Posts
Last night, the Root Canal Expert's Education Center for Dental Excellence began our 2-3 year course in earnest. We are going to treat one patient, at no expense to our patient, utilizing the best knowlege that we have regardless of time or cost for the benefit of educating our younger dental colleagues; We are trying to infect dentists who have about 10 years of experience with EXCELLENCE.
Last night we had our first LIVE surgical session to remove a mini implant that was misused to replace an upper front tooth in our patient.
Most dentists think of other dentists as their competition but in a room full of young dentists who truly want to provide excellent dental treatment for THEIR patients, we were truly a group of colleagues. If our class learns nothing about the clinical excellence that we will provide for our patient, they will learn that there are other local dentists who are like minded in their pursuit of dental excellence and this will please me and the other dental specialists teaching the course.
It is an honor to be a participant in the course in the role of teacher. I do not believe that there is another dental course like this anywhere in the country. The four teachers who are giving the course are donating our services to the patient and we are paying for all of the expenses which will be almost $20,000.
We all thank Francisco Banchs and Allyson Byrne for their foresight in establishing a Center for Dental Excellence.
Friday, April 29, 2011
The Internet Makes the World Smaller
A young lady in England is studying to be a hygienist and she sent me an email after finding my blog on the internet. She found my work to be very well done and my blog very interesting. We sent emails back and forth because she was interested in how I started blogging and how did I become interested in doing fine restorative dentistry for my patients.
Last week Vanessa Clegg told me that her blog was going to have an online interview with dentists every week and would I consider being the first dentist that she interviewed. I was truly honored to be asked to tell the world about the profession that I love.
If you would like to read the interview, please copy and paste this into your browser:
http://www.dentist-truro.co.uk/dentist-of-the-week-gerald-benjamin-interview/
The internet makes us all next door neighbors. I correspond with dentists all across America on a daily basis and many dentists from around the world.
Last week Vanessa Clegg told me that her blog was going to have an online interview with dentists every week and would I consider being the first dentist that she interviewed. I was truly honored to be asked to tell the world about the profession that I love.
If you would like to read the interview, please copy and paste this into your browser:
http://www.dentist-truro.co.uk/dentist-of-the-week-gerald-benjamin-interview/
The internet makes us all next door neighbors. I correspond with dentists all across America on a daily basis and many dentists from around the world.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Respect Of One's Peers
For a professional, the respect and admiration of one's peers is among the greatest indicators of success.
One of my colleagues on the ACE Dental Forum sent me the following email today:
"I love your posts !!! Keep the high standards coming..............."
As I begin the last decade or so of my career, I have slowly become recognized as a dentist of uncompromising standards.
Making money has never been a sign of professional success for me because I learned very early in my career that some of the wealthiest professionals lacked both talent and ethics.
I am honored by my peer's comments.
One of my colleagues on the ACE Dental Forum sent me the following email today:
"I love your posts !!! Keep the high standards coming..............."
As I begin the last decade or so of my career, I have slowly become recognized as a dentist of uncompromising standards.
Making money has never been a sign of professional success for me because I learned very early in my career that some of the wealthiest professionals lacked both talent and ethics.
I am honored by my peer's comments.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
You Have Heard This Before
I like Paul Krugman the Pulitzer Prize winning columnist at the New York Times and a Professor of Economics at Princeton.
In a recent column he was ranting about some in Congress wanting to privatize Medicare and how some also want folks to be consumers rather than patients.Dr. Krugman writes about the very special doctor patient relationship and how it is almost a sacred pact between two people. The patient trusts the doctor to take care of him or her and the doctor will do so selflessly.
I have spoken about the sacred relationship that I have with you, my patient, on several occasions and now others are starting to say the same thing.
The patient CANNOT be a good 'consumer' of dental services because dentistry has become very mediocre and you cannot expect to pay an average dentist the same fee that you would pay a superb dentist..You can't buy a Ferrari for the same cost as a Ford even though they are both cars.
Read Paul Krugman's article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/22/opinion/22krugman.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
In a recent column he was ranting about some in Congress wanting to privatize Medicare and how some also want folks to be consumers rather than patients.Dr. Krugman writes about the very special doctor patient relationship and how it is almost a sacred pact between two people. The patient trusts the doctor to take care of him or her and the doctor will do so selflessly.
I have spoken about the sacred relationship that I have with you, my patient, on several occasions and now others are starting to say the same thing.
The patient CANNOT be a good 'consumer' of dental services because dentistry has become very mediocre and you cannot expect to pay an average dentist the same fee that you would pay a superb dentist..You can't buy a Ferrari for the same cost as a Ford even though they are both cars.
Read Paul Krugman's article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/22/opinion/22krugman.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
A Surprising Comment
A dentist on the ACE Dental Forum sent me the following email:
Thanks Gerald. I love your posts !!! Keep the high standards coming...............
Perhaps I can change some minds of other dentists about providing excellence in care to their patients.
Dentists cannot change until they care about their patients first and their economic well being second.
Other dentists know what I do but they are unwilling or unable to provide excellent care to their patients...
I guess I just will never understand.
Thanks Gerald. I love your posts !!! Keep the high standards coming...............
Perhaps I can change some minds of other dentists about providing excellence in care to their patients.
Dentists cannot change until they care about their patients first and their economic well being second.
Other dentists know what I do but they are unwilling or unable to provide excellent care to their patients...
I guess I just will never understand.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
I Knew It Would Happen
There is a front page story in today's New York Times about a 63 year old physician who is a family doctor in Maryland. He can't sell his medical practice or, for that matter, even GIVE it away.Why? Because the old time doctor is no longer valued or wanted. Young doctors don't want to work the 60-70 hours a week to take care of their patients like us old timers do. They want a paycheck and time off to be with their families...And who can blame them? Also, no one wants to pay a doctor to spend time with them listening to their concerns. Today's physicians spend minutes with their patient and send them for tests instead of listening....REALLY LISTENING, to their patients...
I know that I am also the last of the old time dentist who knows their patients, cares for them as people and will always do what is in their PATIENT'S BEST INTEREST.
I have a distinct advantage over most physicians in that dentistry is always invasive and has the distinct possibility of causing pain. My patients KNOW that I will do my very best not to cause them pain.
I went to dinner with one of the orthodontists that I send my patients to for braces and during the course of the evening he said, "You know that your patients really love you." I know that and it makes me extremely happy.
But someday this level of caring and concern will come to an end and dentistry will only be about making money and not taking care of our patients.
That is sickening!
I know that I am also the last of the old time dentist who knows their patients, cares for them as people and will always do what is in their PATIENT'S BEST INTEREST.
I have a distinct advantage over most physicians in that dentistry is always invasive and has the distinct possibility of causing pain. My patients KNOW that I will do my very best not to cause them pain.
I went to dinner with one of the orthodontists that I send my patients to for braces and during the course of the evening he said, "You know that your patients really love you." I know that and it makes me extremely happy.
But someday this level of caring and concern will come to an end and dentistry will only be about making money and not taking care of our patients.
That is sickening!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
My Legacy
Several people recently spoke to me about having a LEGACY after my career is over. Last weekend the Chairman of Restorative Dentistry at SUNY/Buffalo, Dr. Carlo Munoz,who I like very much, asked me to give some thought to my legacy. To be honest, I am at the top of my career and it is hard to even think about not taking care of you.
Dr. Munoz wants me to consider lecturing around the world to infect other dentists with the concept of EXCELLENCE. I am not that interested in lecturing to other dentists as I would rather be taking care of you.Dr. Munoz asked me to give this some consideration and invited me to accompany him to Spain to lecture.
In 4-5 years I will start my serious search for my successor so he or she will have 8or 9 years studying with me so that you will have a high quality dentist to take care of you.
You, my patient, are my LEGACY...and that legacy matters a great deal to me.
Dr. Munoz wants me to consider lecturing around the world to infect other dentists with the concept of EXCELLENCE. I am not that interested in lecturing to other dentists as I would rather be taking care of you.Dr. Munoz asked me to give this some consideration and invited me to accompany him to Spain to lecture.
In 4-5 years I will start my serious search for my successor so he or she will have 8or 9 years studying with me so that you will have a high quality dentist to take care of you.
You, my patient, are my LEGACY...and that legacy matters a great deal to me.
How Can This Be Possible
The Mission Statement of the School of Dental Medicine at SUNY/Buffalo states that it is the role of the Univeristy to teach 'current information' to the undergraduate dental students.
When I visited Buffalo last weekend to present an all day program to some of the senior dental students I learned that a Professor who has been at the dental school for 38 years is STILL teaching the same information about bonding to teeth that he taught me 38 years ago EVEN THOUGH THAT INFORMATION IS TOTALLY INCORRECT.
Can you imagine teaching incorrect information to today's dental students?
I would fire that Professor in a heart beat.
When I visited Buffalo last weekend to present an all day program to some of the senior dental students I learned that a Professor who has been at the dental school for 38 years is STILL teaching the same information about bonding to teeth that he taught me 38 years ago EVEN THOUGH THAT INFORMATION IS TOTALLY INCORRECT.
Can you imagine teaching incorrect information to today's dental students?
I would fire that Professor in a heart beat.
GRIT2
Dr. June Darling, the noted psychologist and dental consultant posted a great short lecture (18 minutes) explaining what GRIT means. This is what Dr. Darling said,
If you'd like to understand more about grit and the science of achievement (if you want to understand the path that Gerald is on):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaeFnxSfSC4
You can copy and paste this into your browser.
Like the test pilot, Chuck Yaeger who broke the sound barrier, I do believe that some human beings are "made of the right stuff." After my car accident in which my leg was amputated and then reattached, I knew that I was made of the right stuff. I returned to my senior year of dental school and despite missing the first two months of classes I graduated with my class against all odds.
Is this what GRIT means??? I would leave that up to the experts such as Dr. Darling.
If you'd like to understand more about grit and the science of achievement (if you want to understand the path that Gerald is on):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaeFnxSfSC4
You can copy and paste this into your browser.
Like the test pilot, Chuck Yaeger who broke the sound barrier, I do believe that some human beings are "made of the right stuff." After my car accident in which my leg was amputated and then reattached, I knew that I was made of the right stuff. I returned to my senior year of dental school and despite missing the first two months of classes I graduated with my class against all odds.
Is this what GRIT means??? I would leave that up to the experts such as Dr. Darling.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
GRIT
Our topics of discussion on the ACE Dental Forum are far reaching.One of my favorite people on ACE is not a dentist but a clinical psychologist. Dr. June Darling posted the following on the forum today:
Gerald and I have talked a lot about high performance. Gerald's life is a study in grit and perseverance. If there's a way of instilling that into our children, I believe it goes a long way in helping them be resilient and successful.
I did a LOT of stuff wrong with my children. I wish I would have known then what I know now. One brief thing that I did do right almost by accident did seem to have a big impact on Hoby (in terms of learning more about "grit.")
He really wanted to swim as a little guy. I had heard that one of the best ways to help kids swim was to get them on a swim team. So we went to sign ups. When we get there they tell us that all these little kids have to be able to swim the width of the pool. What??? (I thought they would teach them. We'd never really spent much time around water)
They line all these little tykes up. The kids jump in and start swimming away. Hoby is just trying to get across the pool any way he can. All the moms are on the other side of the pool and are telling me/screaming at me to pull Hoby out, he's going to drown. All the other little kids are across the pool. I'm biting my lip. I know this is an important moment - it really is sink or swim. But I decided that I had to show that I believed he could do it and give him every ounce of opportunity to try it. It took him forever to get to the other side of the pool, I'm crying, but he makes it - totally exhausted.
By the time he was ten, he had all broken all the swimming records.
The reason I remember this is because a Jehovah Witness lady came by my house last week. She looked at me and said..."Oh, yeah, I remember you. You're Hoby's mom. Do you remember that time at the pool? I sure thought that little kid was going to drown."
I'm really a softie. It's awfully hard for me to see people struggle and I know the tremendous value of stretching the grit muscles. I admire a number of dentists who show a tremendous amount of grit. Gerald is one of my favorite examples of true grit.
I love examples of grit. Rocky stories.
Dr. Darling loves my stories of struggles in life and my profession: My three years of rejection from almost every dental in the United States or my car accident in which my right leg was amputated in a car accident and surgically reattached so that I could resume my dental studies and graduate with my dental school class and even go on to run 5 miles. Or my 20 year efforts to study with the best of the world so that I could, one day, be like them even if it means forgoing vacations for 26 years in a row.
Dr. Darling's search is to find out WHY we are like we are...and that certainly will be a life long study. In the mean time, I just continue to do what I love to do...Beautifully restoring your teeth and keeping your mouth healthy...What a great job!
Gerald and I have talked a lot about high performance. Gerald's life is a study in grit and perseverance. If there's a way of instilling that into our children, I believe it goes a long way in helping them be resilient and successful.
I did a LOT of stuff wrong with my children. I wish I would have known then what I know now. One brief thing that I did do right almost by accident did seem to have a big impact on Hoby (in terms of learning more about "grit.")
He really wanted to swim as a little guy. I had heard that one of the best ways to help kids swim was to get them on a swim team. So we went to sign ups. When we get there they tell us that all these little kids have to be able to swim the width of the pool. What??? (I thought they would teach them. We'd never really spent much time around water)
They line all these little tykes up. The kids jump in and start swimming away. Hoby is just trying to get across the pool any way he can. All the moms are on the other side of the pool and are telling me/screaming at me to pull Hoby out, he's going to drown. All the other little kids are across the pool. I'm biting my lip. I know this is an important moment - it really is sink or swim. But I decided that I had to show that I believed he could do it and give him every ounce of opportunity to try it. It took him forever to get to the other side of the pool, I'm crying, but he makes it - totally exhausted.
By the time he was ten, he had all broken all the swimming records.
The reason I remember this is because a Jehovah Witness lady came by my house last week. She looked at me and said..."Oh, yeah, I remember you. You're Hoby's mom. Do you remember that time at the pool? I sure thought that little kid was going to drown."
I'm really a softie. It's awfully hard for me to see people struggle and I know the tremendous value of stretching the grit muscles. I admire a number of dentists who show a tremendous amount of grit. Gerald is one of my favorite examples of true grit.
I love examples of grit. Rocky stories.
Dr. Darling loves my stories of struggles in life and my profession: My three years of rejection from almost every dental in the United States or my car accident in which my right leg was amputated in a car accident and surgically reattached so that I could resume my dental studies and graduate with my dental school class and even go on to run 5 miles. Or my 20 year efforts to study with the best of the world so that I could, one day, be like them even if it means forgoing vacations for 26 years in a row.
Dr. Darling's search is to find out WHY we are like we are...and that certainly will be a life long study. In the mean time, I just continue to do what I love to do...Beautifully restoring your teeth and keeping your mouth healthy...What a great job!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Infecting the Next Generation With Excellence
I spent 8 hours yesterday lecturing and teaching a small group (8 students) of senior dental students at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Some of the faculty at the Dental School believes that they are still living in the 1980s and refuse to advance their thinking 30 years to what is routinely being done in top dental practices today.
Every year I am invited to 'infect' the next generation of my colleagues with the virus of excellence in the hope that they too will seek to treat their patients at the highest possible level.
In his note of thanks and appreciation, my Chairman emailed me the following note:
"Thanks to you for affecting our new generation. We can't do anything about the old generation but the new generation certainly can be changed. Thanks for your contributions to esthetic dentistry and I encouraged you to continue giving CE courses."
It is, indeed, an honor and a privilege to teach those that will follow me into our wonderful profession.
In reality...I did this for you, my patient, so that you will be able to find someone to take care of you after I no longer can.
(And how much was I paid to lecture???????????? Absolutely NOTHING!!!. I did it because it my professional responsibility to give back.)
Every year I am invited to 'infect' the next generation of my colleagues with the virus of excellence in the hope that they too will seek to treat their patients at the highest possible level.
In his note of thanks and appreciation, my Chairman emailed me the following note:
"Thanks to you for affecting our new generation. We can't do anything about the old generation but the new generation certainly can be changed. Thanks for your contributions to esthetic dentistry and I encouraged you to continue giving CE courses."
It is, indeed, an honor and a privilege to teach those that will follow me into our wonderful profession.
In reality...I did this for you, my patient, so that you will be able to find someone to take care of you after I no longer can.
(And how much was I paid to lecture???????????? Absolutely NOTHING!!!. I did it because it my professional responsibility to give back.)
Thursday, April 7, 2011
What is Obvious to Some
The average dentist works 30-35 hours a week and is exhausted at the end of the week.
I have worked 50-60 hours a week for almost 35 years and have loved almost every minute of it. I never take lunch or go on vacation. My last vacation was in 1985.
Some on the ACE forum questioned my sanity when I posted this information about myself. But then the highly regarded psychologist and noted dental coach/business consultant Dr. June Darling said the following about me:
"Gerald is traveling a different road. He aims to be the best in the world. He's energized rather than exhausted by his work."
I could not be more honored by Dr. Darling's observations.
I LOVE doing dentistry and I LOVE taking care of my patients. I do not sell dentistry but I do sell excellence.
Why would you want someone to take care of your teeth that does not LOVE dentistry? I cannot answer that.
I have worked 50-60 hours a week for almost 35 years and have loved almost every minute of it. I never take lunch or go on vacation. My last vacation was in 1985.
Some on the ACE forum questioned my sanity when I posted this information about myself. But then the highly regarded psychologist and noted dental coach/business consultant Dr. June Darling said the following about me:
"Gerald is traveling a different road. He aims to be the best in the world. He's energized rather than exhausted by his work."
I could not be more honored by Dr. Darling's observations.
I LOVE doing dentistry and I LOVE taking care of my patients. I do not sell dentistry but I do sell excellence.
Why would you want someone to take care of your teeth that does not LOVE dentistry? I cannot answer that.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Burn Out????
The average dentist works 30-35 hours a week and for most, doing dentistry is a chore. For me, It is a labor of love. I have ALWAYS worked 50-60 hours a week because I refuse to rush through treatment to see more patients. There is more satisfaction in placing beautiful, strong dentistry than there is to making more money.
I am viewed as a very talented dentist by my colleagues on the ACE forum. The truth is that I am not a naturally gifted clinician but I am passionate about what I do and I am willing to spend thousands of hours perfecting my craft.
When I recently told the ACE forum that I work 50+ hours a week treating my patients, one dentist privately emailed my and asked why I haven't BURNED OUT or had physical problems associated with restoring teeth.
Taking care of you is what I love to do..Is it hard work? Yes it is.
Going to work is what I get up in the morning to do..
Burn out??? I have no idea what that means.
I am viewed as a very talented dentist by my colleagues on the ACE forum. The truth is that I am not a naturally gifted clinician but I am passionate about what I do and I am willing to spend thousands of hours perfecting my craft.
When I recently told the ACE forum that I work 50+ hours a week treating my patients, one dentist privately emailed my and asked why I haven't BURNED OUT or had physical problems associated with restoring teeth.
Taking care of you is what I love to do..Is it hard work? Yes it is.
Going to work is what I get up in the morning to do..
Burn out??? I have no idea what that means.
Thank You So Much!!!
I love my new teeth; they have not only enhanced my smile but my confidence.
This is the email that I received from a patient who just completed a smile makeover.
My staff and I work very hard to achieve the best possible results for our patients and the overwhelming majority of patients not only gratefully pay us but always send us a note of appreciation.
Helping you achieve dental health is not my job...It is my life...Who I am and What I do.
Please keep this in mind when you select a dentist to take care of you and your family.
This is the email that I received from a patient who just completed a smile makeover.
My staff and I work very hard to achieve the best possible results for our patients and the overwhelming majority of patients not only gratefully pay us but always send us a note of appreciation.
Helping you achieve dental health is not my job...It is my life...Who I am and What I do.
Please keep this in mind when you select a dentist to take care of you and your family.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Education is Our Future
This is really going to be a great week! I will get to treat my patients for four days and then on Thursday evening, we will start our 2-3 year course using several different areas of dentistry to treat one patient. Starting this journey should be exhilarating for all involved.
On Friday, I will travel to SUNY/Buffalo to teach an all day course to the top senior dental students and some of the faculty. My job is to teach the students excellence because as my mentor, Dr. Fred McIntyre says, "If we don't TEACH our students EXCELLENCE, they will not KNOW excellence."
My goal will be to show my students that there are some dentists in private practice who pursue excellence and reject the status quo of mediocrity. The students believe that providing excellent dentistry is not possible in a private practice and that no one does that kind of work anyway.
I am hopeful that at least ONE dental student in the room will have a change of mind and make the commitment to pursue excellence. Why else would I give up my weekend and travel more than 600 miles?
To change ONE YOUNG MIND!
On Friday, I will travel to SUNY/Buffalo to teach an all day course to the top senior dental students and some of the faculty. My job is to teach the students excellence because as my mentor, Dr. Fred McIntyre says, "If we don't TEACH our students EXCELLENCE, they will not KNOW excellence."
My goal will be to show my students that there are some dentists in private practice who pursue excellence and reject the status quo of mediocrity. The students believe that providing excellent dentistry is not possible in a private practice and that no one does that kind of work anyway.
I am hopeful that at least ONE dental student in the room will have a change of mind and make the commitment to pursue excellence. Why else would I give up my weekend and travel more than 600 miles?
To change ONE YOUNG MIND!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Kind Words from a Colleague
I am truly amazed when a dentist who only knows me by my work says nice things about me and the quality of my work. The ACE forum was discussing Groupon and my initial comment was that I only compete with other dentists on QUALITY and not on price. A dentist thought that in the 'modern world' (Aside: which means that mediocrity is the new standard of 'excellence') that a dentist like me should consider the concept of Groupon ie discount dentistry.
He said the following: Those that adapt and embrace will succeed. I am not saying that Gerald won't succeed at what he does, that man has some skills. But I think it would behoove him and anyone else to take a look at everything and figure out how it could fit in their office.
I am again honored that my colleagues recognize that the work that I do for you is wonderful.
You, as my patient, should also feel great in that you KNOW for a fact that other dentists admire YOUR DENTIST'S work.
He said the following: Those that adapt and embrace will succeed. I am not saying that Gerald won't succeed at what he does, that man has some skills. But I think it would behoove him and anyone else to take a look at everything and figure out how it could fit in their office.
I am again honored that my colleagues recognize that the work that I do for you is wonderful.
You, as my patient, should also feel great in that you KNOW for a fact that other dentists admire YOUR DENTIST'S work.
Groupon and Discounts
I must be honest and say that when a dentist participates with insurance companies or another discount program such as Groupon that you, the patient will suffer. The insurance company knows that it will not let you charge your usual fee and expects you to make up for that lost income by volume.
When someone works with their hands, how is it possible to see more patients? The answer is that shortcuts must be taken and quality must go down. My success rate in a year is 99+% which means that it is unlikely that you will have a problem with my work. If my success rate drops to 80% because I have to rush to see more patients, it means that you will have a problem with 20% of the work that I do for you.
Do you REALLY want to sit in my dental chair any more time so that I can fix something that I had to rush in the first place?
Not ME!!!!!!!! I want my dentist to do the treatment as well as he can the first time.
So when a patient calls and asks if I participate with insurance companies, they are literally asking to spend MORE time in the dental chair. Why would they want THAT?
When someone works with their hands, how is it possible to see more patients? The answer is that shortcuts must be taken and quality must go down. My success rate in a year is 99+% which means that it is unlikely that you will have a problem with my work. If my success rate drops to 80% because I have to rush to see more patients, it means that you will have a problem with 20% of the work that I do for you.
Do you REALLY want to sit in my dental chair any more time so that I can fix something that I had to rush in the first place?
Not ME!!!!!!!! I want my dentist to do the treatment as well as he can the first time.
So when a patient calls and asks if I participate with insurance companies, they are literally asking to spend MORE time in the dental chair. Why would they want THAT?
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