From Crooked to Confident: How Dr. Kast Is Changing Lives
By Prerna Manglani, BEAT reporter
BRUNSWICK, OH- George Kast’s start in orthodontics was with an established orthodontist in Amherst, Ohio, owned by Dr. William Falk. Dr. Kast never anticipated the growth they had because there were six other orthodontists with established practices at the time. “Originally, we called the practice Orthodontic Specialists of Strongsville,” said Dr. Kast. A few years later, when Dr. Falk and Dr. Kast were discussing his purchase into Dr. Falk’s practice, they decided it would be best for Dr. Falk to maintain his Amherst practice and for Dr. Kast to have full control of the Strongsville practice.
This is when they changed the name to Kast Orthodontics. ”So, I would say Kast Orthodontics started when Dr. Falk and I started to build it,” said Dr. Kast. The two doctors saw their first patients in late May or early June of 1998 in Strongsville, when they established their initial office. They built their current office in 2004 and moved into it two years later, in 2006.
Dr. Kast has been a dentist since 1991 and officially started practicing as a licensed orthodontist in the summer of 1997, fulfilling a lifelong dream. “My mother gave me a birthday gift when I turned forty years old,” he shared. “It was a paper I wrote for a school project in 6th grade. I wrote way back then that I wanted to be an orthodontist. So, I guess I always wanted to be one.”
Dr. Kast’s practice has grown over the years, as positive word of mouth has spread and systems of efficiency have evolved. Today, Kast and his team approximately 150 to 180 patients each week, with summer becoming a little more busy and some months a little slower.
Orthodontics is an art of science, and Dr. Kast enjoys the artistic aspects of the process the most. He explained how the artistic part of his job is so unique in the world of medicine and dentistry as the patients get to actually see and enjoy the positive changes. Also, it has a psychosocial impact on their confidence and self-esteem, which is very rewarding for them.
Dr. Kast enjoys being able to contribute to the well-being of others. Also, he likes being his own boss and having control with who he can work with.
Kast Orthodontics is always changing and improving. Their staff spends time with a morning huddle each day and monthly meetings to discuss things they can do better. Sometimes it’s hard to implement these changes quickly. So, Dr. Kast would like to change how quickly he and his staff improve, but he supposes that it’s likely outside of the realm of being realistic.
Making sure that he is a caring professional to all of his patients is deeply important to Dr. Kast. “We love our patients,” he shared. “And, I think much about health care and how it has been changed, losing this love and hindering doctors from having the time to CARE.” Many medical professionals have been driven by corporate entities and insurance companies to deliver treatment without the “Care” the world used to have. Dr. Kast agrees that he has been lucky to be in a medical career realm insulated from this corporate control, where care can truly be “Care”.
Kast Orthodontics is located at 16580 Pearl Road, Strongsville. Contact them at (440) 878-3384 or visit https://kastorthodontics.com/ .
Prerna Manglani, Brunswick Middle School, is one of over fifty student “backpack journalists” (grades 6-12) in the award-winning BEAT Video Program. The program, celebrating its 25th year, is sponsored by Donut Land, Plum Creek Assisted Living Community, MODA Gifts, Scripps Howard Foundation and the Brunswick Rotary Club. Go to https://www.bcsoh.org/community/new-beat-site to learn more about the Program, or visit https://thebeat.viebit.com/?folder=ALL to view videos produced by the students.
PHOTOS: The exterior of Kast Orthodontics; Kast Orthodontics' employees outside posing by their sign; Dr.Kast celebrating his birthday at Kast Orthodontics.