Testimonials

After many years of grinding my teeth during sleep, my bite began to deteriorate seriously. It was impossible to close both sides of my mouth simultaneously, so I would alternate sides when chewing. Then, late in 2005, there was a 3-week painful period when all I could do was chew with front teeth only. That's when I made an appointment with Dr. Cate whose office ran an ad in the local paper about their new hi-tech tmj analysis machine. "Right," I thought, "cosmetic fad dentistry..."Following a period (at least a year) of methodical, careful analysis, Dr. Cate earned my trust. Still, being no pushover, I decided I needed a second opinion. A respected orthodontist warned me of the possible downsides associated with the process recommended by Dr. Cate. At his recommendation, I went so far as to have his office prepare a cast of my bite, and also got a full frontal X-ray scan of my jaw. Wow, were these steps helpful! The cast showed how bad and misaligned my bite was. The X-ray showed clearly the degradation of the bone in the mandible, and the slippage of the little pad that, when properly seated, prevents jaw clicking, dislocation, and pain. This second opinion, along with some independent reading of professional literature, opened my eyes to the controversy within the dental profession about tmj disorder treatment. However, I finally felt informed, and decided to proceed full steam ahead with the process Dr. Cate recommended. Now, 4½ years after my initial cautious visit to Dr. Cate, I could not be happier (at least about my bite)! While my jaw still clicks from time to time, there is almost never any pain, my bite is perfectly aligned, and I have had no discomfort anywhere near what I had grown accustomed to living with. I'm sure everyone has a different tolerance for pain and discomfort, but I am so pleased that I did the research, took the time, and proceeded with Dr. Cate's recommended treatment. She is diligent and serious about the quality of her work, and takes the time to answer tough questions. I am more than pleased to speak with anyone who wants more information.Mark Weston