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As you know, I entertained thoughts of relocating my office to Saratoga when we were one of the first businesses to feel the effects of the tsunnami recession in the Summer of 2007. Despite the fact that I did not feel that Cropseyville was the ideal location for my evolving dental practice, I recognized that I had been in that area for 3 decades and attracted a sufficient number of patients from outside the area to have a viable practice. The recession changed everything and relocating was no longer an option but a necessity if I was to continue to work in the profession that I love.
We had two really bad years during 2008 and 2009 and I was wondering if retirement was inevitable despite the fact that I was doing the best dentistry of my career and my patients and my colleagues frequently told me that.
I am pleased to say that 2010 was a turn around year as both the economy and my practice started to right themselves. It is my strong belief that 2011 will be my best year ever. I love dentistry, my office, my staff and my patients. I will work as hard as ever to make sure that I take care of each and every one of you, my patients.
Please let your family, friends and co-workers know who your dentist is and why you have selected me as your dentist.
Let us hope that 2011 is a wonderful year for everyone. HAPPY NEW YEAR
Thursday, December 30, 2010
I Don't Just Blog
When I was a little kid I would write letters of complaint to the editor, letters to manufacturers and letters to politicians. When I was older, I went to college and was a history major which gave me many opportunities to write 30 page papers on 25 year old standard typewriters without self correction capabilities.(Ok I am old lol)
[I took 44 hours of math and science and 44 hours of history so that I could meet the prerequisites to get into dental school.]
As you can see from my blog, I like to write and am not afraid to express my opinions. There was an opinion column in today's New York Times in which the writer took objection to Governor Rendell's (Pennsylvnia) comments that we are becoming a bunch of wusses as a country and the Chinese are going to easily over take the United States. Speciifically, he was speaking about the cancellation on Sunday of an NFL game because of the snow storm and the postponing of the game was representative of what has become of our country.
I entered my comments on the New York Times blog section under the article:
"If things were going well in America, we would not be having this conversation and this column would not have been written. There is no doubt that we are no longer a nation of hard working, competent, resilient people. We can no longer discipline our children with a cold stare that made children stop in their tracks.
Things are not going well for us but there is no one to blame and that is what probably infuriates many.
More than 50 years ago, we would shovel the snow off of school yard basketball courts in Queens and play for 5 hours or until our fingers split open from the cold.
We were not wusses back then and the Governor is correct when he says that we are not what we used to be."
To my surprise, the moderated blog accepted and published my post and 52 folks who read my comments said that they enjoyed it.
Don't worry...I would never give up my first love, dentistry, to become a writer.
[I took 44 hours of math and science and 44 hours of history so that I could meet the prerequisites to get into dental school.]
As you can see from my blog, I like to write and am not afraid to express my opinions. There was an opinion column in today's New York Times in which the writer took objection to Governor Rendell's (Pennsylvnia) comments that we are becoming a bunch of wusses as a country and the Chinese are going to easily over take the United States. Speciifically, he was speaking about the cancellation on Sunday of an NFL game because of the snow storm and the postponing of the game was representative of what has become of our country.
I entered my comments on the New York Times blog section under the article:
"If things were going well in America, we would not be having this conversation and this column would not have been written. There is no doubt that we are no longer a nation of hard working, competent, resilient people. We can no longer discipline our children with a cold stare that made children stop in their tracks.
Things are not going well for us but there is no one to blame and that is what probably infuriates many.
More than 50 years ago, we would shovel the snow off of school yard basketball courts in Queens and play for 5 hours or until our fingers split open from the cold.
We were not wusses back then and the Governor is correct when he says that we are not what we used to be."
To my surprise, the moderated blog accepted and published my post and 52 folks who read my comments said that they enjoyed it.
Don't worry...I would never give up my first love, dentistry, to become a writer.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
I Have Arrived
The relationship of mentor to student is not unlike the relationship of a college professor to high school freshman. That is, there is a world of difference between what the mentor knows and what the student knows. As time passes, especially in a long relationship, the difference is narrowed and hopefully may even disappear.
My mentor sent me an email yesterday which demonstrates that the knowledge gap between him and I has narrowed to the point that he would trust ME enough to permit me to restore HIS TEETH:
"Gerry, you are light years ahead of most the the mechanics we have out there practicing today. Don't be so hard on yourself, I'd sit in your chair any day."
I have spent the last 20 years studying intensely with many world class dentists and the day has arrived when I can fix their teeth. I am truly honored.
My mentor sent me an email yesterday which demonstrates that the knowledge gap between him and I has narrowed to the point that he would trust ME enough to permit me to restore HIS TEETH:
"Gerry, you are light years ahead of most the the mechanics we have out there practicing today. Don't be so hard on yourself, I'd sit in your chair any day."
I have spent the last 20 years studying intensely with many world class dentists and the day has arrived when I can fix their teeth. I am truly honored.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
"The Best Investment I Ever Made"
"Hello Dr. Benjamin. I'd like to wish you and your staff Happy Holidays. I hope things have been well with you all.
I'm loving my smile. It really has made a world of difference in the way I feel about myself. It's the best investment I ever made. Thanks again. I may stop up sometime next week when I'm in Saratoga to say hello."
Think about how meaningful this note is to me and my staff. It's Christmas time, the treatment has been completed 8 months ago at a moderately significant cost. And yet when my patient starts reflecting on this past year in her life, my staff and I come to mind.
I truly believe that my patients are different from other dental patients ie special and that I have a completely different relationship WITH my patients than most dentists. Indeed, I really don't believe that most dentists have a RELATIONSHIP with their patients any more. Like a lot of things, it is one of the things that has disappeared. For me, I laugh with my patients, cry with them and rarely go a day without a patient hugging me.
I am indeed fortunate and honored to have all of you as my patients and I am thrilled to have been remembered by my patient at this time of the year.
I'm loving my smile. It really has made a world of difference in the way I feel about myself. It's the best investment I ever made. Thanks again. I may stop up sometime next week when I'm in Saratoga to say hello."
Think about how meaningful this note is to me and my staff. It's Christmas time, the treatment has been completed 8 months ago at a moderately significant cost. And yet when my patient starts reflecting on this past year in her life, my staff and I come to mind.
I truly believe that my patients are different from other dental patients ie special and that I have a completely different relationship WITH my patients than most dentists. Indeed, I really don't believe that most dentists have a RELATIONSHIP with their patients any more. Like a lot of things, it is one of the things that has disappeared. For me, I laugh with my patients, cry with them and rarely go a day without a patient hugging me.
I am indeed fortunate and honored to have all of you as my patients and I am thrilled to have been remembered by my patient at this time of the year.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas
My staff and I wish you all the most wonderful Christmas yet. There is never a more appropriate time to say 'Thank you' to all of our patients.
Love, appreciate and enjoy your families.
Love, appreciate and enjoy your families.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
What We Want and What We Need
Humans have a need to be stroked. We enjoy when people compliment us on how we look or how well we performed our job.
I am very fortunate in that many of my patients and colleagues appreciate and value the work that I do.
This morning I recieved the following email from a long time patient:
Hey Dr. Benjamin,
Just thought I'd give you a shout out!! I joined the gym and am actually working with a trainer. Tonight he told me the first thing he noticed about me was my beautiful teeth!! Good Luck with your surgery. Melissa
A great way to begin a day...All my needs and wants were met! Thanks Melissa
Melissa's teeth look fabulous and this is not the first time that she has received compliments on her smile. A few years back, Melissa, who works for another dentist, was attending a course on bleaching your teeth. The dentist giving the course told Melissa that she already knows about bleaching because he noted how beautiful her natural teeth were and that she must have bleached them to get her teeth to look sooo beautiful. Melissa told him that she never bleached her teeth but that the teeth that the dentist was admiring was really her beautiful but natural looking veneers that I had recently placed. Another dentist could not tell the differnce between natural teeth and my beautful veneers..
That was the best compliment that I could receive.
I am very fortunate in that many of my patients and colleagues appreciate and value the work that I do.
This morning I recieved the following email from a long time patient:
Hey Dr. Benjamin,
Just thought I'd give you a shout out!! I joined the gym and am actually working with a trainer. Tonight he told me the first thing he noticed about me was my beautiful teeth!! Good Luck with your surgery. Melissa
A great way to begin a day...All my needs and wants were met! Thanks Melissa
Melissa's teeth look fabulous and this is not the first time that she has received compliments on her smile. A few years back, Melissa, who works for another dentist, was attending a course on bleaching your teeth. The dentist giving the course told Melissa that she already knows about bleaching because he noted how beautiful her natural teeth were and that she must have bleached them to get her teeth to look sooo beautiful. Melissa told him that she never bleached her teeth but that the teeth that the dentist was admiring was really her beautiful but natural looking veneers that I had recently placed. Another dentist could not tell the differnce between natural teeth and my beautful veneers..
That was the best compliment that I could receive.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
"Do The Right Thing"
Everyone always talks about 'doing the right thing' and yet it is so rare to actually see someone DO THE RIGHT THING. Just last week, a homeless man returned a backpack with $3,000 inside to its rightfull owner. The man has received ten times that from strangers who thanked him for DOING THE RIGHT THING.
Most successful human beings (note that I did not say 'wealthy') admire other sucessful people for doing the right thing.
Kareem Abdul Jabbar wrote the following essay for Time Magazine about his great former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden:
I played for John Wooden at UCLA, where he won more NCAA basketball championships than any other college coach in history. Doing the right thing was the only way that Coach knew how to act. For me, one story clearly illustrates that. In 1947, he was the basketball coach at Indiana State when the team was invited to the NAIA tournament in Kansas City, Mo. But there was one condition: he was told that he could not take Clarence Walker, an African American player. Coach thanked the organizers for the invitation, but he told them he had to take his whole team or he wouldn't participate. The following year, Indiana State had an even better season and received the same invitation. This time, the tourney promoter gave in. It never became widely known that Coach had confronted segregation, and he never tried to claim any credit for his principled stand: he knew it was the right thing to do, and that was enough for him.
—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
As I have told you before, DOING THE RIGHT THING for my patient is the most important way to treat you.
Most successful human beings (note that I did not say 'wealthy') admire other sucessful people for doing the right thing.
Kareem Abdul Jabbar wrote the following essay for Time Magazine about his great former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden:
I played for John Wooden at UCLA, where he won more NCAA basketball championships than any other college coach in history. Doing the right thing was the only way that Coach knew how to act. For me, one story clearly illustrates that. In 1947, he was the basketball coach at Indiana State when the team was invited to the NAIA tournament in Kansas City, Mo. But there was one condition: he was told that he could not take Clarence Walker, an African American player. Coach thanked the organizers for the invitation, but he told them he had to take his whole team or he wouldn't participate. The following year, Indiana State had an even better season and received the same invitation. This time, the tourney promoter gave in. It never became widely known that Coach had confronted segregation, and he never tried to claim any credit for his principled stand: he knew it was the right thing to do, and that was enough for him.
—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
As I have told you before, DOING THE RIGHT THING for my patient is the most important way to treat you.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Where I Stand on Mercury Fillings
Brian Williams of NBC NEWS just did a story on placing mercury fillings in your teeth when tooth decay is discovered.
When a dentist orders mercury for mercury fillings, he or she has to pay a toxic material transportation fee.
When a dentist removes mercury from a tooth,he or she must carefully store the material until it can be disposed of as toxic waste.
So is the government telling you and me that the only safe place for mercury is in YOUR MOUTH????
Sounds like it to me.
How do I feel about this?
I have not used mercury fillings in almost 20 years and I don't have any in my mouth or my wife's mouth.
What is the BEST FILLING MATERIAL?
In my opinion, the direct bonded posterior direct resin placed with a rubber dam by a highly trained dentist is the BEST, MOST CONSERVATIVE AND, IN THE BIGGEST PICTURE, THE LEAST COSTLY restoration that I can place. And I have 20 years of patient treatment to back up my opinion.
Other dentists want to cut down your teeth for crowns either because they are not highly trained to do direct bonded posterior direct resin fillings or they can make more money placing crowns.
The use of a potentially toxic material, mercury, to fill teeth and the mass destruction of beautiful natural tooth structure to place crowns MUST STOP.
When a dentist orders mercury for mercury fillings, he or she has to pay a toxic material transportation fee.
When a dentist removes mercury from a tooth,he or she must carefully store the material until it can be disposed of as toxic waste.
So is the government telling you and me that the only safe place for mercury is in YOUR MOUTH????
Sounds like it to me.
How do I feel about this?
I have not used mercury fillings in almost 20 years and I don't have any in my mouth or my wife's mouth.
What is the BEST FILLING MATERIAL?
In my opinion, the direct bonded posterior direct resin placed with a rubber dam by a highly trained dentist is the BEST, MOST CONSERVATIVE AND, IN THE BIGGEST PICTURE, THE LEAST COSTLY restoration that I can place. And I have 20 years of patient treatment to back up my opinion.
Other dentists want to cut down your teeth for crowns either because they are not highly trained to do direct bonded posterior direct resin fillings or they can make more money placing crowns.
The use of a potentially toxic material, mercury, to fill teeth and the mass destruction of beautiful natural tooth structure to place crowns MUST STOP.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
The Good Old Days
My parents always stressed the importance of making good choices. In the olden days,when I was young, my choices were between what was good and what was best. As I have gotten older, my choices are between bad and worse.
The pain in my arm had deminished greatly and I was finally able to raise my arm above my head. I knew that it was going to be bad to have the rotator cuff surgery,the post surgical pain and the intensive physical therapy. But I knew that it would be worse if I postponed surgery and became severely debilitated in my old age.
I believe that God gives beauty and strength to the young and wisdom to the old but HE does not give you both the gift of beauty and wisdom at the same time.
As I enter old age it,apparently,is my time for wisdom.
The pain in my arm had deminished greatly and I was finally able to raise my arm above my head. I knew that it was going to be bad to have the rotator cuff surgery,the post surgical pain and the intensive physical therapy. But I knew that it would be worse if I postponed surgery and became severely debilitated in my old age.
I believe that God gives beauty and strength to the young and wisdom to the old but HE does not give you both the gift of beauty and wisdom at the same time.
As I enter old age it,apparently,is my time for wisdom.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Healing
I had rotator cuff surgery on Tuesday afternoon performed by one of the best shoulder surgeons in the country, Dr. David Altchek. The surgery was at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. People have been amazed to see me because I look pretty normal and I don't have much pain even though everyone told me that I would.
I selected Dr. Altchek because I believed that he was among THE BEST and, to this point, I have not been disappointed.
When Susan and I were paying for the Guest Facilities to stay over night, the secretary wished me good luck and asked me who my surgeon was going to be. "Dr. Altchek", I responded to which she replied, "Dr. Altchek, THE BEST OF THE BEST."
Even the secretaries know who THE BEST are.
I selected Dr. Altchek because I believed that he was among THE BEST and, to this point, I have not been disappointed.
When Susan and I were paying for the Guest Facilities to stay over night, the secretary wished me good luck and asked me who my surgeon was going to be. "Dr. Altchek", I responded to which she replied, "Dr. Altchek, THE BEST OF THE BEST."
Even the secretaries know who THE BEST are.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Tuesday
On Tuesday afternoon, I will have my Rotator Cuff Surgery to correct a problem that started 3 months ago.I will not be in my office this next week but either Donna or Tricia will be in the office to help you. I am hoping to return next week to perform exams after your cleanings so that we can continue to maintain your oral health.
If my surgeon approves, I would like to return to treating patients in two weeks.I usually support my arms with the arms of the chair that I sit in which is similar to wearing a sling. I will, however, be smart and listen to my doctor and I may not treat patients until the New Year. Don't worry, if you have a toothache or break a tooth, I have asked two colleagues that I trust to see you and take care of you.
Taking care of YOU has ALWAYS been my main focus.
If my surgeon approves, I would like to return to treating patients in two weeks.I usually support my arms with the arms of the chair that I sit in which is similar to wearing a sling. I will, however, be smart and listen to my doctor and I may not treat patients until the New Year. Don't worry, if you have a toothache or break a tooth, I have asked two colleagues that I trust to see you and take care of you.
Taking care of YOU has ALWAYS been my main focus.
The Challenges of Small Businesses
This is a wonderful time of the year because I get to sit down with some of my friends who operate small businesses for our seasonal dinner.
Our Government has always told us that "Small busness is the backbone of the country." If this is true, then we are in terrible shape because both of the people that I had dinner with are barely able to hang on despite the fact that they are EXCELLENT at what they do, are caring, ethical and honest. As you know, I failed in my Troy, NY location after 31 years because many of the folks living around my old office did not have an appreciation of fabulous dentistry and I found it necessary to move my office to a more hospitable location. My friends are in their 50's and have been in business for more than 25 years. Both are great guys and are supurb at what they do... Apparently, it no longer matters as the creme doesn't rise to the top as we were brought up to believe.
I can't believe that my friends are teetering on the edge of survival. I must tell you that if price is the ONLY thing that matters, your children and grandchildren are not going to do as well as we have.
Every day physicians and dentists are closing their offices because they refuse to treat their patients with disrespect and not care about them. Insurance companies make it impossible for them to run a business and take care of their patients with dignity and respect.
Who is going to take care of us when we get sick or have a dental infection. Perhaps the secretary at your insurance company can help you.
Our Government has always told us that "Small busness is the backbone of the country." If this is true, then we are in terrible shape because both of the people that I had dinner with are barely able to hang on despite the fact that they are EXCELLENT at what they do, are caring, ethical and honest. As you know, I failed in my Troy, NY location after 31 years because many of the folks living around my old office did not have an appreciation of fabulous dentistry and I found it necessary to move my office to a more hospitable location. My friends are in their 50's and have been in business for more than 25 years. Both are great guys and are supurb at what they do... Apparently, it no longer matters as the creme doesn't rise to the top as we were brought up to believe.
I can't believe that my friends are teetering on the edge of survival. I must tell you that if price is the ONLY thing that matters, your children and grandchildren are not going to do as well as we have.
Every day physicians and dentists are closing their offices because they refuse to treat their patients with disrespect and not care about them. Insurance companies make it impossible for them to run a business and take care of their patients with dignity and respect.
Who is going to take care of us when we get sick or have a dental infection. Perhaps the secretary at your insurance company can help you.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
"I Just Wanted to Let You Know"
One of my patients who is on this website and also appears in our television advertising sent me an email yesterday informing me that someone she knows saw her photo on tv and called her to find out about me.
My patient continued in her email: "I gave you the BEST recommendation,because you are the BEST!
Life cannot get any better when you get an email at the beginning of your day.
My patient continued in her email: "I gave you the BEST recommendation,because you are the BEST!
Life cannot get any better when you get an email at the beginning of your day.
"What Are We Going to Do About My Wife?"
I saw one of my favorite patients yesterday. He an an 84 year old man who has been my patient almost 30 years and he hasn't lost a tooth since I started treating him. I was thrilled that he was able to make the trip to our new office. When I went out to the waiting room to greet Mr. F and to thank him for making the trip to Saratoga, he said to me, "And what are we going to do about my wife?" I was a little stunned at first by the question and then he continued, "She can't make the trip up here and what happens if she has a problem with her teeth. Mrs. F has been in a nursing home for a few years and on several occasions, I have made the trip to change implant attachments or adjust her dentures. I told Mr. F that he needn't worry because any time his wife has a problem, I would make a trip to the nursing home.
My statement was met with tears.
Did Mr. F really think that I would abandon his wife after 30 years? No way!
I have been dedicated to taking care of my patients for almost 35 years and while my office location has changed, my dedication to you, my patient is the same as the day that I opened my practice. Just like it is supposed to be!
My statement was met with tears.
Did Mr. F really think that I would abandon his wife after 30 years? No way!
I have been dedicated to taking care of my patients for almost 35 years and while my office location has changed, my dedication to you, my patient is the same as the day that I opened my practice. Just like it is supposed to be!
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