When it comes to a fear of the dentist, Dr. Cast knows exactly what you mean!  When most people think of the dentist, they don’t usually think of “fun” in the same sentence.  But what you may not know is this; Dr. Cast suffered many traumatic experiences as a child at his dentist’s office leaving him with lifetime memories of bad experiences that took him years to get over.

So when Dr. Cast’s patients tell him of their fears and experiences he can certainly relate.  That is why Dr. Cast has gone out of his way to make sure that his patients enjoy their dental experience because when patients are no longer afraid; their total health can improve as bacteria in the mouth are linked to other diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Diabetes and Heart disease.  By removing or dramatically reducing dental fears, people are freed up to get the dental healthcare they want or need but have been afraid to do because of past dental experiences.

In making his office more pleasant for his patients, Dr. Cast has addressed all aspects of his childhood dentists office he did not like…SIGHTS, SMELLS AND SOUNDS of dentistry!

That is why you will find pleasant aromatherapy candles emitting pleasant odors in his office.  Sounds of dentistry are replaced with satellite television, music, DVD movies, stereo headphones and a professionally decorated warm dental office and colors.  In fact, it looks more like a spa than and dental office. 

Sedation dentistry is a true gift for almost anyone with fears of dentistry.  Dr. Cast has used sedation dentistry to get even the most fearful patients over lifetime of horrific dental experiences.   Sedation dentistry involves the use of Valium which you take the night before your visit.  And then one hour before your appointment you take another tiny pill of Triazlolam which is quite effective at giving you total relaxation. 

You will need a designated driver to take you to and from Dr. Cast’s office, but you will find it well worth it. 

You will experience a sense of euphoria – kind of like having a few glasses of wine.  Some people fall asleep for a period of time, others are completely relaxed.  While you are sedated we place a small monitor on your finger, called a Pulse Oximeter, which lets us know your blood pressure and other vital signs so that your safety is constantly being monitored.  Some people require and additional pill, most do not.  We do base your dosage to the minimum level you need as no two people are the same.

While you are sedated you are able to talk and you are always under control.  Sedation dentistry is not general anesthesia and is a much safer alternative.  Because of its amnesic affect, you will have little to know memory of your visit and we recommend that after your visit you go home and take a nap.  You will find that the next day you feel fantastic and can resume your normal schedule.

In addition to reducing or eliminating your fears of dentistry, sedation dentistry has several positive benefits that can make your dental care safer such as:
Local anesthetic levels are frequently reduced meaning using less epinephrine is needed along with fewer shots.
Your blood pressure can reduce making your dental visit substantially safer.
You can have more dental care done in fewer visits meaning less time off from work.
Many sedation patients have eliminated their fear of dentistry and eventually no longer require conscious sedation.

Because adult conscious sedation requires additional education and experience the State of California has mandated that dentists who administer Adult Oral Conscious Sedation to hold a special permit.  Dr. Cast does in have an Adult Oral Conscious Sedation permit from the State of California.  Only a small percentage of licensed dentists in the State hold these special permits.

Candidates for Oral Conscious Sedation come from all walks of life.  Here are just some of the comments these people have said about their experience with conscious sedation in Dr. Cast’s office:

“I was scared to death to call you at first.  Now I no longer am afraid to come and see you.  This has changed my life!”   MA – school administrator; crown and fillings patient

“I wish I had done this before.  That was the easiest visit I have ever had.  I’m going to do this even for my teeth cleanings in the future.”  DL – executive: smile makeover patient

“I can’t believe how easy this was.  This is the best way to have dental work done.”  RM – nurse; full mouth reconstruction patient

“That was easy.”  RB – federal agent; cosmetic and general dental patient

Tempromandibular Joint (or TMJ) is now being linked with two other terms. 
One called Tempromandibular Disorder (TMD) and Myofacial Pain Disorder (MPD).

Dr. Cast is one of the area’s leading dental practices for the treatment of TMJ/TMD.  Due to its unique muscle and joint make-up, the tempromandibular joint is unlike any other area of the body in that the joint position is held in proper position by the muscles of mastication, the skeletal position of the mandible and the position of your teeth.  In affect there is a triangular relationship between them and a change in one or more will impact the harmony of all three.

Your tempromandibular joint is a unique joint in that it rotates slightly when you start to open your mouth and then the joint physically moves (called translation) as you open wider.  The muscles that move your jaw have a unique ability to contract for sustained periods of time without fatiguing.  Your heart is the only muscle that can contract longer without fatiguing.  As a result of your jaw muscles being able to contract, the forces are placed on the teeth which can wear down teeth and cause them to break.  People who grind their teeth (called “bruxism”) are aware of the powerful forces involved in grinding and the damages this creates. 

As teeth wear and shift from grinding, your joint can be displaced into a more painful position which exacerbates the problem thus creating a “vicious cycle”.  The key to treating TMJ/TMD is to address all of the key components i.e. teeth, joint and muscles.  Dr. Cast is seeing a growing number of adults who are under significant stress in their life which can trigger the signs and symptoms of TMJ/TMD.

Muscular imbalance can lead to many signs and symptoms, many of which are listed below:

• Headaches
• Sore jaw joint
• Ringing in your ears
• Facial pain
• Neck pain
• Sore/loose teeth
• Teeth wearing and getting shorter
• Teeth breaking
• Clicking of jaw joint
• Limited jaw movement
• Difficulty to open or close your mouth
• Insomnia
• Neck and shoulder pain

If you are experiencing grinding, sore jaws, difficulty opening and eating, teeth shifting and breaking, then you may be experiencing TMJ/TMD signs and symptoms.  Because the human body had difficulty in its ability to deal with this long-term problem, we encourage you to call Dr. Cast today.   Your solutions may very well be just a phone call away.

People know that Botox gets rid of wrinkles! 

The way it works is by reducing the levels of a neurotransmitter – acetylcholine – from crossing a synapse which results in muscle contraction.

Traditionally dentists have used removable appliances and night guards to help relax muscles in the jaws.  While this can and is an effective treatment option, many find it cumbersome, difficult to sleep and often times wake up only to find the night guard is on their pillow in the morning.   When you are not wearing your night guard, the muscles are allowed to contract excessively, especially in times of stress throughout your day.

According to Allergan, the makers of Botox, Dr. Cast is the leading provider of Botox for TMJ pain in California.   Botox for TMJ pain works similar to how it works for wrinkles on your face. 

Because of his unique experience working with Botox, Dr. Cast places Botox in the muscles involved with TMJ pain.  By doing so, it reduces these muscles ability to contract – but does not totally eliminate their ability to do so.  As a result, these Botox patients gain the benefit of reduced muscle contraction, but do not lose any ability to eat, talk, smile and even kiss.  You can continue to do what you have done before; it’s just that a minor reduction of contraction of these muscles can lead to a world of pain relief.

Dr. Cast still uses traditional appliances and night guards in addition to Botox and the results are significant pain and headache reduction for many people.

Candidates for Botox are people who have:

• Frequent headaches
• Sore jaws in morning or parts of the day
• Chronic jaw pain
• Chronic head and neck pain
• Wearing of teeth due to grinding
• People who had Botox for cosmetic reasons on forehead and around eyes and noticed a drop in frequency or intensity of headaches
• Live with high levels of stress
• Are on anti-depressant medication and experience teeth or jaw problems
• Sore or loose teeth.

Many TMJ patients who have had Botox for pain relief in the past have said that Botox was the most successful modality for reducing the pain and headaches for the longest period of time.

Patients should know that TMJ pain usually involves problems with the jaw-muscles-teeth relationship.  Botox for TMJ pain only temporarily helps in the muscle component of a TMJ problem and is part of a thorough work-up and treatment of all components of this problem and as a result, all of the components should be addressed.

To see if Botox for TMJ pain is right for you, call Dr. Cast and when you mention his website, you will receive a complimentary consultation.

The human body is quite remarkable in its function and design.  For instance, did you know that when you have a permanent tooth removed, the bone under it will resorb over time?

This is why many people who have had dentures and partials eventually need “relines” which is when more acrylic is added to the denture to fill the space where the bone shrunk.  Eventually as the more acrylic is added, the denture becomes heavier and more difficult to wear…and tolerate.  Eating?  Not easy.

The same holds true for traditional bridges where the bone under the missing tooth continues to shrink and eventually the porcelain may rest above the gum, leaving a wide gap for food to get trapped under.  This can lead to public embarrassment when dining out.

Implants are a wonderful solution whereby a surgical grade post is placed into the jaw to mimic to lost tooth.  The benefits of implants is growing daily, one of which is the cessation of bone loss when proper oral hygiene is practiced.

Implants have a variety of uses. The most common uses of implants (one of the fastest growing dental procedures in the country is)

To hold partials and full dentures firmly in place – and allowing us to remove the acrylic that normally covers the roof of your mouth.
To replace one of more missing teeth
To be used for implant retained bridges
Implant retained full mouth reconstruction

The number and type of implants is dependent upon many factors, which we can discuss with you.

To see if you are a candidate for implants, call Dr. Cast today

A crown is one of the most common procedures done each day in our office.  In most cases, crowns are placed to either replace older crowns that have outlived their usefulness and have become either aesthetically unappealing or new decay has formed.  

Typically crowns are placed on teeth that were originally filled several years ago with mercury (amalgam) fillings.  One of the main reasons why this happens is that the mercury in the filling is similar to the mercury in a thermometer.  On hot days –and with hot beverages and foods- the mercury expands. 

When this happens, internal stress fractures form and over time teeth can break as well as new bacteria percolate through open crevices, leaving the tooth more prone to recurrent decay.  A crown in placed to cover the tooth and restore function back, allowing you to eat comfortably. 

From a financial perspective, most teeth that have broken down or have enough decay so that the teeth need a root canal almost always have to have a crown after the root canal is completed.

Most teeth that have root canals also need crowns.

Most teeth that have crowns DO NOT need root canals.  So by catching a problem filling early you save nearly 50% of the total cost, making preventive dentistry more comfortable and a significant cost savings.

MISSING TEETH are generally treated with removable dentures, implants or bridges.  A bridge is simply a series of crowns designed to look like natural teeth, but replace the missing tooth.  Bridges are the most common method used to restore a the aesthetics and function of a missing tooth or teeth.

Aesthetically, a growing percentage of the population is not as acceptable of the more traditional porcelain with metal crowns and bridges due to the dark line that shows up near the gums.   Dr. Cast, depending upon your individual needs and desires, usually opts for new, metal free materials that restore form and function and because no metal is used, the dark line can be avoided.   The materials used, and the desires you seek are instrumental in the choice of materials Dr. Cast uses to restore your mouth and smile back to a natural, beautiful smile.

It used to be that orthodontics was for people who wanted a more attractive, straighter smile.  But with increasing medical research showing the devastating link between chronic bacteria in your mouth to diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Diabetes and Heart Disease, increasingly adults are getting straighter teeth for the health benefits as straighter teeth are simply easier to clean.

Dr. Cast is an Invisalign certified dentist and has undergone extensive continuing education training in Invisalign.

The benefits of Invisalign are significant.   With Invisalign you do not have to wear unsightly metal braces.  And because you take them out to eat and clean your teeth, only Invisalign allows you the easiest, quickest way to better oral hygiene while still straightening your teeth.

To learn more about Invisalign, click here.

Mention this website when you schedule your Invisalign consultation and you will receive a complimentary consultation $200 value.

Consistent with our belief that great health starts in the mouth; teeth cleaning is a very common service we offer our patients.  Along with general dental services like examinations and digital x-rays, our office provides patients with services offered in many general dental practices.

If you have not clicked on the TV icon to watch Dr. Cast discuss chronic and often times deadly diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, heart disease and strokes we would encourage you to do so.  When you do, you will discover that the cleaner your mouth, the more are doing to prevent or reduce your chances of these diseases.  And the reason why is that these diseases are related to chronic inflammation.

Chronic inflammation is a reaction to chronic bacteria.  And in most cases, your mouth harbors the most bacteria.  While most people think of it is “just a tooth cleaning” our patients appreciate the fact that the cleaner your mouth, the more you are doing to keep yourself healthy and happy.

After all…it all starts in the mouth.

Dr. Cast does fillings on his patients everyday.  And keeping with his belief that your smile is the window of your soul, your teeth are the windows to your overall health.

While dentists have differing opinions on the safety of mercury amalgam fillings, Dr. Cast stopped doing mercury fillings in the mid 1990s. 
Mercury amalgam fillings expand with hot foods and drinks and shrink with cold food and drinks.  Think of the mercury in your filling like the mercury in a thermometer.  It goes up on hot days and down on cold days.   Mercury fillings that expand and contract put stresses on the tooth and are a common factor in teeth that are later crowned.

Tooth colored fillings; it’s the natural looking, healthy choice.

We love it when our patients refer in their family members, friends and co-workers.  The dental services we provide are designed to meet three criteria:

• Look better
• Feel better
• Last for years

By meeting these goals, many of our patients are restored back to a metal-free, long lasting healthy smile.  And when we do, all they need is to continue their hygiene in our office.  So with so many people getting healthier, we rely on our patients spreading the word.

Thank you for your kind referrals.  We truly appreciate your trust and confidence!

This comes as no surprise.  The cost of your dental treatment is related to the amount of work you need, or want.

Dr. Cast uses the latest technology to diagnose decay earlier…when it is less costly. 

Years ago decay was easy to detect.  You went to the dentist, they stuck a pick in your tooth, you jumped…and that’s how they found a cavity.   But today, millions of people developed teeth while receiving fluoride in one way or another.  While fluoride strengthens teeth, the one area it does not work well in is the little pits on the chewing surface of your teeth. 

Rather than seeing wide cavities years ago, which are easy to detect, Dr. Cast is seeing a growing trend in narrow, deeper cavities.  The reason why they are deeper is they go undetected for longer periods of time.  Even with the help of digital x-rays, these narrow cavities are hard to find.

That is why Dr. Cast uses a computerized laser, called Diagnodent.  It looks like a writing pen and is painless.  Along with being a painless way to find decay, Dr. Cast is able to find decay sooner, when it is less expensive.  Dr. Cast also uses an intraoral camera, where you can actually see your teeth on television.  The combination of seeing a large image of your tooth, the use of Diagnodent computerized laser and digital x-rays allow Dr. Cast to find decay when it is less costly.

Now isn’t that exactly what you are looking for in a dentist?

We accept Delta Dental Preferred, United Concordia and have interest free financing programs available along with Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

Give our office a call today and discover for yourself, not all dentists are the same!