What started out as a routine visit to the dentist changed a young lady’s life and her future.

“I never felt confident about my teeth. I never liked the look of my smile.” Young Catrise Austin thought she would be stuck forever, hiding behind a smile that didn’t make her feel pretty or confident. She thought that she was simply going to have to live life with what she was given. However, a routine “dental experience,” as she calls it, changed her forever.

Inspired, Catrise completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, majoring in psychology. She wisely believed that understanding the emotional impact of dentistry on her patients was as important as mastering the necessary medical knowledge. Her intuition proved to be beneficial as her clinical interaction during her second portion of dental school went so well that she completed her requirements early and created an award winning senior presentation on HIV in the Mid-life and Elderly Population.

A great deal of Dr. Austin’s relaxation time was spent in New York City upon graduating from Dental School and it was during this time Dr. Austin found herself in the presence of Chris Rock, Mike Epps, Dave Chappelle, Tracey Morgan and other up and coming comedians as she frequented The Boston Comedy Club. In the midst of her celebrity-driven downtime, she had an epiphany. That’s when the “Dentist to the Stars” was born. “I knew that they had to have the best smiles of all and after realizing that I couldn’t work for someone and be as successful as I had envisioned, I knew I had to start my own practice.” Describing herself as self-motivated, Dr. Austin found herself acquiring much her clientele from record labels, comedy clubs, and other New York hot spots. Because of her prime location, she was exposed to many celebrity clients who heard that “The Dentist to the Stars” was doing great things with smiles.

But beyond the celebrated elite, Dr. Austin’s true goal is to empower and educate ALL about the importance of dental health, oral hygiene. “The benefits of dentistry can not only make you look and feel better, but now studies show that it can help save your life and live longer.” Revisiting her interest in HIV/AIDS, Dr. Austin recently became the first private practice dentist in the nation certified to offer HIV testing to patients while in the dental chair. Her commitment to her patients is exemplary. “I don’t double-book and my appointments are at least an hour. When I schedule time for you, it is a reservation! It’s not a rushed environment. Every patient gets their deserved time. I would not be able to deliver the care I do with just 30 minutes.”

Dr. Austin’s spa-like office is of VIP proportions and is located on New York’s ritzy 57th Street. Having a comfortable and inviting environment is key says Dr. Austin. “I try to undo the horror stories that people have about the dentist.” Further, she is compassionate in her concern for patients, understanding that many people are stuck in a period when the dentist’s office wasn’t as advanced as it is now. Dr. Austin often shares her own story with her patients, so that they know that she understands their fears, but really understands their desires and the issues that an uncomfortable smile can reveal. Her goal is to help everyone feel comfortable with going to the dentist and to change the world, one smile at a time!