Discover Dental Care | Dr. Alberto R. Castaneda, DDS

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) was started in 1952 and is the only national organization solely dedicated to serving the interests and needs of the general dentists. The organization has grown to be the second largest dental association in the world.

The goal of the AGD is to hold the dental profession accountable for delivering a high level of patient care and quality dentistry. These principals have deep roots in continuing education to ensure its members and the profession could stay abreast of the latest technology, techniques and trends.

A Mastership (MAGD) is the highest Academy of General Dentistry honor and bestowed upon dentists, largely based on the several hundred hours of quality continuing education.

When choosing a dentist, it is important to select someone who is skilled and knowledgeable in the latest dental procedures, technology and techniques to perform the most complex dental procedures. By choosing a dentist with a Mastership with the AGD, such as Dr. Castaneda, you are ensuring that your work will be completed by someone who has demonstrated commitment to excellence in the dental field.

Most patients today prefer tooth-colored restorations over the more traditional silver or amalgam fillings for their cavities. There are two main choices available for tooth-colored restorations – tooth-colored fillings and porcelain inlays/onlays. The type of restoration you need and your personal preferences will determine which option we will recommend for you.

Tooth-colored composite fillings are made out of a combination of resin, glass, and other materials. They provide you with a safe and durable restoration that closely resembles the make-up of your natural teeth. The resin is inserted into your tooth in layers to fill the cavity. A curing light is used to harden the material and bond it to your tooth. The bonding process strengthens your tooth and protects it from bacteria. The entire process will be completed in one visit to our office.

Porcelain inlays/onlays are frequently used in cases where the cavity is larger or where tooth decay has affected more than one surface of the tooth. First, an impression is taken of your tooth. Your impression is then sent to a dental lab where a master ceramist creates your inlay or onlay to custom fit into your areas of decay. A temporary is used while the porcelain restoration is created. On your second visit, the inlay/ onlay will be bonded to your tooth. Porcelain inlays are generally used to treat decay within the cusps of your tooth. Onlays cover the entire chewing surface of your tooth and are used to treat decay that extends over a larger area. Some benefits of inlays/onlays:

•The porcelain insert is much harder than composite materials and can more effectively strengthen the tooth.
•Porcelain restorations generally last longer than tooth-colored composite fillings and can repair much more complex cases of tooth decay.
•Porcelain restorations require much less preparation or removal of healthy tooth structure.
•Typically, inlays/onlays are considered indirect fillings, since they must be created in a dental lab, and the entire process takes two visits. However, Dr. Castaneda also uses the latest Cerec technology, which can create your inlays and onlays in just one visit.

If you have questions or would like us to take a closer look at what is best for you, please give us a call or email us.

If you harbor a strong fear of your dentist, you are not alone. millions of Americans fail to receive the dental care they need because of sever dental anxiety. In fact, approximately 30% of all Americans are so afraid of the dentist that even serious oral pain will not get them to seek proper treatment.

Fortunately, you do not need to fear the dentist anymore. A new procedure called conscious sedation dentistry allows you to receive the treatment you need without experienceing the pain and discomfort that has made you afraid of your dentist for so many years.

Ideal Candidate for Sedation Dentistry

You are an ideal candidate for sedation dentistry if you are over 18 and show signs of:

• Dental anxiety
• Sensitive teeth
• Difficulty getting numb
• Complex dental issues
• Dental phobias(fear of needles and drill noise)
• Limited time to complete dental work
• Traumatic dental experiences
• Difficulty controlling movement (from conditions such as Parkinson's disease or cerebral palsy)

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, you must inform your dentist at your initial consultation. Your condition may make sedation dentistry unsafe for you.

Sedation Dentistry Methods

Conscious sedation dentistry is very safe and should always be performed by a trained sedation dentist. Your dentist will monitor your vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and oxygen level) throughout the procedure. Frequently, you will be able to talk to your dentist about the procedure while he is working on your teeth, but you will not remember much once it is done.

There are three types of sedation methods commonly used in conscious sedation dentistry:

• Oral Sedation: Oral sedatives administered just before treatment will greratly reduce your anxiety in the dentist's chair. These drugs are frequently given along with a loca anesthetic to numb the pain.
• Intravenous (IV) Sedation: If you prefer, your sedation medication can be given through IV. This method is also accompanied by local anesthetic.
• Inhalation Sedation: Nitrous oxide gas (laughing gas) is used to place you in a more relaxed state while in the dentist's chair. Local anesthetic will be used along with the nitrous to eliminate the pain.

If you prefer to be unconscious for your dental procedure, you can receive a general anesthesia. This method will make you completely unaware of what is going on during your procedure.

If you are considering sedation dentistry in the Kansas City, Kansas area, please visit the website of Discover Dental Care today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Alberto Castaneda.

Most Americans are aware that sugar and tooth decay are linked. What most people do not know is exactly why sugar causes so much havoc to a tooth. Here is a brief explanation:

Tooth decay and cavities are caused by bacteria called Streptococcus mutans. This bacterium is only one of thousands that occur naturally in the mouth. Streptococcus mutans has a special liking for sugar or sucrose. The more sugar a person eats, the more of these bacteria begin to grow in the mouth.

If you brush regularly, and especially after eating something sugary, you remove much of these bacteria and any residual sugar left in your mouth. If you do not brush, these bacteria will continue to reproduce and become part of the plaque that develops on your teeth. When this bacterium gets embedded in the plaque, it begins the process of eating away at your tooth enamel. The result: cavities.

You will significantly lessen your risk of developing cavities by not eating sugar. While the human body does not need sugar, most of us like to indulge on occasion. If you do, make sure you brush as soon as possible afterwards. This will go a long way in reducing your risk of developing cavities.

If you live in the Kansas City area and have further questions about sugar and tooth decay, or if you suspect you may have a cavity, please contact Dr. Castaneda today to arrange an appointment.

Porcelain veneers and resin are two entirely different tooth restoration techniques. Generally speaking, resin is used for minor repairs while porcelain veneers are usually reserved for teeth that need fairly significant repair. Here is a brief overview of what each repair option has to offer:

Resin – Also called dental bonding, this is a quick, easy repair option that requires minimal tooth preparation and no anesthetic. It is an ideal treatment for minor cracks, chips, and small areas of discoloration. Resin can be color matched to your teeth just like porcelain, but resin lacks porcelain’s translucence and durability.

Porcelain veneers – Veneers are thin shells of porcelain that fit over your teeth. Teeth that have more significant wear, chips, cracks, discoloration, or other contour problems are often best treated with veneers. Porcelain rivals natural tooth enamel in terms of aesthetics, is very resistant to staining, and not susceptible to decay. Veneers require that a thin layer of tooth enamel be removed in order to place the veneer without adding to the bulk of the tooth.

We will need to examine your teeth to determine which treatment option is best for you. It may be the case that veneers are appropriate for some of your teeth, and resin for others. Either way, we can help you achieve the smile you deserve.

If you live in the Kansas City area and think you might benefit from either porcelain veneers or resin, please contact Dr. Castaneda today to arrange a consultation.

Losing a tooth can take quite a toll on your self-confidence. For this reason alone, most people who have lost one or several teeth will seek dental treatment right away. Dental bridges are one of the more popular treatments for these individuals. People lose teeth for any number of reasons. Auto accidents and sporting accidents are common causes, but many lose them due to illness, radiation treatments, or other unforeseen circumstances – and let us not forget poor oral hygiene.

While missing teeth are a cosmetic concern, they are also something that needs immediate treatment to preserve your general oral health. Missing teeth will eventually cause a host of other dental problems including:

• Shifting of remaining teeth
• Jawbone deterioration
• Speech problems
• Eating problems
• Further tooth loss

There are three common types of bridges. The most common dental bridge consists of a false tooth attached to two dental crowns. These crowns are placed on the natural teeth that remain on each side of the missing tooth. This is the sturdiest type of bridge, and so we usually recommend it where it is appropriate.

Another type of bridge is the resin-bonded bridge. This is usually reserved for the front teeth. It consists of a false tooth that is connected to the adjacent teeth with a metal band and resin.

A third type of bridge is the half-bridge. As the name suggests, only one crown is attached to the false tooth. These are used when there is only one adjacent natural tooth available.

The bridge procedure usually takes three office visits, and can be done in under a month in most cases. If you live in the Kansas City area and are missing one or more teeth, please contact Dr. Castaneda today to arrange an appointment.

Las Vegas Institute (LVI) is celebrating their tenth anniversary! LVI stands as the world premier post graduate dental institute in cosmetic and nueromuscular dentistry for attendees throughout the world.

Dr. Castaneda has attended multiple cosmetic and nueromuscular classes at LVI. He has completed all of the Core 1 curriculum in cosmetics, the Core 2 curriculum in advanced cosmetics, and the Core 5 curriculum in nueromuscular dentistry. He believes in making the staff as knowledgable as himself in the latest in cosmetic dentistry and takes at least one staff member with him to the training classes. With Dr. Castaneda's post graduate work, he is more than qualified for all your cosmetic needs.

We will keep you updated on new training and technology courses we attend!