AGD, an association of dentists with over 35,000 members, presents the Fellowship Award (FAGD) to dentists who seek to provide the highest quality of dental care by remaining current in their profession. To receive this honor, the dentists must complete 500 hours of continuing dental education and pass a rigorous & comprehensive exam. FAGD dentists from the AGD make up an elite group, representing less than 10 percent of all general dentists.

By receiving the FAGD award, Dr. Kazi has distinguished herself professionally among her peer dentists. As part of her FAGD work and continued commitment to dentistry, Dr Kazi attended 100 to 150 hours of continuing education classes annually totaling more than 900 hours of training.

Dr Kazi is trained in different areas of modern general dentistry and advanced treatments for specialty areas of orthodontics, Invisalign, TMJ (jaw-joint), sleep apnea and snoring. This directly benefits all of her patients as Dr. Kazi can perform latest procedures and provide state of the art care.

Currently, Dr Kazi is pursuing Mastership award from AGD. It requires additional 600 hours of education covering hands on training, participation and presentation in 16 different disciplines of dentistry.

Hi! My name is Jessie and I have been working in the dental field for over twelve years. I started working as a dental assistant shortly after receiving my x-ray license in 2003. I enjoyed working as a dental assistant, but after learning about insurance billing, I realized I was a better fit in helping patients understand insurance and financing dental treatment. I enjoy getting to know all our patients and making them feel like they are a part of the Lewelling Dental Care family.

My name is Ruth! I accomplished my dental education in La Jolla San Diego. I have worked in the dental field for sixteen and a half years. I volunteered at the Army Dental clinic in Fort Sill, Oklahoma for one year. After, I worked at a private practice in Lawton, Oklahoma for three years and have been at Lewelling Dental Care for over thirteen years now. I love meeting new people at my job as well as seeing patients happy after being treated.

Hello, my name is Shirley. I used to work in retail business before coming to work for Dr. Kazi. Shortly after working here as a floater, I decided to get my x-ray license, and for the past six years have been working here as a dental assistant. I like how I am part of a team that helps people get their smile back.

Hello, my name is Maricela. I recently moved to the East Bay after living in southern California since my childhood. Lewelling Dental Care is my first job in the dental field; Ive been here for two years as a dental assistant. I was introduced to the field by my sister, an RDA herself. She allowed me to volunteer at one of her offices. From there, I realized it was a type of job I would enjoy. So I enrolled in the same school as her, American Career College in Los Angeles. I graduated in 2009 with my diploma in Dental Assisting and received my x-ray license. I like having the opportunity to help people and being part of the process of creating beautiful smiles. I enjoy working with the GREAT staff here; they make this job fun and unpredictable.

Hi, my name is Uma. I have been a dental hygienist for over fourteen years and have been with Dr.Kazi for over thirteen years. I love to interact with patients. I enjoy working at Lewelling Dental Care. I like my job educating patients about their oral health.

I am outgoing, friendly, and lively. I graduated from Chabot Dental Hygiene Program in Hayward and have been very active in the dental hygiene profession. Currently, I am president of the East Bay Component of the Dental Hygiene Society, Liaison for Chabot College dental hygiene students, and serve as a delegate at the state level. Our patients are very pleased with how I encourage and motivate them in their treatment. I am patient, caring, thorough, and love being a hygienist. My interests include continuing education classes to improve my knowledge, skills, and understanding of the latest techniques, methods, and instruments available in dentistry.

Dry mouth (also called xerostomia) is caused by a decrease in the amount of saliva in the mouth when the salivary glands do not work properly. The salivary glands help keep your mouth moist, which helps prevent tooth decay and other oral health problems.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications are the most common cause of dry mouth. In fact, more than 400 medications can contribute to mouth dryness. The most common troublemakers are antihypertensives, antidepressants, painkillers, tranquilizers, diuretics, and antihistamines.

Dry mouth may be a sign of a serious health condition or may occur when a person is upset or experiences stress. It also can be caused by radiation therapy and chemotherapy, hormonal alterations or diseases such as AIDS, diabetes, or Sjogren's syndrome. Patients with Alzheimer's disease or those who suffer a stroke may experience dry mouth. Approximately 30 percent of persons over the age of 65 are affected by dry mouth.