Dr. Christian Thomas Yaste, DDS

Meet Dr. Yaste
Dr. Christian Yaste, D.D.S. is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. After graduating he moved to Charlotte, North Carolina and completed a two-year postgraduate residency in Oral Medicine. Dr. Yaste is qualified in all areas of general dentistry and has had advanced training in cosmetic restorative procedures as well as oral medicine and pathology. He holds a faculty position at the Carolinas Medical Center Department of Dentistry, where he is a clinical instructor.
Q & A
Q: So it all started with a bicycle accident?
Dr. Yaste: That’s right. I was in dental school at the University of Michigan and I was on my bicycle in the middle of winter. I was on some black ice and I went over the handlebars and smashed all my front teeth. I went to a dentist and it was all downhill from there. I literally sat in a chair for an hour while I was bleeding and waiting for the dentist. I was insulted and went through hell while dentists and specialists bounced …me around. It was “old school” dentistry at its worst and I almost quit dental school.
Q:Why?
Dr. Yaste: I thought, “if that’s the way I’m going to be treated then I’ll just do something else.” I did not want to see myself hurting people. If dentistry meant pain, I wanted out.
Q:You stayed in school...
Dr. Yaste: I did and I commited to offer a totally different experience…one that’s patient-friendly. My experience losing my front teeth put me in the same situation as many patients and I want them to have an experience that’s comfortable. I want them to feel cared for and cared about and I want them to get the smile they have always wanted. Because of my traumatic experience I feel that I can be more empathetic towards my patients who have had similar experiences. When a patient tells me “Don’t take this personally, but, I HATE the dentist!”, I smile inside because I know exactly how they feel. I know that I can help them.
Q:Your father is an architect and designed the interior. Is that correct?
Dr. Yaste: That’s right and he has a total fear of dentists. So he wanted to design a practice that was not like an “old school” practice. It’s more like a spa.
Q:What’s really important to you when it comes to helping patients?
Dr. Yaste: A great smile can really change someone’s life. Some people have had dental problems and want a better smile. Some people, like me, had an accident. Some people have had their original work fail. Here at Ballantyne Center for Dentistry, we want to help patients get a beautiful smile that lights up a room. We want to make it affordable and comfortable…in fact, as close to pain-free as possible.
Q:What do you like to do outside the practice?
Dr. Yaste: I spend a lot of time with my family. That’s obviously very important to me. I also enjoy reading about and learning about the business side of dentistry, specifically direct response.
Q: How do you define cosmetic dentistry?
Dr. Yaste:It’s highly specialized although it is not recognized by the dental industry as “specialty” as I think it should be. It’s complicated and getting to a really good final result requires a lot of expertise and experience. We can complete most of the procedures in our practice, sometimes just taking a day. Ultimately, it’s about helping patients achieve the smile they have always wanted and helping them feel a lot better about themselves and their dental health.
Q: What’s your advice to someone who is on the fence about cosmetic surgery?
Dr. Yaste:Come in and see us. An initial consultation is always free. Take a look at the before and after photos. Watch the testimonials from patients. Read the testimonials. Tell us about what’s holding you back and you can even tell us that you hate going to the dentist! I understand! Totally! We’ll be upfront with you and go through all the options and then you can decide about what you want to do. We’re very low pressure. Our patients have said to themselves, “I’ve wanted to get the smile I’ve always wanted and now is the time.” The re