The Year for Change
January 11, 2014
A list of New Year’s resolutions is really like a “to-do list” on a larger scale. As with many to-do lists, some of the items on it keep getting pushed down in the ranking of priorities because of the constraints of time. So I have a suggestion to keep in mind when making pledges to yourself about what you are going to do this year: Make purifying your time your first resolution.
Many driven people pride themselves on how many tasks and commitments they are able to take on. Eventually, reality catches up and this philosophy of always doing more becomes counterproductive, as you inevitably have to approach your growing list of commitments at a more superficial level. The simple truth is that getting more done is not a matter of doing more things; it is a matter of doing the right things with your time. In that sense, the answer is often found in “unhooking” yourself from the low-value time wasters that hold you back from giving your full attention to the things that truly drive your success.
You can’t buy more hours in a day, but you can reclaim time for yourself. You can choose to delegate; you can choose to streamline and purge yourself of recurring nuisances that eat away at your productivity. You can choose to say “no” to demands on your time that don’t fit your criteria for being worthwhile. By purifying your time priorities in this way, you amplify the value of your time and you get more out of life.
So as you put together your list of things you want to do over the coming year, be sure to work on another list at the same time: a list of things you don’t want to do anymore. Think of it as a “To-Not-Do” list.
Some of the items on this list may take time and effort to unhook from, such as delegating others to take over certain duties. Some of them you will find you can drop right away. Of course, this does not include things that you are passing on to say your spouse, like laundry and grocery shopping.
Be ruthless about it, keeping in mind that this is your most precious resource we are talking about. Examine each recurring demand on your time and ask yourself if it’s adding value to your life in an intangible way? Is it enhancing your productivity and improving your life? If the answer is no to both of those questions, the next question becomes obvious: Then why are you doing this?
Challenge yourself right now to sit down and create your own list of things to not do in 2014. Try to come up with at least five items. This is a great way to start the year with a feeling of liberation. This allows you to clear your mind of clutter and award yourself more time and energy to embrace the really important possibilities.
You can create specific lists for different aspects of your life, like your health. Changing your habits takes effort and the awareness that you want the change in your life. I look forward to sharing ideas on this subject throughout the year.
5 Reasons People Avoid the Dentist
January 20, 2013
There are five major reasons that people do not get the necessary dental care they need. They are money, time, lack of concern, fear and trust. Let’s take a quick look at each one and see if any of them fit you and what dentists often try to do to overcome these obstacles for patients.
Although you may think that money would be the number one reason people avoid ideal dental treatment, it is not. Even in these tougher economic times, money, although a significant barrier for many is still not the number one issue for most. Yes, dental care in some cases can be a significant investment. With insurance industry’s unwillingness to raise the bar, as I have talked about in previous columns, patients often get stuck with large dental bills. Unfortunately, as of now, we have to face these facts and it does not mean avoiding the dentist.
Many dentists offer payment plans through third party carriers so patients can pay for treatment over an extended period of time. Ask your dentist if they have such an option. The point here is to get a plan. Once a plan is established, your dentist can work with you to prioritize and sequence your treatment. This way, if you need to spread your treatment over a period of time to make it affordable, you can pick away at a well thought out plan.
Time is an excuse. We all use time as an excuse for many of the things in our lives we want to avoid or procrastinate on. The reality is however, if we place something high enough in our value system there is always time for it. But, in order to move something higher up in our value system, we must be educated and come to realize that this particular thing is of benefit to us. This brings me to the most common reason people avoid ideal dental care.
Lack of concern about dental health is prevalent with a huge percentage of the population for a few reasons. Absence of pain is one. Other than “nerve gone bad” need for a root canal, there few things that actually cause pain. Take for example periodontal disease. About 75% of the population has some form of this disease but only 50% of the population goes to the dentist. Why? No pain. This doesn’t mean it is healthy and there are not problems down the road like loss of teeth. It is up to the dentist to educate patients on these types of issues, but people have to actually go to the dentist to get this information.
Some people have fear of going to the dentist….and for good reason, due to bad past experiences or bad information. However, dentistry today should be a comfortable experience most of the time. For those who are still fearful, there are different medications dentists can use to ease the experience.
The last barrier to ideal treatment is trust. For a patient to move forward with treatment, it is essential the patient both like and trust the dentist. Although I am sure that the skills of your dentist are important to you, I am willing to bet that you would not stay with a dentist that you did not like or trust. Find someone you can connect with and build a strong doctor-patient relationship.
21 Suggestions for Success in 2013
January 3, 2013
If you are reading this column, the end of the world did not happen on December 21st and it’s time to think about the ways in which to improve our lives for 2013.
As readership has grown for The Town Common, I thought it was appropriate to re-publish this column so that new and old readers could benefit from this list. It is a great way to start a new year.
These 21 suggestions for success are authored by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. I have a framed picture of these hanging in my office and read them every day. I get comments about them all the time from people saying how much they like them. Cut this column out, hang it on your refrigerator and read it frequently.
1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.
2. Work at something you enjoy and that’s worthy of your time and talent.
3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
6. Be generous.
7. Have a grateful heart.
8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
12. Commit yourself to quality.
13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
14. Be loyal.
15. Be honest.
16. Be a self-starter.
17. Be decisive even if it means you’ll sometimes be wrong.
18. Stop blaming others even if it means you’ll sometimes be wrong.
19. Be loyal and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.
20. Take good care of those you love.
21. Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your Mom proud.
22. (my own) Strive for optimal health……and that includes dental health.
Devastating
November 26, 2012
I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was in travel mode for a few straight weeks of continuing education courses. This past week I was in Detroit, which I will discuss below. This coming weekend I was scheduled to travel to northern New Jersey. Well, Hurricane Sandy postponed those plans. My heart goes out to those affected by her devastation and I wish them the best as they try to pick up the pieces and return to normalcy.
This week I would like to discuss two other areas of devastation that I encountered on my most recent trip to Detroit. The course itself was a live-patient course utilizing a unique type of surgical extraction instruments. Although I was very impressed with the course and instruments, there is nothing really more to report that would interest the readers of this column. The two areas of devastation I encountered, however, are worth mentioning.
I saw numerous patients in Detroit who presented with the need for treatment that they could not otherwise afford. Two of the patients I treated needed full-mouth extractions. One was an older gentleman who had recently finished radiation treatment for cancer and the other was a 21-year-old man who has been using methamphetamine (crystal meth). The effects of both of their situations led to the demise of their teeth.
Meth is highly addictive; many users are hooked the first time they try it. Long-term abuse can cause serious dental deterioration, hallucinations, heart failure, brain damage, and stroke, not to mention devastating the lives of addicts and their families.
People think that all drug users look strange, but the reality is that some are normal, good-looking kids, high-school students, even parents. Although my patient did not report any use of drugs, it was apparent from the distinct look of his teeth that he was a heavy meth user.
The signs of possible meth use are many. In addition to physical and behavioral changes, one of the earliest symptoms is gum-line decay of the teeth, caused by both the chemicals in the drug and reduced hygiene (tooth brushing). In more advanced cases, the teeth take on a grayish-brown appearance, then become weak — cracking and breaking easily — and eventually spongy. After long-term decay, teeth take on a goblet shape and the term “meth mouth” is used to describe them. This describes my patient’s teeth exactly. Devastating.
Radiation treatment can have a similar effect on the teeth. It can have both an effect on the teeth themselves and the bone that supports them. My patient had quite a bit of good restorative dentistry performed on him in his younger years but had not seen a dentist for approximately 10 years.
When he was diagnosed with cancer, he underwent radiation treatment without working directly with a dentist. The treatment caused severe dry mouth (xerostomia) which led to rampant decay around the necks of all of his teeth. In addition, the radiation also made his bone extremely brittle, which further complicated the procedure I was doing. Patients who need to undergo radiation treatment should work directly with a dentist and consider intense fluoride treatments and any teeth that need to be extracted should be done prior to radiation treatment.
It is always saddening to see devastation. And, although there is gratification in helping those in need, we should be mindful of the steps we can take in our own individual situations to avoid the unnecessary.
Six Month Smiles
November 11, 2012
Typically, fall and winter tend to be my heaviest time for continuing education. What is continuing education for a dentist? It is a must. As in any profession, learning never stops. If you stop learning, you halt growth both professionally and personally.
Dentistry offers continuing education in every aspect of the profession. Dentists can learn everything from new techniques in “filling” teeth to using Botox. In the next month I am travelling to Detroit to learn some new surgical techniques, New Jersey to learn a different way to do root canals, and Arizona for a refresher course on treatment planning and communication with patients. Travelling and being away from home is not my favorite part of this learning process, but you have to go where the information is.
In the 18 years of continuing my education, I have taken courses that have been career changing and others that were of no interest to me. Recently I was in Indianapolis for an orthodontic course entitled ‘Six Month Smiles’.
Many adult patients are unhappy with crooked teeth. Some of them may have had braces when they were younger and didn’t wear their retainers and others may have never had braces but always wanted straighter teeth. I have numerous adult patients who are currently in braces with an orthodontist. I also have many patients that are not willing to make the commitment to wear metal brackets in their mouth for 2 or more years.
A few years ago I took a course for Invisalign. This is a system that uses scanned impressions of the mouth and provides a series of digitally produced removable clear trays called aligners. The patient wears the trays 24 hours a day and is only supposed to remove them to eat and brush their teeth. The trays are changed every 2 weeks and with each change the teeth are moved. The intended end result is straight teeth. Treatment time depends on the complexity of the movement desired. In my experience, treatment usually takes a year or more.
I have had my frustrations with Invisalign. Certain movements of teeth can be unpredictable. In addition, because the patient can remove the trays, there is a compliance issue. I limited the cases I did to patients who I knew would be compliant and had relatively easy tooth movements.
Six Month Smiles is a system that I am using to replace Invisalign. It uses clear braces and a white wire so they are barely noticeable from speaking distance. And, the patient can’t take them off so it makes the movements more predictable in that regard. Why is it called Six Month Smiles? Treatment is usually completed in 6 months with a range from 4-8 months.
These are considered cosmetic braces. That means that their purpose is to treat the patient’s chief complaint, which is usually crooked front teeth. It does not change the bite relationship and is not intended for people with bite issues. The system is absolutely NOT a replacement for traditional orthodontics in most cases. Traditional orthodontics should always be discussed and considered.
However, this is the perfect solution for many adults. If you wish your front teeth were straight, don’t have gum disease, and don’t have any significant bite issues, this system may be for you. Email me some questions so I can write the answers to them in a future column.
Is Seeing Believing?
October 24, 2012
Last night I heard a commercial for a cholesterol medication in which the person playing the doctor says, “I wish my patients could see what I see.” I believe there are two ways to look at that statement.
The commercial showed an image of animated artery walls clogging with particles of plaque clinging to one another making the opening of the artery smaller and smaller. This is a visual that is easy to understand.
The second, and more subtle way to take this statement, is the doctor wishing that patients could see what happens to patients over time with and without compliance to taking medication or changing their diet. If patients could only understand and use the vast experiences of the doctor to make better decisions for themselves, wouldn’t everyone choose to do all the “right” things for a better and healthier life? Conventional wisdom would say “yes” but reality says something different.
I have been photographing teeth for over 18 years. When I tell a patient that I am going to take a series of pictures of their teeth the response I often hear is, “I just had x-rays taken.” When I explain that they are pictures and not x-rays it is not uncommon for the patient to ask, “Why?”
I had a new patient in yesterday for a consultation who said these exact words. The patient then said something that I also hear frequently, “No one has ever done this before.” My response is that I take pictures of teeth for two reasons. The first is for my own documentation and the second is to be able to show the patient what is in their own mouth.
Showing a patient visual images of their own teeth is by far the most powerful tool I use in practice. How many times have you been to a dentist where treatment is explained and recommended but you can’t see it? A picture is truly worth a thousand words.
When I started displaying the images and giving the patient above a tour of her own mouth the patient said, “Wow, that doesn’t look good. I can’t believe that is in my mouth.” I hear that a lot too. After the “tour” I continued to explain why things look a certain way and what to expect in the future. I proposed both long and short-term plans for the patient to consider. Photographs are invaluable for this exercise and most patients appreciate being able to see what I see.
The next part of my consultation is to try to get the patient to look beyond the pictures and envision where they want to be 5, 10, 20+ years down the road. My goal is to bring my own experience of knowing, based on all the patients I have seen in practice, where the patient is headed and give them the opportunity to potentially change the course of their future.
This approach may be different for some people. It is easy to get overwhelmed by any new approach and I always encourage patients that this is the beginning of a relationship and decisions to do or not do something do not have to be made today. My new patient said, “I am X years old and I don’t know if I am even going to be around in 10 or 20 years.” Crystal ball or not, it still seems like a long time to me.
You, as a patient, should look beyond today and make choices for ANY aspect of your health based on where you want to be in the future. Take advantage of the knowledge you gain from all your experiences and make decisions that you feel are right for you.
The Soda Ban
October 5, 2012
On Sept. 13, at New York City’s Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s urging, New York City’s Board of Health approved what’s believed to be a first-of-its-kind ban on the sale of supersized sugary beverages. In six months, if there’s no lawsuit filed to block it, containers of Coke, Pepsi and sugar-laden flavored drinks larger than 16 ounces will be outlawed at restaurants, movie theaters, food carts and sports arenas. Business violators would be subject to a $200 fine.
This ban doesn’t stop someone from buying two 16-ounce cups or bottles of soda. Nor does it apply to convenience stores or grocery stores. And, of course, New Yorkers are free to drink however much they want at home.
It is said that at worst, the new soda ban will inconvenience some hard-core soda drinkers. However, my contention is whether or not this is the right way to approach the war on obesity? Critics contend that this ban is an assault on our freedom to choose. I have mixed feelings on the subject. Does the ban on large beverages and the previous Bloomberg-inspired ban on trans fats lead to a ban on the number of hamburgers one can purchase at the same time?
Last week, the American Dental Association (ADA) gave a thumbs-up to Mayor Bloomberg’s initiative. ADA president, Dr. William Calnon said, “Health professionals, including dentists, have long stressed the importance of a healthy diet; yet obesity and lack of exercise — associated with chronic diseases and conditions such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes and hypertension remain high.”
On the ban itself Dr. Calnon said, “When it comes to a ban related to a particular food or beverage, is a stick rather than a carrot approach the best way to get people to adopt healthier diets? Perhaps not, but the attention alone that the mayor’s ban has generated on this issue is certainly a huge step in the right direction.” Dr. Calnon seems to believe that the attention to the subject is worth more than methodology. Most of us are aware that super-sizing anything is probably not in the best interest of our health. If we ban certain food products to fight obesity, should we make exercise mandatory?
As with any lifestyle choice, the lessons need to start early in the home. What we choose to buy in the grocery store to provide for our families on a consistent basis is the backbone of the impressions our children get, which will help them make better choices on their own. Our children need to grow-up in an environment where we respect what we put in our own bodies and take care of ourselves with exercise. It seems to me that banning or limiting what can be purchased is an attempt to make up for the lack of discipline in the home. But, will that work?
Is the limitation of allowing smoking in public places the reason for a decrease in smoking? Smoking in public places puts others at risk and is the main reason, but smoking in general has decreased because of the increased awareness of health risks. Does the ability to buy a 32-ounce soda have a direct effect on anyone surrounding the person buying it?
I’m all for increased awareness of what science has shown is good or not good for us. Armed with that information, we have the personal responsibility to make choices that we feel are right for us as individuals.
Is Your Insurance Expiring?
September 27, 2012
I don’t know how you feel but I think this year is just flying by. I guess I feel like that every year. Only three more months left in 2012. For those of you with dental insurance, only three more months to use your dental benefits before they disappear and go toward the bonuses for the insurance executives. That is kind of a joke and it is kind of not.
As you know, if you have dental insurance, you have a yearly maximum amount of money that can be used for dental care. Although that yearly maximum (typically $1000-1500 per year) has not changed for 40 years in most situations, if you don’t use the money the insurance company keeps it. That’s right, if your insurance company doesn’t write a check out for your dental care, they keep whatever you don’t use.
On that note, if you have dental work that needs to be done, now is the time to do it. The only catch is that because many patients wait until the end of the year to use their dental insurance benefits, it is often difficult to get an appointment. Therefore, those reading this column will be one step ahead of everyone else. The big rush generally occurs in the next couple of weeks so book your appointments now.
This is especially true for patients who need multiple things done. Let me use a specific example. Let’s say your dentist has told you that you need a crown on a tooth but the tooth will need work done by a periodontist or even the dreaded root canal prior to doing the crown. Getting the “pre-crown” work done at the end of this year will allow you to finish the crown in the beginning of next year and maximize your insurance benefits.
It has always seemed crazy to me that we have to play these games with dental insurance, but that’s the way it works. If you have been told that you needed some work done and haven’t done it, call your dental office or insurance carrier to see what remaining benefits you have.
Just for clarification, as this is an area that patients sometimes get confused on, your yearly maximum is yours and not your spouse’s. If you and your spouse have dental insurance and a $1000 yearly benefit, you get to use $1000 and your spouse gets to use $1000. If you go over your maximum you cannot use any of your spouse’s benefits.
For those without dental insurance – you are not missing out on too much. Yes, dental insurance is nice to have, especially if your employer is paying most or all of the premiums. However, people tend to get into the frame of mind that if they do not have dental insurance they can’t go to the dentist.
I had a patient in just yesterday that had not been in for 5 years because he said he did not have insurance. Five years later the patient needs more work done than the insurance benefits will cover. It’s not worth it.
One thing is for certain, regardless of whether you have insurance or not, regular visits to a dentist is the key. If your goal is health you can’t do it alone. If the cost, or the fact you don’t have dental insurance is what is holding you back, talk with an office that offers financial arrangements that work for you. The longer you stay away the more difficult it is to catch up.
Have a great autumn. Beat the rush and schedule those appointments.
Feel Good
September 4, 2012
Last week I was on vacation. There are many definitions of vacation but the first one I found when I looked up the definition is – “a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity, usually used for rest, recreation, or travel.” I think that is a fairly good definition but for me it is missing one key point.
Most of us look forward to vacation. For some it might be a time to relax or “unwind” or maybe sleep in and be lazy. For others, like myself, I look at it as having time to do things I love to do or to put it a different way – things that I am passionate about.
I know what you are thinking – but you are a dentist….aren’t you passionate about that? I have been a dentist for 18 years and there is no doubt that I love what I do. The fact of the matter is, it is difficult to stay interested in anything without growth. I take a lot of continuing education in dentistry to continue to learn and grow in my profession. However, like most people, I have interests outside of work that I look forward to during vacation.
Every weekend is a vacation. I look at it that way because I always want to have a “vacation” to look forward to. Whether we are working or we are in school, we all look forward to time away from our daily routine. Having said that, whether it is a weekend or a longer vacation, I get up at the same time, generally go to sleep at the same time, and I exercise, which is all part of my daily routine. For me that is important because it allows me to spend the same amount of time doing some of the other things that I am passionate about.
So, what’s the key point that I think is missing from that definition of vacation? I think it should include the idea that we want to do things that make us feel good. If you aren’t feeling good you are feeling bad. If you feel bad you are not growing, and if you are not growing you are going in the other direction, which is not good!
While I love what I do on a day-to-day basis during the week, I am passionate about learning. I like to learn and grow in my profession but I like learning in general. I believe that is the key to growth and feeling good.
My father is a good example of this. He has been a veterinarian for 50 years! That is a long time to do the same thing. He still loves what he does, although he does it a lot less these days, but he always learning….not just about veterinary medicine but about other things that he is passionate about. At 75 years old he is still learning and growing.
I had a patient in the other day who is truly passionate about bike riding. While that is not his profession, it is obvious that he loves bike riding and is constantly striving for improvement and growth. Bike riding for him makes him feel good. And that is the key point – when you feel good you are happy and we all want to be happy.
There are things that we have to do in our day-to-day lives that don’t necessarily make us feel good. Many of those things cannot be avoided. However, in general, we should try to avoid those things that do not make us feel good. For example, I do not watch the news very often any more. If you watch the news on a regular basis I would bet you know why.
So, if you find yourself not as happy as you would like to be, stop and write down a list of the things that bring joy to your life. Make time to do more of those things, or even just one. Pick something that you want to learn more about and “grow” with it. I truly believe that happiness is a choice.
One Patient’s Story
July 25, 2012
This is the story about a woman I met recently named “Carol”. Carol’s story is the reason I do what I do every day and brings me back the next day. The interesting thing is that it has absolutely nothing to do with performing the actual physical work of dentistry.
Carol is in her 70’s and for most of her life has gone to the dentist infrequently. She presented to my office a couple of months ago for a second opinion. At our first appointment Carol brought her most recent x-rays, a treatment plan from another dentist, and a page-long list of questions. She was well-prepared for the complimentary consultation I was giving her and seemed to know exactly what she wanted.
About 8 years ago, Carol visited a dental office that touts itself as “holistic”. Carol had about $10,000 of dentistry done at that office and unfortunately had not seen a dentist since. Her reason for visiting that particular office was because she was/is very concerned about her health and believed that a “holistic” office could provide her with what she was looking for. Now, only 8 years later, her teeth were falling apart.
Carol had eight crowns done on her upper back teeth at that time. The crowns, still in her mouth, were failing due to recurrent decay. More importantly to Carol, her front teeth were in severe breakdown. Carol had her mind made up; she wanted full dentures.
Carol sought out a local dentist, presented her desires, got a written treatment plan with fees, and then came to me for a second opinion. She brought that treatment plan with her and it appeared very reasonable – take out all remaining teeth and place full dentures. The first thing I noticed was that Carol had 6 lower front teeth that have been decay-free and have had excellent bone supporting them for 70 years. However, her mind was made-up, she wanted everything taken out. She did not want to have to deal with maintenance of teeth any more.
Over the next two consultation appointments I had with Carol, we discussed many different treatment options. We thoroughly reviewed the advantages of keeping these lower front teeth each time we met. Carol brought a list of questions to each of these meetings, which we discussed in depth. It was decided – Carol was moving forward with full dentures.
We have had two more appointments since then. Because of the location of the dental laboratory that I use, those appointments were spread-out over a few weeks. At this point, we had done some procedural steps to get her ready for full dentures, but the teeth are still there. They would not get taken out until the dentures were ready to be delivered.
At each appointment I discussed a different aspect of why it would be such an advantage to her to keep those lower front teeth. Her mind was not changed. Yesterday, Carol walked into my office to tell me that she has decided that she wants to keep her lower teeth.
Okay, so what’s the point? The point has nothing to do with what Carol’s final treatment is. Carol has every right to decide on what she feels is right for her.
The dentistry Carol received 8 years ago was good technical dentistry on the teeth that were treated. However, the “holistic” dentist did not treat her as a whole person and left the rest of her mouth destined for failure.
The local dentist she got the treatment plan from provided a very reasonable treatment proposal. They had one visit, decided on treatment and her next step was to go to the oral surgeon and have all her teeth out.
Far too many times I see patients and dentists rush into treating teeth. Taking the time to engage in conversation and treat the person as a person and not a tooth is less common than it should be in my opinion. My point of this story is not that I got Carol to do what I felt was best for her, but that I gave her my time, answered all her questions, and allowed her to decide what was best for her. She needed the time.
There are few things we have to rush into in life.
