When Ellen walked into Saddleback Dental Associates in Mission Viejo, California, she wasn’t just carrying dental pain — she brought with her decades of fear. Years of avoiding the dentist had left her with serious dental concerns and what she candidly described as “extreme anxiety.” But what happened next was nothing short of transformative.
“I had major emergency work to be done,” Ellen recalls. “I was terrified.” That fear is something many Americans can relate to — dental phobia affects nearly 36% of the population to some degree, according to the Journal of Dental Hygiene. But Ellen’s story is one of hope, healing, and an unexpected journey toward renewed trust in dental care, thanks to the compassionate team at Saddleback Dental Associates.
“Dr. Marose didn’t just treat my teeth. He treated my fear”
At the center of that transformation is Dr. Alex Marose, whose reputation in South Orange County continues to grow for good reason. For Ellen, he wasn’t just a dentist — he was a calm, expert guide through an overwhelming situation. “Dr. Marose didn’t just treat my teeth. He treated my fear,” Ellen explains. What began as an emergency appointment to manage severe pain and restore function quickly became something much more profound: a turning point.
Dr. Marose and his team worked quickly and precisely to address Ellen’s emergency needs, which included two crowns and a root canal. But it wasn’t just the high quality of clinical work that impressed her. “It came out great,” she says, beaming — and not just because of her new crowns. “The experience was so positive, I wasn’t even afraid to come back for my follow-up visit.”
In the world of dentistry, that level of trust is priceless. And it’s no accident.
From the moment patients walk into the office on Jeronimo Road in Mission Viejo, they are greeted not by a sterile, clinical environment, but by a team that genuinely cares. The staff at Saddleback Dental Associates takes time to explain every step, listen without judgment, and offer support where it’s needed most. “They make you feel like you matter,” Ellen shares.
That support extends beyond the dentist’s chair. During her recent full examination, Ellen received a comprehensive treatment plan and cost estimate — a process often riddled with confusion and stress. But Saddleback’s approach to transparency and affordability offered her relief. “It will still be expensive for me,” she admits, “but I appreciate Saddleback Dental’s reduced pricing for excellent work, especially compared to most dentists in Mission Viejo.”
And then there’s the hygienist — a gentle, patient educator who changed the way Ellen sees her role in her own care. “She taught me new tricks to improve my hygiene — and I’m no spring chicken!” Ellen laughs. “If only I had found Saddleback Dental Associates so many years earlier.”
Her sentiment is shared by many who discover this Mission Viejo practice, wondering how different their dental journeys might have been if they’d met Dr. Marose and his team sooner.
Today, Ellen is not just another case file or crown placement. She’s a success story. A reminder that it’s never too late to take control of your health. And that with the right people by your side — people who lead with empathy and excellence — fear can be replaced by trust, and pain by confidence.
For patients in Mission Viejo, Saddleback Dental Associates is more than a dental office. It’s a second chance. Ellen’s story proves that the right care doesn’t just fix teeth — it restores peace of mind.
And that is the true power of dentistry done right.
