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I recently called in a prescription for a patient on the weekend who had an infection. When I called the pharmacy, the voice mail directed me to the option of "press 2" if this is a health care provider.
I must tell you that I AM OFFENDED to be called a 'health care provider.' I attended dental school and not health provider school.
Why did the insurance industry coin the phrase, 'health care provider?' A DOCTOR is expected to be knowledgeable, caring and deserving of a great deal of respect with better than average amount of compensation. Because insurance companies don't want to pay doctors, they have done everything they can to eliminate the respect that doctors deserve and used to get. The insurance companies don't have to pay 'health care providers' the same amount of compensation that they used to pay DOCTORS. (Aside: Physicians pay has been cut in HALF, in real terms, over the last 20 years.)
So what does this mean for you and me when we go to our health care provider? It means that they barely know our names, can't remember why we have the appointment and are out the door in 3 to 5 minutes.
I want to see a DOCTOR who knows who I am, remembers the important aspects of my medical history and is really happy to see ME, his or her patient.
I am offended to be called a 'health care provider' but I LOVE BEING A DOCTOR.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
I Told My Financial Advisor 'NO'
A few weeks ago I blogged about the financial industry and Trust. Today I informed my financial advisor that I would rather invest my own money because I could just not TRUST anyone in the financial industry. He asked me how his company could gain my trust in the future and I told him that the industry needed more self regulation and that they needed to throw the folks who destroyed our economy in jail. Until we see those folks punished for their illegal and unethical behavior, none of us should feel comfortable in trusting the investment industry.
I feel very strongly that I must earn your trust and do my very best to keep that trust.
Unlike the financial industry, I will NEVER, EVER earn my money in an unethical or deceptive way... I don't want your money if I can't earn it honestly.
I will give you the best possible dentistry that I am capable of doing so that you can have a healthy mouth and in return, I will be paid.
Just like we did business in the old days when folks were trustworthy.
There is a reason that our office motto is "DO THE RIGHT THING."
I feel very strongly that I must earn your trust and do my very best to keep that trust.
Unlike the financial industry, I will NEVER, EVER earn my money in an unethical or deceptive way... I don't want your money if I can't earn it honestly.
I will give you the best possible dentistry that I am capable of doing so that you can have a healthy mouth and in return, I will be paid.
Just like we did business in the old days when folks were trustworthy.
There is a reason that our office motto is "DO THE RIGHT THING."
He Does The Same Thing That You Do
I met the owner of Miss Albany Diner this morning when we went there for breakfast and he told me that he heard a local dentist advertising that he did the same kind of things that I do. (Aside: No matter what you hear...Miss Albany Diner is THE BEST diner around)
The American Dental Society and the New York State Dental Society forbid dentists from making claims of Superiority or Excellence which can make it awfully challenging for patients to select a general dentist to treat them.
Dentists often do the same kinds of treatment such as 'cosmetic dentistry' but what their advertising does not tell you, the dental patient, is HOW WELL they do it. So what should you look for in selecting a dentist?
1. Does the dentist have an advanced degree or Certification from a recognized University. (LVI is NOT a degree granting institute nor a recognized institute.)
2. Does the dentist lecture to his/her peers because of superior knowledge, expertise or clinical abilities?
3. Does the dentist have a website which presents a great number of clinical cases that they have completed?
4. Can you call Dental Specialists (Endodontist, Periodontist, Oral Surgeon etc) and ask for a list of the top 3 or 4 dentist that they would use for their own families? The best dentists will appear on most of the lists.
5. Does the dentist take a great deal of time off which indicates whether they love what they do or whether it is just a job that they want to avoid?
6. Is the dentist on the faculty of a Dental School?
What you need to know:
1.I am the only dentist that has earned a Certificate of Proficiency in Esthetic Dentistry from the State University of New York at Buffalo. There is no other dentist within a 100 miles of the Capital District of NY that has attained that Certification.
2. I have lectured to my peers in Baltimore, Buffalo, Albany,Schenectady,Troy and Saratoga. I have been asked to lecture in other places but I would rather DO dentistry than talk about it.
3. The quality of my website and the quality of the work on my website speaks for itself.
4. Call dental Specialists and find out for yourself.
5. I love what I do and want to work 5 days a week. My last vacation was in 1985. Being away from my work is NOT a priority for me.
6. I have been promoted to Associate Clinical Professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine. There is NO other general dentist from the Capital District on the faculty of a Dental School.
When you read,hear or watch advertising that says that a dentist does a certain kind of treatment, you must dig a little deeper and find out HOW WELL they do that kind of work. As I have told you before, when I break a tooth, I get into my car and drive 5 hours to Buffalo, NY for my treatment. Why would I do that???? Please re read this blog. lol
The American Dental Society and the New York State Dental Society forbid dentists from making claims of Superiority or Excellence which can make it awfully challenging for patients to select a general dentist to treat them.
Dentists often do the same kinds of treatment such as 'cosmetic dentistry' but what their advertising does not tell you, the dental patient, is HOW WELL they do it. So what should you look for in selecting a dentist?
1. Does the dentist have an advanced degree or Certification from a recognized University. (LVI is NOT a degree granting institute nor a recognized institute.)
2. Does the dentist lecture to his/her peers because of superior knowledge, expertise or clinical abilities?
3. Does the dentist have a website which presents a great number of clinical cases that they have completed?
4. Can you call Dental Specialists (Endodontist, Periodontist, Oral Surgeon etc) and ask for a list of the top 3 or 4 dentist that they would use for their own families? The best dentists will appear on most of the lists.
5. Does the dentist take a great deal of time off which indicates whether they love what they do or whether it is just a job that they want to avoid?
6. Is the dentist on the faculty of a Dental School?
What you need to know:
1.I am the only dentist that has earned a Certificate of Proficiency in Esthetic Dentistry from the State University of New York at Buffalo. There is no other dentist within a 100 miles of the Capital District of NY that has attained that Certification.
2. I have lectured to my peers in Baltimore, Buffalo, Albany,Schenectady,Troy and Saratoga. I have been asked to lecture in other places but I would rather DO dentistry than talk about it.
3. The quality of my website and the quality of the work on my website speaks for itself.
4. Call dental Specialists and find out for yourself.
5. I love what I do and want to work 5 days a week. My last vacation was in 1985. Being away from my work is NOT a priority for me.
6. I have been promoted to Associate Clinical Professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo, School of Dental Medicine. There is NO other general dentist from the Capital District on the faculty of a Dental School.
When you read,hear or watch advertising that says that a dentist does a certain kind of treatment, you must dig a little deeper and find out HOW WELL they do that kind of work. As I have told you before, when I break a tooth, I get into my car and drive 5 hours to Buffalo, NY for my treatment. Why would I do that???? Please re read this blog. lol
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Associate Clinical Professor
The State University of New York at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine has promoted me to Associate Clinical Professor. I believe that I am the only restorative dentist in the Capital District who is on the faculty of a dental school and I take this appointment as a high honor. This is a recognition of and validation for my pursuit of excellence in providing dental treatment to my patients.
We all see the local dental ads by dentists who make claims about their technology, their education and their expertise. These are claims that are very subjective in nature and cannot be measured. University degrees,certificates or appointments are the recognized GOLD STANDARD of accomplishments in the field of dentistry. I am honored to have attained this level of accomplishment after 33 years as a dentist.
My Father was a high school graduate who valued education more than any one I have ever met. He didn't care very much about money but educational success was his measure of a man. My appointment at SUNY/Buffalo would have made him a very proud man.
I guess the University feels that how I take care of you,my patient, is worth recognizing.
We all see the local dental ads by dentists who make claims about their technology, their education and their expertise. These are claims that are very subjective in nature and cannot be measured. University degrees,certificates or appointments are the recognized GOLD STANDARD of accomplishments in the field of dentistry. I am honored to have attained this level of accomplishment after 33 years as a dentist.
My Father was a high school graduate who valued education more than any one I have ever met. He didn't care very much about money but educational success was his measure of a man. My appointment at SUNY/Buffalo would have made him a very proud man.
I guess the University feels that how I take care of you,my patient, is worth recognizing.
Friday, October 23, 2009
A Disturbing Phone Call
Dental Laboratories that actually create the beautiful dentistry for the meticulous dentistry that I send to them are very much like every other industry. If we discuss cars, dentists, teachers or dental laboraties, intelligent folks recognize that there is an incredible difference in quality available and the more you demand of a product or service, the more it will cost. Valley Dental Arts is a very fine dental lab located in Minnesota; they may not be THE best dental lab in the world but they do rank as a world class lab and I use them when I have complex cases that need a high level of expertise.
I was chatting yesterday with the Vice President of the lab, my friend Rick, and he was telling me about the sad state of the economy. He said, "We are doing the very best work in the history of the lab." He was concerned that even though Vallley Dental Arts produces superb quality the economy has affected them in some degree as well. They are anxious for the economy to turn around so then they can hit the ground running.
You have heard me say the very same thing on this BLOG in the past. We have become a Walmart Society (as Tricia calls it) in which quick and cheap are in great demand by the American public.
I too am doing the very best dentistry in my long career and my skill and knowledge is not in high demand.
How can this be????????
We need to support those companies and individuals who still give us the quality and service that has made America great.
I was chatting yesterday with the Vice President of the lab, my friend Rick, and he was telling me about the sad state of the economy. He said, "We are doing the very best work in the history of the lab." He was concerned that even though Vallley Dental Arts produces superb quality the economy has affected them in some degree as well. They are anxious for the economy to turn around so then they can hit the ground running.
You have heard me say the very same thing on this BLOG in the past. We have become a Walmart Society (as Tricia calls it) in which quick and cheap are in great demand by the American public.
I too am doing the very best dentistry in my long career and my skill and knowledge is not in high demand.
How can this be????????
We need to support those companies and individuals who still give us the quality and service that has made America great.
We Had Visitors
We were honored to have the Dean of SUNY/Buffal Dental School and his wife, also a dentist, visit our office the past two days. The Dean wanted to show his wife that there ARE dentists who love their work, do superb clinical dentistry and are honest and ethical in their profession. I cannot think of a better office for our guests to have visited.
Think about this: In the last WEEK,
1. A dentist travelled 5 hours for me to place a strong direct resin filling in his back tooth and for me to correct his bite (an occlusal equilibration.)
2. A young patient chipped her front tooth and travelled 3 hours from Boston where she lives for me to restore her tooth
3. Two dentists travelled 5 hours from Buffalo, NY to watch me work.
What is the message? Why would these folks travel hours for an opportunity to come to our beautiful office in Saratoga?
Those patients who really feel that their teeth and oral health are important clearly recognize that we love what we do, we do it well and we care enough so that we are honest and ethical and can be TRUSTED.
I am just doing the job that you hired me to do.
And I thank you for hiring me.
Think about this: In the last WEEK,
1. A dentist travelled 5 hours for me to place a strong direct resin filling in his back tooth and for me to correct his bite (an occlusal equilibration.)
2. A young patient chipped her front tooth and travelled 3 hours from Boston where she lives for me to restore her tooth
3. Two dentists travelled 5 hours from Buffalo, NY to watch me work.
What is the message? Why would these folks travel hours for an opportunity to come to our beautiful office in Saratoga?
Those patients who really feel that their teeth and oral health are important clearly recognize that we love what we do, we do it well and we care enough so that we are honest and ethical and can be TRUSTED.
I am just doing the job that you hired me to do.
And I thank you for hiring me.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Dentist as Patient
Yesterday afternoon I treated a new patient who had travelled FIVE Hours to come to my office. Did he want veneers? Or did he have a serious dental problem that required a superior clinician? Dr L had broken a piece of natural tooth on the inside aspect of his lower left second molar (the place that cuts up your tongue until it is repaired). I asked him how he wanted me to repair his tooth. Did he want me to cut away his healthy remaining tooth for a new crown? Or did he want one of those beautiful, strong bonded white fillings that he had seen me post on the ACE Dental forum over the last 4 or 5 years? He told me that he had travelled 5 hours for me to keep as much natural tooth structure as I could and place a bonded white filling. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And after I did that for him, would I mind balancing out his bite (by doing an occlusal equilibration) that I was always talking about on the ACE forum.
Whenever another dentist selects me as their personal dentist, I feel honored and respected. And if I am doing the same treatment for my patients on a daily basis, I must be doing something right.
It is an honor to treat another dentist but I must tell you that I receive as much personal satisfaction each time one of YOU, my regular patients, are in my chair.
Thank you for selecting me as your dentist
And after I did that for him, would I mind balancing out his bite (by doing an occlusal equilibration) that I was always talking about on the ACE forum.
Whenever another dentist selects me as their personal dentist, I feel honored and respected. And if I am doing the same treatment for my patients on a daily basis, I must be doing something right.
It is an honor to treat another dentist but I must tell you that I receive as much personal satisfaction each time one of YOU, my regular patients, are in my chair.
Thank you for selecting me as your dentist
Even young folks can recognize quality
Last year a young man came to my office for a new patient dental checkup after he had visited my website and saw examples of beautiful dentistry. He really wanted to have veneers because he had large gaps in his front teeth. A clinical exam and a study of his new x-rays revealed that he had decay in every single one of his teeth that were fixed by a dentist just 10 months before.I successfully convinced the young man to restore all of decayed back teeth before worrying about correcting his esthetic concerns. X-rays and digital photographs DOCUMENTED the tooth decay under all of his fillings and after 16 hours in the dental chair, we had replaced the defective fillings with beautiful, new, strong and functional bonded white fillings.
Yesterday the young man's sister and mother came to my office after an hour and a half trip from Vermont. His Mother had gone to the same dentist for her dental care and she was convinced by her son that she needed to find a new dentist. His mom told me that, "she was tired of going to an average dentist because she could not trust him and it ended up costing more money." She concluded by saying that 'she wanted to go to the best like her son had.'
I am thrilled and honored to have been able to earn the trust of a young man barely out of his teens.
As I always tell you...We all need to search out good people to take care of us. Our health depends on it.
Yesterday the young man's sister and mother came to my office after an hour and a half trip from Vermont. His Mother had gone to the same dentist for her dental care and she was convinced by her son that she needed to find a new dentist. His mom told me that, "she was tired of going to an average dentist because she could not trust him and it ended up costing more money." She concluded by saying that 'she wanted to go to the best like her son had.'
I am thrilled and honored to have been able to earn the trust of a young man barely out of his teens.
As I always tell you...We all need to search out good people to take care of us. Our health depends on it.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Toyota and dentistry
There is little doubt that the Toyota Car Corporation makes one of the best cars for the average car owner. Year after year, surveys confirm that Toyotas, are safe, reliable and their owners are among the most satisfied among all car owners. So why are Toyota sales declining and the company losing money and what does this have to do with dentistry and my office?
Many of us grew up with the belief (or were actually told by our parents) that the cream rises to the top and that if you were among the best at what you did, folks would beat a path to your doorway and you would be successful. One of my friends repeated an old cliche while at dinner when she said, "If you build a better mouse trap people would come."
The fact is that building great cars or doing wonderful dentistry no longer translates into how well you will do in business. I haven't put my finger on it, but there has been a fundamental change in our thinking as a country. We don't automatically look for 'the best' and that is probably due to the fact that it is hard to trust. If you can't trust car companies or dentists, you might as well buy the cheapest. Excellence costs more in the beginning but it has greater value long term. Please buy excellence.
Many of us grew up with the belief (or were actually told by our parents) that the cream rises to the top and that if you were among the best at what you did, folks would beat a path to your doorway and you would be successful. One of my friends repeated an old cliche while at dinner when she said, "If you build a better mouse trap people would come."
The fact is that building great cars or doing wonderful dentistry no longer translates into how well you will do in business. I haven't put my finger on it, but there has been a fundamental change in our thinking as a country. We don't automatically look for 'the best' and that is probably due to the fact that it is hard to trust. If you can't trust car companies or dentists, you might as well buy the cheapest. Excellence costs more in the beginning but it has greater value long term. Please buy excellence.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Financial Advisors and Dentistry
I just got off of the phone with a Financial Advisor from Fidelity Investments since I didn't have any patients scheduled today. I was struck by the fact that there is so little certainty in the area of investing and even the best investing minds in the world still make decisions with other folks money with very little certainty about what they do.
Dentistry, on the other hand, when done by a really fine dentist has just about the highest degree of certainty in outcome. When I refer you to one of my specialists for an implant, a root canal or some modification to your gum tissue, I have the highest degree of certainty that the outcome is going to be in the 95% range. When I present you with a treatment plan for extensive dentistry or even how I would treat a few of your teeth, in my mind, I believe that I will be successful 99% of the time. Why? Because that is my track record. My first root canal and crown that I did for John B in 1980 is STILL IN HIS MOUTH 29 YEARS LATER.
When I invest my money for retirement (such an evil word) with Fidelity or any of the other companies, I am "hopeful" that my money will be preserved and grow for the future. When I do fine restorative dentistry for you, I am confident that we will have PREDICTABLE, long term success in permitting you to keep your teeth for many years.
Excellence in dentistry is NOT a given and you will have to search to find a dentist who is excellent in what he or she does and loves to do dentistry. You can trust me when you put your dental health in my hands. I wish I could have as much confidence in my Financial Advisor that you have in me.
Dentistry, on the other hand, when done by a really fine dentist has just about the highest degree of certainty in outcome. When I refer you to one of my specialists for an implant, a root canal or some modification to your gum tissue, I have the highest degree of certainty that the outcome is going to be in the 95% range. When I present you with a treatment plan for extensive dentistry or even how I would treat a few of your teeth, in my mind, I believe that I will be successful 99% of the time. Why? Because that is my track record. My first root canal and crown that I did for John B in 1980 is STILL IN HIS MOUTH 29 YEARS LATER.
When I invest my money for retirement (such an evil word) with Fidelity or any of the other companies, I am "hopeful" that my money will be preserved and grow for the future. When I do fine restorative dentistry for you, I am confident that we will have PREDICTABLE, long term success in permitting you to keep your teeth for many years.
Excellence in dentistry is NOT a given and you will have to search to find a dentist who is excellent in what he or she does and loves to do dentistry. You can trust me when you put your dental health in my hands. I wish I could have as much confidence in my Financial Advisor that you have in me.
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