I just love my smile! When I look into the mirror, I can't help but remember what my teeth looked like before Dr. Castaneda performed her miracle. I'm forever grateful to Dr. Castaneda!

This time around I had an accident at work early in the morning. I got hit on the mouth and two of my front veneers broke in half and they were jagged and sharp. I felt so terrible because of the beautiful veneers that Dr.C had made for me about 10 years ago. So I called her office and the receptionist said the day was all full, she put me on hold and then came back to tell me that No Problem, the doctor will see you at noon. What a relief!

I had not been in for my regular cleanings because I was busy opening my new business. Dr C welcomed me with open arms, as usual. When you are in to see Dr.C, you know this is someone that cares about you. I see how all the rest of her patients give her a big hug when the they come to their appointments. She never makes me feel bad even though I am not the best patient. I miss a lot of appointments.

So I came in with my broken veneers and she did what she had to do. I am a big chicken when it comes to needles but with Dr.C, she is very gentle. She finished taking the molds and sent me back to work with some temporary veneers that looked really good. My staff thought I had the permanents because they looked so good. I told them these were only temporary. So I could get back to work, no problem.

I started seeing Dr. C about 15 years ago, just for regular dental care. I was in really bad shape because I came from Eastern Europe with not the best dentistry care. Dr.C gave me a plan, I still haven't finished everything, I still need an implant where I am missing a back tooth. But for some time we took care of a few bad teeth at a time. One thing for sure, when she sent me for a root canal and then to have my back tooth pulled, the specialists spoke so highly of her that this is when I knew that I was getting the best care.

For some years Dr.C kept encouraging me to get my front teeth fixed with veneers because my teeth were really worn out and I had two big dark spots on my two front teeth from grinding damage. I waited for some years to fix the front teeth because of the cost. Finally I got a bonus at work and so I had half the money that the 10 veneers were going to cost me. Dr.C let me pay half on starting the treatment and gave me 6 or 8 months to pay the rest. If she didn't allow for this I would not be able to have the veneers made.

I must say, she was right, my new smile really made a change in how I look and how I feel about myself. Really, I was bothered with my teeth but I did not know how big a change the new smile would make.

The one thing I can say is that my teeth don't look like the ugly white phony teeth that I see on so many people. She spent a lot of time to design them and I look at myself in the mirror and I like that I see teeth that look like my original teeth. They really look like me! And I like that I get compliments about my smile all the time.

I was worried at first that the veneers would break or give me problems. To this day, 10 years later, they are fine except that I recently had an injury and broke two of them. Knowing the precision work of Germans, for me it is a benefit that Dr.C works with a German technician. And 10 years later, Jorg is still there, he matched the two new veneers exactly to the rest that are 10 years old.

I send my friends to Dr. C. The thing I tell my friends is that you better pay a little extra but get excellent work. You will not have to have the work remade, ending up paying more in the long run.

I am grateful to Dr. C,

Ludwik

About Hygienist: Read my overall review. The entire process exemplified everything you could hope from dental care.

I practice general dentistry in the East Bay but I have worked in many dental offices. No where have I seen the same consistent quality of care. This is why I travel to San Francisco, as many of her patients do, to have my dental care with Dr. Castaneda. While I worked with Dr. Castaneda, first as her dental assistant, eventually as her dental hygienist, I could not understand why so many patients traveled so far to see her. Now I understand. When you are in her chair, she is extremely gentle. I don't feel the needle when she gives me an injection. Her touch is reassuring, soft yet deliberate.

Observing Dr. Castaneda, I see that she practices a philosophy that I learned from her about 12 years ago. That is, to have a very clear treatment objective for each patient, and to attain this objective with the minimal amount of treatment. Sometimes this can be extensive and expensive treatment, at other times what appears to be a big problem, she is able to resolve with a simple procedure at a nominal fee. I guess that is the advantage you acquire with 20 years of experience and training in the dental specialty of Prosthodontics.

Around my dental colleagues, Dr. Castaneda is very much respected. She has earned a loyal following amongst other dental specialist, again I know first hand that this is where most of her patients come from, i.e., referrals by other dental specialists. She has earned the reputation as being a gentle person capable of handling difficult treatment cases and difficult, challenging personalities. Aesthetika is recognized by so many dental specialists in the SF Bay Area, as a place to send patients with fears, anxieties or patients demanding the impossible. This is not meant to be a rebuttal to the reviews trying to paint an ugly picture of Dr. Castaneda, but I have to say that some of the reviews are so ridiculous, you know that there is a personal vendetta involving some individuals that are simply hateful to the world!! Get a life!!

Dr. Castaneda is the artist that everyone talks about. I have seen her design the smiles of her patients, not relying on the arbitrary fabrication by a remote technician. She works closely with her technician to convert what is tested in the mouth, into the porcelain that her patients walk away with. It is pretty fantastic to see this. I remember a particular patient that wanted very bright teeth. I assisted Dr. Castaneda on this treatment "case" some 10 years ago when the meaning of "white" is not what it is today. And so the patient got what we thought were very, very white veneers (10 of them) and she agreed to the color before we placed the veneers on her teeth. A week later the patient came back complaining that she had wanted even whiter teeth. I do not know of ANY dentist that would have done what Dr. Castaneda did. She looked at the veneers, called the technician in to see the patient, he said he could in fact remake them with a new porcelain bearing the name "California white". Dr. Castaneda graciously replaced the veneers at no charge to the patient. I don't think I would do this myself.

I go to a periodontist's office to have my teeth cleaned. They marvel at how good her work is. She recently fixed a chip on one of my front teeth. I had to point it out to the hygienist.

Dr. Castaneda fixed everything and gave me a beautiful, white smile upon which I receive many compliments. I highly recommend Dr. Castaneda to anyone who asks. She is not cheap (but she is not overly expensive either) but why would anyone possibly want to go for cheap when it involves their health and appearance?

I am writing to say how much I J'Adore Dr. Castaneda. The initial visit with her was so pleasant that she talked to me about ME! We connected right away. I know something was special about her I just did not know what it was unitll I read the wall of her accomplishments and we were both Texans! She sensed a fear of dental work in me and she took the time to just HOLD MY HAND UNTILL THE NOVACAINE started working. That was probably the most important thing to me. I did not feel like I was on an Assembly Line at FORD MOTOR CO. She took the time to explain the procedure prior to starting the work and kept me informed of how much longer it would take. Since then I have refered most of my Friends from California Pacific Medical Center Emergency Department to her. We even got her approval to call her if we need her for a medical emergency!

Thank you for being the best at what you do. Many healthy teeth depend on your existance. Warm Wishes to your and your practice!

But my story doesn't end there...I never realized that my bite was off causing minor head aches....Dr. Castaneda spotted that with out my complaint...and fixed it with the placement of my veneers....damn nice to look at and I feel good too.

If you add all this up it would be worth recommending...but then when you mix in the awesome staff Sonya, Kiki and Dr. Dimond who does the cleanings I feel really lucky to have been refered to Dr. Castaneda.

p.s. Sonya was extremely helpful in getting my insurance to assist...they actually paid the max!!!

I had a lot of work done before I started seeing Rebbeca and I was still hesitating to smile., Now that she did all my upper level cosmetic work I smile with no worries because she did a fantastic job for me I thank her for the good work and the understanding that I found at her side since the first day I walk into her clinic.

I would highly recommend Dr. Castaneda to anyone that wants to have a happy face she can make you smile all the way.

Jessie Coles

Ps. I would like her to post the before and after picture for you to see how great of a job she did for me only.......

Thank you Rebbeca,

The end result was astonishing. Some people asked me if I had had plastic surgery or a face lift. My new veneers are so real looking that people can not believe it. The color and translucency of the ceramic veneers is the best I have ever seen thanks to her wonderful ceramic technician. My smile is also much wider. Dr. Castenada is an artist and a jewel. Everyone in the office is friendly and conscientious. I am going back soon to have the bottom crowns done. I recommend her very highly.

Her front desk people especially Sonja, have really been helpful as well.

I would not hesistate to reccomend Dr. Castaneda to anyone who wants a complete transformation.

My husband Marvin is a patient of the Doctor as well and has had a positive experience.

My son has had no problems with his crowns - which are over metal posts inserted into the root of the teeth that were shorn off, and they were an absolutely perfect match with his other teeth. To have this taken care of by Dr. Castaneda and the other participating dentists contributed greatly to us all getting over this traumatic experience.

Fear kept me from dental visits for many years. Dr. Castaneda overcame my fear with her reassuring manner and painless technique. I needed a lot of work done - new crowns, replacement of old crowns, defective fillings. Her work is beautiful, and really lasts. Now I have crowns over 20 years old, and still in perfect condition.

The fact that her work does not need to be redone a few years later offsets the initial costs.

However, while Dr C has tremendous cosmetic skill, the office seems ill equipped and unconcerned when dealing with unscheduled or acute issues. My temporary veneers broke while Dr. C was on vacation and I had to spend six days gluing on my front teeth with denture adhesive. Eating in public was not an option. When a filling fractured, it took 48 hours to get an appointment when I clearly communicated that I was in severe pain. The same filling got a temporary crown that was so painful I left the office in tears. The endo, in contrast, was able to schedule a root canal for the next morning and followed up personally to check on my pain that evening.

PROS: The new teeth look and feel great, which was my ultimate goal. Rebecca and her staff (Kiki and Sonia) were helpful and responsive. They all try hard to minimize the discomfort that accompanies the process.