Engaging and Affecting the world: with your mouth, your smiles...YOU!

I love hearing of anything that sheds dentistry in a positive light!!! And in the end of our lives, when we reflect back – one of the things we truly hope is that our lives have touched others -affecting them and helping them through their journey of life, and that the impact is helpful and positive.

So you can imagine my excitement in all things dentistry (giveaways too…) when I read the following post today: http://casuallyspeaking.wordpress.com/2011/08/23/opening-up/ In summary: one LUCKY and amazing person can win up to $25,000 and be featured on Rachel Ray!!! Not for the 30 minute meal segment ( *wink *) but featured on her talk show!!!

What do you do to enter?? Go to the project’s website at http://lifeopensupproject.com.

Submit their registration form & then create a 2 minute video about how you feel you use or have used your mouth to affect the world and how a life (or lives) changed (opened up) because of YOU!!! Describe your video. Then take a close up picture of your mouth and submit it!! Oral B and Crest are coming together to help put this great and fun and just all around feel-good project!!  Entries can be submitted until September 15, 2011.


Good luck to you all!! Can’t wait to see you on Rachel Ray!!!

Images courtesy of: livesreflection.blogspot.com and lifeopensupproject.com

Women in dentistry from ACROSS the US - unite!

My class of 2007 at New York University College of Dentistry was comprised of over 325 students, 100+ or more that were already dentists in their respective countries but wanted to come to the US to practice dentistry and start their own lives. Being so large of a class it felt that there were at least 50% men, and 50% women but I don't know if it was confirmed. New York City, Manhattan itself, is so rich in diversity, culture, food, women's rights- everything...and our class was no exception.  Now, I am in California, the bay area of California, and here again I am immersed in cultural diversity, and a female dentist or specialist is not uncommon. That is not however the case all over the United States, something that I didn't really consider since I was not in the Midwest.

But - I was reading an article by the staff at Dr.Bicuspid.com called "Women comprise 50% of new dental class at Indiana University" that seems to present further and confirm this trend of diversity and females entering the dental field is spreading ACROSS the nation. And how wonderful is that!?!?  You can read the article here: http://www.drbicuspid.com/index.aspx?sec=nws&sub=rad&pag=dis&ItemID=308424&wf=949

The article states that for the first time in the 132-year history of the Indiana University School of Dentistry, the newest dental class is composed of an EQUAL number of men and women: 52 men and 52 women for a total of 104 students. The FIRST time in 132 YEARS!! What I found fascinating was that they stated that between 1879 and 1974 at Indiana University (and the predecessor Indiana Dental College) 5000 men earned their dental degree while only 56 women did (1974 isn't that long ago!!!)

So while their class of 104 is more than 2/3rds less than my dental class of over 325, I want to just say how glad I am to have these career opportunities here in 2011. As ladies we are doing so well – not only in this profession, but across the scope of careers. Seeing this article made me reflect and appreciate how far we've come and what other women before us fought for to allow us to have these opportunities. And may it continue!!!!

GO LADIES !!!!

Image courtesy of: vector.net

Lights...Camera...Zoom!!!

What do we see on the front of most magazines, on the television with actors, with news reporters, and on most dental websites? Beautiful people with BRIGHT and BEAUTIFUL and WHITE smiles. Are most of these bright smiles natural? Or were they enhanced? Were they Zoomed???

More recently I was speaking to a lady about her treatment plan and she asked me about whitening her teeth. Whitening your teeth, and timing it appropriately, is truly a part of treatment planning. Whether it is needed or desired - that is dictated by the patient. I looked at her teeth and to me they were BEAUTIFUL – one of the whitest shades we have.  She wanted them WHITER?!? How was this possible?  Similarly, I have many people who have many other dental issues that need to be stabilized before teeth whitening should be done, but that is their main concern. There was even a cartoon parody of this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfR0mT2DSDw&feature=related

While I appreciate the humor, I am not saying that whitening is not a priority in the dental field. I myself recently had the opportunity to have my teeth whitened for my recent wedding– our office uses Zoom for in-house bleaching. Our dental assistant was being trained and I was to be the guinea pig (only I was a willing patient since I wanted it for those memorable wedding pictures!!!!)  It was well worth the 45 minutes of treatment and after a mouth-full of cotton, you could find me in the DARK! (Just like Ross in that funny Friends episode!)  I also have the bleaching tray moulds so that I can bleach at home. I LOVE whitening my teeth – it is true - it makes me feel younger, look more tan, and I just want to smile more!  BLING!!!

But I just want to mention a few things you should consider before whitening your teeth.

A)    Are your gums and teeth healthy? Are your teeth free of cavities, and are your gums healthy? It is important to first address these issues before you whiten your teeth

A)   Do you have previous crowns or fillings on your teeth already? If so, these will not get lighter with whitening and will not change color. You might need to have them replaced in the most extreme situations if you are not happy with their color

B)    Are your teeth sensitive?

a.       My teeth are VERY sensitive -  If this is a concern, I recommend using a fluoride mouthrinse (ACT for example) for at least a week before whitening. If possible, a prescription for Prevident 5000+ would be recommended for those VERY sensitive people, like myself. This should cost ~$20 (you can ask for a prescription from your dentist)

C)     What are staining foods and do you consume a lot of them in your diet?

a.       Coffee, tea, red wine, tomatoes, acidic foods

D)    Do you smoke?

a.       If you do, and are considering quitting or try to quit again, possibly you can use teeth whitening as an incentive. Smoking is not only harmful to your entire health, but from a dental perspective it changes circulation of your gums, it is one of the risk factors in periodontal (gum) disease, and oral cancer, and it stains your teeth, among other harmful effects. 

So next time you consider bleaching, GO FOR IT – but don’t forget to consider what I’ve listed. If you have, then LIGHTS…CAMERA….ZOOM, ZOOM!!!

image courtesy of: columbiamedicalsolutions.com

Customer Service – a key ingredient to the recipe for dental success

I am very fortunate (especially in the current economic state) to work in several offices. This has given me the unique opportunity to observe many different practice models, evaluate what works and what doesn’t work, and gives me just a special perspective of dental practice. As an associate I am a practitioner but I do not own the practice. I get to focus on patient care, whatever they might need – my schedule is set for the day and I get to go home and not worry about overhead, tomorrow’s schedule, or bills. People’s lives and livelihood are not dependent on my success during the day.

One office that I work at recently lost an employee – the reasons are many, but one of them was that she did not exhibit excellent customer service. While regrettable on many levels, I realize now more than ever that customer service is a key element in the dental world and is what will set an office apart from another. Just as yeast is to the leavening of bread, SERVICE is to dentistry. When patients come to the dentist their needs are not limited to just clinical evaluation (although that is the primary focus) but patient needs extend to the many details that require attention such as dental insurance information, efficiency, and the basic human element of kindness and fairness. 

I have read many YELP reviews. In today’s economy the public is embracing technology and the digital age and turning to each other to help find restaurants, small business establishments, AND health professionals through sharing reviews! And dentistry is truly being affected by this!!! While many people write rave reviews that you know if there was an option for more than 5 stars they would have put it, there are also just as many complaints – and those are the most damaging to a small business. If you look at most complaints some are about the financial aspect of the dental procedures. But 8 times out of 10 – the complaints discuss their unhappiness in how they were TREATED. For example, not greeting them upon entering, making them wait a long time either being late seating them or making them wait in the chair a long time, making them feel like they were not the primary focus throughout their procedure and their overall feeling of a lack of caring and empathy.  Patients are also very aware of order and who came into an office first, and who they feel should be taken care of first. They are aware of the friendliness of the office and the empathy exhibited by the entire staff. 

Not every person is going to be the easiest to help, nor can we promise that every crown and filling will never fail. Not every patient experience is going to be the most positive, but if we take care of our patients and there is an element of basic kindness and fairness, people will trust you that you have their best interests at heart and return to your care. So while I understand that we cannot please everyone, just as we can’t get along with everyone in the world, it is imperative that excellent customer service be one of the most important things that an office can provide for the patients. While finances can be controversial for many, that is separate from the clinical aspect and overall patient IMPRESSION of an office, leaving them with a GOOD or BAD aftertaste.

In the end, I think in any establishment, we have to remember that CUSTOMER SERVICE will help to make or break your practice. Competence and comfort and truly being treated well – in all aspects of life, is what makes people keep returning to an establishment. And in the dental world we all want patients to leave with a GOOD taste and return to us again...and of course remember us when their friends and families and colleagues need our services.

Image: courtesy of pd4free.com

Hip or Unprofessional: TV and Dentistry

Technology is truly embraced by one of the offices in which I work and I have to say that most of our patients LOVE it. Not only do we have computers galore, 3-D imaging, digital films, and one appointmet crowns, but we are lucky enough to have a wonderful television set available for the comfort and distraction of patients while we work. Some patients don't like the TV on, but many enjoy it!! High in the far right corner of the room is this magical cable box and flat screen television that seems to be equivalent as the musical flute is for the Arabian snakes that lures patients from the spell of dental fear to one of mere distraction. I don’t pay attention to most programs as I am working– I am busy with my head deep in dental cavities, bonding agent, cement, margins, water, and a high speed drill. But while the light is curing the composite and I am forced to look away or there is a moment of quiet, in my peripheral hearing I catch all kinds of bits and pieces of the various television programs.

Sometimes it is the News (CNN, Fox News, Kron 4 - mostly factual and somewhat depressing given the current economic state, violence, traffic or weather), sometimes it is the FOOD network, and above me I can hear the sizzling of some delicious food item that the Barefoot Contessa or Rachel Ray is concocting (my stomach will usually growl in reply)…but today, dear readers, today it was the mentally…stimulating…Jersey Shore replete with Snookie in Italy.

My assistant seemed to be a little distracted by this program in the background – and who wouldn’t have been? It was the patient’s choice of programs…but was it my responsibility to turn it off? I admit to being a little amused and a little shocked that I was listening to this kind of program, but I was also a little admittedly embarrassed that we were listening to this in a dental setting while I am doing a few fillings!!! Are we hip or are we unprofessional? Do we drone out the slew of sexual innuendos, bleeped out expletives, and the almost non-existent clothing in lieu of the blissful distraction and patient enjoyment? Or do we just have a standard and professional albeit somewhat sterile news program that patients can enjoy? Does this kind of program take away from the professionalism and good impression of our office? Or are we catering to the decisions and desires of our own patient television choices? What is right? What is the best conclusion to this predicament?

While I don’t know the answer to this, having the option of a television program for our patients is a wonderful one. I don’t want to take away patient choice, and most people don’t like the smell or the sounds of the dental office. And I know deep in my soul that I have been saved on more than one occasion by Dora the Explorer or Sponge-Bob square pants for our younger patient clientele! But I also know just as surely that I will keep the television channel off a program that has anything to do with Jersey Shore in the dental setting...unless the patient specifically requests it. Sorry Snookie!

But for now, on my TV and dentistry and professionalism question….I guess I am still deciding.

Photo courtesy of: aearizona.com

You, Me and Ergonomics - Food for Thought

The other day I was working and things just felt difficult. It wasn’t the procedure actually that was difficult. It was the access. I was working on the last top tooth in the patient’s mouth – her last molar WAY in the back. And I had a cheek protector, cotton rolls, everything that could help me get better access, and keep the area dry– if it could help me it was there.  I was pulling her cheek so I wouldn’t hurt the inside of her mouth, and I was defying all laws of ergonomics – I would have defied gravity if I could have. You can picture the scene. It is a very common one in any dental office or many patients' dental experiences. 

Now, how long are most dental appointments for you? Depending on how many procedures you are having done, and if it is a more complicated procedure, some can last for more than 2 hours right? A lot of times there is a moment that comes during treatment, when I’ve been drilling a little while, and the patient needs a break. I need a break. Anyone would need a break. There was a patient the other day that needed to get up and walk around the building a few times to keep their circulation going!

During those few hours with us, it is very difficult to keep your mouth open the entire time. And how many times have you had your dentist ask you, OPEN PLEASE? If not once, then I’m sure you’ve heard it multiple times. We are not asking this to annoy you. We are asking this of you to SEE what we are doing – millimeters of space make a huge difference in teeth!!! And we know you’re tired. We get a little tired too. The bite block has become one of my most favorite work tools – I wish I had invented it!!!

The reason I share this with you is the issue of ERGONOMICS and patient comfort. We had one class during dental school about ergonomics and longevity of practice. Just one class and I wish they had emphasized it instead throughout our curriculum– as it is truly an important part of our day. It is an important part of MANY people’s days who aren’t even in the dental field! And we’ve seen the images posted where they tell you specific angles that you should be at for the BEST posture. 

In dentistry – that is almost impossible to follow. And we hear about people having carpel tunnel syndrome or repetitive stress disorders that result from bad posture, repetitive movement, and stress from sitting at the computer, from the daily grind of things. It’s natural – but I am writing this to remind us of the importance of it – so we can work until WE are ready to retire…and not before.

The best advice I would suggest is:

• ·         Remember to stretch your back, your hands, your neck - before, during, and after working on a patient (just like at the gym!)
• ·         Take breaks if it is a long procedure (this is great for you, great for the patients, and it reduces muscle fatigue (in our hands and their jaws!)
• ·         Have good loupes (magnification glasses) and if possible a loupe light to see without bending. It will SAVE your back
• ·         If possible, use ergonomic chairs(one office I work in has an ergonomic chair that looks like a saddle – it forces you to sit straight or it will tip over)
• ·         Neck pillows for the patient are great for you and great for them. (Win-Win = HOORAY!)
• ·         Remember to POSITION the patient for YOUR comfort. We in the dental field wish we could all open like that REACH commercial where the cartoon can open his mouth 180 degrees, but we are humans and we can’t! (if you can please come to my office for dental treatment!!!)  you’ll be more efficient

I know that sometimes/most times – it is bend your back, do it all TO SEE so we can do a good job. Bu remember - Ergo-Who? ErgoNOMICS!! Ergo-ME – working as ergonomically as possible!!!!

image courtesy of factoidz.com

Growing and Implanting REAL Teeth...It is POSSIBLE!!!

A few months ago when I was performing a full mouth extraction the patient asks me before I begin– wouldn’t it be easier if you could take these teeth out for me and give me real new ones? Because that would be great!!! We laughed together and at the time I did agree with him wholeheartedly that if we could do that it would be wonderful! But I also stated that I hadn't heard of that happening yet. But then the other day I was reading Weird Asia News, and on the Japan topic was the headline: “Dental Breakthrough: Mouse Stem Cells Grow Teeth.” (You can read the article here: http://www.weirdasianews.com/2011/07/25/dental-breakthrough-mouse-stem-cells-grow-teeth/. )

In summary this scientific team in Japan removed two types of stem cells from mice molar teeth, placed it in a mold and grew an entirely functional tooth unit! They even transplanted these functional teeth into the jaws of mice and FUSION occurred after 40 days! You can imagine my shock when reading this….my patient wasn’t far off the mark…transplanting teeth MIGHT be possible now!!!  Isn’t this just amazing!?!?

Stem cell research in general is a huge and controversial topic – especially regarding human genome, cloning, etc, but as dentists, as we progress into the future, we might have to discuss these possibilities with our patients. The idea that we might have the option one day to take their own cells, grow their own teeth, and plan for surgery and implant them back in their jaw-bones might be a possibility in the future. And patients will ask about it!

And from a dental head and neck standpoint – there was a full surgery transplant of a patient’s trachea grown from their own stem cells. Imagine if you had throat cancer or patients with throat problems and you could give them the option to grow and transplant their own new trachea: http://www.throatproblems.co.uk/new-surgery-transplant-trachea.html

I have tried to think a lot about stem cell research for some time. While I personally don’t agree with identical cloning (no mini-me please)...the idea of being able to grow specific organs from my own cells is amazing. This concept has personal significance for me – I myself have a defective organ – I have an over-active thyroid (the medical diagnosis is Graves disease). I was diagnosed in 2003 right before dental school began. While one might think it is one small organ (not like the heart or the brain), the malfunction of this one organ has many effects on my body – it affects metabolism, heart palpitations, heat intolerance…the list continues. But wouldn’t it be great if I could grow a new and fully functional thyroid and just replace the defective one I have??? In all truths, it would be my organ..my cells. SIGN ME UP!!! While I don't know the repercussions, it is definitely an interesting concept to think about...to hope for!!! 

But regarding the growing of teeth – in parallel to the words of Neil Armstrong as he walked on the moon - this is just one small step for dentists, one giant step for man-kind!

Image courtesy of facebook.com