Consultation review - Finding Hope with Dr. Frankel. Toronto, ON

I referred myself to Dr. Frankel having found his name on the internet under a website linking patients to dentists trained in neuromuscular dentistry, of which Dr. Frankel is one. After reviewing all available on-line information on him (including all reviews) and noting his impressive pedigree and many years of professional experience, I decided to 'cold' e-mail Dr. Frankel a very detailed account of my complex, 20-year long, history involving uncomfortable changes to my bite following others' dental procedures and consequent symptoms of occlusal disease, including TMD.My e-mail included photos, test results, and clinical reports authored by other clinicians in the past who either could not fully appreciate my condition; could not offer me an appropriate solution; or who did not inspire in me the requisite confidence to proceed with them beyond an initial consultation. I requested that Dr. Frankel carefully review the information that I provided to him prior to an initial consultation so that most of the time spent with me could be used for the purpose of adding to the diagnostic information already available. To this end, I also asked him to describe in advance the tools and techniques that he would/could use in the initial evaluation and treatment planning process. In addition to carefully reviewing my materials in advance, Dr. Frankel also e-mailed me after office hours and spoke with me at length on the phone, answering my questions as to anticipated procedures, time and cost of an initial evaluation.In our first conversation, I was very impressed with Dr. Frankel's congeniality and the knowledge that he demonstrated of the relevant anatomy and various diagnostic studies (MRI, etc). His patience, knowledge and generosity were already unprecedented for me. In our first appointment and follow-up visit one week later, my best expectations were exceeded. We spoke remedially about my concerns and symptoms; plaster impressions of my teeth were taken and analyzed; EMG scans of my facial muscles were run and analyzed; various measurements of my teeth and the new impressions were taken and analyzed; manual tests for bodily muscle strength and balance according to my bite were performed; and new observations made of a previous Ceph (orthodontic) radiograph. Dr. Frankel then digested and reviewed his findings and initial diagnosis/treatment plan with me. My old and new impressions were once again measured and analyzed and a Tek-Scan that measures biting forces over time was performed and interpreted. In the interim of our first and follow-up appointments, Dr. Frankel also took the time to speak with a respected specialist about my case and offered to act as a liaison and to provide any necessary guidance to treatment through the diagnostic information that he had meticulously gathered over many hours. The fee charged for this work and time was WELL BEYOND what could be called reasonable.I am very grateful to Dr. Frankel for being that all too rare dentist who maintains humility in spite of his many years of successful practice and advanced training; who brings to bear his own knowledge and experience in combination with an appreciation and interest in what each patient reports when formulating a diagnosis and treatment plan; who understands that dental health can dramatically impact ones overall health and is passionate about its delivery; who is guided solely by the best interests of his patients; and for whom the learning and growing process never ends. His lovely and very competent dental assistant and beautiful office space conveniently located at Yonge and Lawrence round out a truly exceptional experience. I would highly recommend that anyone who has suffered from problems of the bite and masticatory system (including TMD), that have been poorly understood by others (if at all), see Dr. Frankel for an evaluation. He is a rare dentist and human being.