A First in My Career

There are 130,000 full time practicing general dentists to take care of 310,000,000 American citizens. That means that there are plenty of patients to go around for each dentist most of the time. That said, most dentists don't like each other because they feel that the next dentist is going to steal one of his patients and he won't be able to feed his family that day...IT MAKES NO SENSE!

Most dentists, like most plumbers, car mechanics and painters are average and the last thing that I wanted to be in my career is 'average.' I took an oath never to hurt a patient (do no harm) and I truly believe that 'average' dentistry IS harmful to patients because, by definition, it could have been better.

Needless to say, my pursuit of excellence during my entire career has not always been appreciated by some of my colleagues and, believe it or not, I have paid a high price for pursuing my advanced education and trying harder. But something has started to change during the last year. Last week SIX DENTISTS, both specialists and general dentists referred patients to me and each one told them, "Dr. Benjamin is the best person to take care of you."

I am honored and grateful to my colleagues. To be RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE by my local colleagues is truly an accomplishment.

For almost 35 years, I have tried to be the best dentist that I could so that I would take care of you the right way. Many of my colleagues now believe that I am doing just that.

Dr.Richard A Powell, the Associate Dean at SUNY/Buffalo School of Dental Medicine must be rolling in his grave because he never thought that I could be a good dentist when he accepted me on my 4th attempt to get into dental school. He must have changed his mind at the end of my senior year in dental school because he created the Richard A. Powell award and I was the first recipient.

He must have seen something in me that made him change his mind. And now, my colleagues have changed their opinion of me... A first in my career.