I was so fortunate to work with Dr Agatep on my veneers. I had been unhappy with my teeth for literally years and was really against the idea of getting braces but was also very scared to get veneers as I had seen many cases of obvious, tacky veneers even amongst celebrities who have the top dentists at their disposal. She was very careful in the process of selecting the perfect veneers, even sending one set back because she thought that they were too unnatural. I was beyond estatic when I had my veneers put in, they were extremely natural and I could smile and laugh again without having to cover my mouth with my hand. I would recommend anyone to work with her!

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"Dr. Agatep and the entire staff at Dental Design Spa have been and continue to be incredibly warm and helpful throughout all of my procedures. I have severe TMJ and so I sought a dental office who would respect my condition and not cause more problems for my jaw joints. I truly had nothing to worry about with Dr. Agatep or any of the staff. They all understood, never forgot and even gave me lots of opportunities to rest the joints. Little requests through very involved procedures are all resolved with the same care and compassion. In addition, the work they do is truly beautiful. I can trust this office with my dental care and my business. I recommend Dr. Agatep and staff to all of my family members and friends."

Jennifer C. (University Heights, San Diego)

I knew my jaw was lopsided ever since I was a kid. It had become normal to me and I had forgotten about it. For years I had avoided certain hard foods as well as opening my mouth wide. I started having what seemed like random painful symptoms once I got my very first crown. There was never a pain in my actual jaw, but elsewhere in my face, and dentists used new crowns and root canals to try to treat the problem. The pains continued, but there was no pattern. I couldn't always describe them well or precisely pinpoint their location. I did not know my jaw was shifting while it tried to compensate for a misaligned bite. I broke teeth while chewing, and I had six root canals, four retreatments, and several crown replacements.

I learned that with each new crown, my bite would shift and before long, my chewing would be off, all over again. My dentists weren't "getting it," so I would move on to another dentist hoping the next one would know what to do. This is how my six crowns were each replaced three times. I had a constant neck ache and had to crack it several times each day. Insurance coverage was inadequate and I used a family inheritance to pay some of the bills. I began arguing with the professionals who were trying to help me.

The nightmare continued as I began seeing orthodontists and TMJ specialists. I had three different splints over a period of time. I found myself chewing on my right side in order to avoid pain on the left. This lasted for a period of about three years and I did not know that I was causing further damage to my bite. I also developed nerve damage above certain crowns I had been pounding on while chewing.

Then the debilitating sinus pain began and my confounded doctors and family were wondering if I needed a psychiatrist. I found only moderate relief from a headache specialist. I was the only one who knew I wasn't crazy!

Each of a dozen dentists had offered me only partial solutions to my problem. The only full solution offered to me was to go back to orthodontics and couple it with jaw surgery, making a large incision right through the bone. However, with my history of treatment failures, finding a specialist willing to take on the job was an issue. By this time, digesting my food had become a problem.

When I read a Dental Life insert in the Sunday newspaper, I knew I had finally found the answer! Not to mention the first day I walked into Dental Design Spa, they treated me like a queen. I really felt like a guest and I feel like one every time I go.

I am presently undergoing tensing treatment to relax the pressure against my jaw. It is so gentle and painless that I have fallen asleep in the dental chair. When I phone Dr. Agatep to report that my jaw has changed, she lets me know this is a good thing. It means I am getting closer to my ideal bite.

Finally, the doctor and her staff appreciate my need to question and understand the details of my treatment. Although I have not had my restorations done, I am looking forward to having a nice nap during the procedure. I have certainly never felt so positive about a dental experience.