About Me
Dedicated to changing lives with a smile, Dr. Catrise Austin is a cosmetic dentist and motivational speaker with an upbeat and hard-hitting presentation style that generates thought, feeling and laughter into every audience. Consistently dubbed one of the most influential black women in business, Dr. Austin has become one of the most well-known and highly regarded dentists in the entertainment industry.In a field traditionally dominated by men, this young African-American dentist is breaking all gender and racial boundaries by establishing her own ground with innovative operations and a unique business strategy. The savvy entrepreneur is the architect of VIP Smiles (www.vipsmiles.com), a modern dental practice that boasts an impressive loyal following, including some of the warmest smiles in the entertainment industry: American Idol's Paula Abdul, America’s Next Top Model Eva Pigford, Actor Kevin Sorbo, Actor Dondre Whitfield, 106 & Park's hosts Terrance and Rocsi, R & B singer Toni Braxton, music legend Isaac Hayes, actor Malik Yoba, and rappers Missy Elliot , Busta Rhymes, and Common have all placed their teeth in her capable hands. Past successful talk shows such as “The Queen Latifah Show†and “The Ricki Lake Show†called on her services and Dr. Austin also taped one of her famous smile makeovers that premiered on the Discover Health Channel’s popular show, “Plastic Surgery: Before and Afterâ€. In fact, throughout the entertainment industry, Dr. Austin is cultivating a reputation as a designer of great smiles.Dr. Austin discovered her passion for dentistry after being transformed by her dental experience in high school. Often the victim of jokes about her front teeth in both grade and middle school, Catrise went to get braces at the age of 15. By the time she graduated high school she was voted prettiest smile; completing a tremendous boost to her self-esteem. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Michigan, Catrise went on to receive her Doctorate in Dental Surgery from the University of Maryland.Dr. Austin never misses a good marketing opportunity and her bold endeavors - her chutzpah as one reporter termed it - has paid off handsomely. VIP Smiles' success can be attributed to her smart business skills and commitment to quality service. The office is equipped with the latest advancements in technology and customer care, and installed with a complete entertainment center that allows patients their choice of watching their favorite DVDs during treatment, listening to their favorite music or enjoying the soothing benefits of aromatherapy. Licensed to practice dentistry in the States of New York as well as California, with her mobile dental unit, Dr. Austin is equipped to deliver her Hollywood Smiles in an intimate setting for “special†clients from coast to coast.Marketing aside, Dr. Austin is serious about oral hygiene and actively promotes preventive maintenance techniques among her patients. "In today's image-conscious society, a person's smile is very important," said Dr. Austin, D.D.S. "A smile is one of the first things people notice about you, and a beautiful smile can have a long-lasting positive impact on your life - socially, economically and psychologically."
