: one to serve humanity, and one to serve the nation that gave me the freedom to do so. Together, they define not just my profession, but my soul.
No matter where you come from, no matter how many times you’ve heard “no”, there’s always a “yes” waiting for you, but you have to believe you are worthy of finding it. That’s what my journey taught me. That’s what becoming an American, and a Specialist Prosthodontist living my dream, has reminded me every single day. Because sometimes, the most beautiful part of success isn’t reaching the destination. It’s realizing that you made it…all the way home.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Makris Dental Prosthodontics?
I am the recipient of the Nations Top 10% Lifetime Achievement Award in Prosthodontics. I am a distinguished Master Specialist Prosthodontist, visionary leader, and founder of Makris Dental Prosthodontics, an elite advanced dental center located in Lake Nona, the heart of Orlando’s Medical City. With over 30 years of experience, I have built a reputation as one of the most accomplished and compassionate professionals in restorative and aesthetic dentistry. I hold two prosthodontics specialties, and two master degrees in my field, an achievement that reflects my unwavering commitment to excellence in my profession.
My clinic, Makris Dental Prosthodontics, is a direct reflection of the type of work that I do. Every single space in my office was carefully designed by me with an extreme attention to detail, just like the work that I do in my patients mouths. My clinic has top-of-the-line cutting-edge technology. I also have an in-house lab where I design my own cases and significantly reduce the waiting time for my patients.I do not skimp on quality for my patients at all. I have the latest technology and the absolutely best materials on the market. I do not care about how much my materials cost, I only buy and use the best and highest quality materials on the market for my patients because if I put my name on something it is going to be the best.
I specialize in implants, veneers, crowns, full mouth reconstructions, dental bridges, all-on-x, extremely complex cases, onlays and inlays, implant supported crowns, implant supported bridges, partial and complete dentures, overdentures, dental obturators, failed restorative cases from other providers, implant prosthesis maintence and repair, immediate dentures, extractions, periodontal diseases, smile designs, tooth wear rehabilitation, sinus lifts, alteration of occlusal vertical dimenstions, gummy smiles, occlusal analysis and correction, bruxism, tmj, occlusal bites/splints, medically compromised patients requiring surgery and oral rehabilitation, interdisciplinary cases, orthodontics, teeth whitening, and general work like fillings.
I am known for my work. I have patients flying in from all over the country to be seen by me and doctors from Universities call me to consult with me regarding extremely complex patients that they refer to me. I am also known for my personality as I believe in being warm and approachable for my patients. I love my patients and they can feel that. I have a very personalized approach with everything that I do. I treat my patients the way they deserve to be treated. I don’t rush them. I don’t make them feel like a number because they are not one.
I want everyone to know that Makris Dental Prosthodontics is led by me, one of the Top Prosthodontist in the whole country. Second, I only use the best and most advanced technology available on the market, and I only use the highest quality of materials for my patients. I will never skimp on quality. There is no dental treatment that I can’t do. There is no case I can’t solve, no matter how complex. We are the absolute best. We are number one. I am proud to say that.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I am always updating myself on the latest in Prosthodontics and I go to educational talks.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.makrisdental.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makrisdentalprosthodontics/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Makris-Dental-Prosthodontics-61579597835777/
