FINALLY

CLEVELAND, Ohio (CNN) -- As he walks the halls of the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Steven Nissen makes the next generation of health care in America sound quite simple.
"Everything that we do is done with the patient at the center of the picture, not the doctor at the center," Nissen says as he takes a visitor on a tour of the clinic's world-renowned cardiac center.
"Everything we do is done with the patient at the center of the picture, not the doctor at the center." (John King reported on CNN)
Where have you heard this before?
I have made this point over and over and over. Our patients are our reason for being.
I have told you time and again that I would never do anything to harm my patient nor would I ever place making money over your best interest.
In many dental practices making money IS the only thing that matters and the patient is a necessary inconvenience to that end.
WHY DO WE USE PHYSICIANS AND DENTISTS THAT NO LONGER CARE PASSIONATELY ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THEIR PATIENTS?
I am very happy to learn that the Cleveland Clinic practices the same philosophy that I have used during the past 30 yrs. It has always been about YOU, my patient.
The only difference between me and the Cleveland Clinic is that no one pays me or my staff a salary so we have to earn our keep on a daily basis.

Let's stop the destruction

The removal of beautiful healthy natural tooth structure (enamel) in order to place a crown is a procedure that IN MY OPINION is over used. The placement of a crown most definitely has its use in dentistry but in my practice it is a treatment of last resort.
As many of you know, I have been a dentist for more than 30 years and 15 years ago, I realized that we (dentists) were removing too much tooth structure too much of the time...We could not help it because that is how we were trained and technology had not progressed to the point that we had any alternatives. 15 years ago I started doing bonded onlays because when teeth were really broken down I was able to save more tooth structure with an onlay than if I placed a crown. This was a big step forward in my effort to save as much healthy tooth structure as I could.
About 6-7 years ago, dental manufacturers started producing wonderful resins called nanohybrids which which are incredibly strong materials to fix back teeth (We have had good materials for about 20 years) and with these materials and learning from the best resin dentists in the world, I have been able to restore teeth WITHOUT having to remove any significant amounts of natural tooth structure.
Let's set the record straight: I could make far more money by placing crowns instead of very strong, beautiful bonded resin fillings. Yes these fillings cost more than other dentist's fillings but they cost less than 1/3 of the cost of crowns AND you get to keep far more of your own beautiful natural tooth... (God's materials are far better than mine.) Remember: When a crown fails...you have to take out the tooth and have an implant.
Why do I place beautiful bonded resin fillings? To help you save your teeth.
If you want me to cut down your teeth and spend more money in the process...Just make that request.
I sincerely doubt that you want me to cut down your teeth unnecessarily. I took an oath in 1977 to do no harm and to ALWAYS put my patient's best interest first. Saving teeth with bonded resin fillings helps me keep my oath.

Traveling patients

I was thrilled this week to have a new patient travel to see me from Buffalo, NY. This patient was referred to me by one of my mentors and one of the finest dentists in the world. Almost everything I know, I have learned from Dr. Fred McIntyre and when he left SUNY/Buffalo and his faculty practice, he referred one of his private patients to ME. It is an absolute honor to earn the respect of a mentor and to have him trust me enough to refer his patient to me.
Another one of my long time young patients moved to Boston after she graduated from college. She called my office on Tuesday to tell me that she chipped her front tooth and that she didn't trust anyone else to repair her tooth. I am honored that one of my patients would travel 3 hours in each direction to see me because they TRUST ME.
It sure makes me wonder when some of my Troy patients tell me that Saratoga is too far to go to see a dentist.... Let me tell you...when I need a tooth fixed, I travel 4-5 hours to have Dr. McIntyre repair my tooth.

Medical Monday and Saratoga Today

I am happy to tell you that I will be the very first dentist to be a guest on Medical Monday on June 15 at 2 PM. Alan Chartock called me on Thursday and asked me to be on his show. I look forward to answering questions on dentistry...my favorite subject. Listen to the discussion

I was interviewed by Saratoga Today last week and they wrote a really great article on me and my new office. The article is the current issue and is available for the next week or online at http://www.saratoga.com/today/2009/06/business---the-art-of-dentistry.html (without photos.)

The Best in the World

I am in Cleveland, OH attending the First International Symposium on Comprehensive Dentistry. It is thrilling to see what the very best in the world are capable of doing to help patients that desperately need their help. It is always exciting to hang out with passionate masters who have devoted their lives to becoming the best...I can identify with that.
750 dentists gave up 2 days pay to learn about how WE can help our patients. The more I learn the better it is for YOU, my patient.
I am thrilled to learn on your behalf.

YES...I am a Regular Dentist

Everywhere I go people think that I just do cosmetic dentistry and they don't want to be my patient for their regular dentistry...I DO REGULAR DENTISTRY like fillings, checkups, cleanings and crowns. Most of the time, I am doing regular dentistry and in fact, most of my work is removing mercury fillings and replacing them with very strong, bonded white fillings. I am not a jack of all trades and a master of none. That means that most of what I do is fixing teeth and NOT pulling teeth, braces or root canals. But don't worry...I will send you to some of the best specialists around so that you will ALWAYS be getting GREAT DENTAL CARE.
It is true that I am the ONLY dentist within 100 miles that can say that I am a general dentist with a specialty in esthetic dentistry. However, most of my time is spent performing the kind of dentistry that most folks need...FIXING TEETH.
I do fine restorative dentistry...Dentistry that rises to the level of art.
Yes.... I am a regular dentist and I would appreciate it if you come to our office for your regular dental treatment.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!

"Everybody makes mistakes"

My wife and I were dining with another couple who happen to be dentists. The restaurant had many other dentists that night because the New York Dental Society was in town for its annual meeting. Dentists like to talk dental talk and one of the visiting dentists made the comment that
'everybody makes mistakes.' The dentist and I both responded with, "No! Not everyone makes mistakes." What we meant by that was that if you plan dental treatment thoroughly, if you spend a sufficient amount of time for the treatment, if you have the knowledge, training and skill and lastly if you have the ethical standards to do the right thing then the likelihood of a successful outcome for your patient is very predictable.
People (dentists included) have less than acceptable outcomes when they plan poorly, rush through treatment, take a weekend course, and really don't care about what they are doing.
Trust me when I tell you that I absolutely hate to fail and for that reason, I will always do my very best to take care of you.
Please select the people that take care of you carefully. Good and competent people exist but as I have stated before, you will have to take some time to find them.
No one is perfect but not 'everyone makes mistakes.'