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76% of dental patients travel less than 10 miles to see their dentist and under 5% travel more than 20 miles.
As I have told you in the past, 85% of my patients from my Troy, NY office have followed me to my new location in Saratoga Springs which is 40 miles from my previous office. That got me thinking about where some of my patients are currently living with the majority travelling great distances to have me treat them.
These are the places that my patients have travelled from to have work in my office:
1. Los Angeles,CA
2. Spokane, WA
3. Raleigh, NC
4. Charleston, SC
5. Virginia
6. Erie, PA
7. Buffalo, NY
8. New Orleans, LA
9. Boston MA
10. Connecticut
11. San Diego, CA
12. Lee, MA
13. Vermont
14. NYC
15. Port Jefferson, NY
16. Syracuse, NY
17. Utica, NY
18. Plattsburgh,NY
19. Lake Placid,NY
20. Venezuela
21. Switzerland
I am honored to have patients willing to travel hundreds or thousands of miles to be treated in our office. It is my belief that our office is known for excellence in restorative dentistry. It is our privilege to take care of those patients who live around the corner or travel great distances. We appreciate your trust and will do everything that we can so that we do not disappoint you in our work or how we treat you.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR OFFICE A SUCCESS
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Universities Can Be Antiquated Institutions
Most of us believe that cutting edge thinking and experimentation takes place in Universities hence the term, "Intitutions of HIGHER LEARNING." The fact of the matter is that parts of universities are propelling human advancement and the other parts of the Universities want to keep these institutions entrenched in the last decade.
For the last 17 years, I have been prodding the Dental School at SUNY/Buffalo to move into the 21st Century and for a very brief time, I succeeded. My friend, Fred McIntyre and I convinced Dean Goldberg that destroying tooth structure for the sake of 'strengthening' teeth was old fashioned thinking and that our patients in the mid 1990s wanted beautiful smiles like they were seeing on television. Dean Goldberg understood that significant advancements were being made in dentistry in materials and techniques and he wanted SUNY/Buffalo to be part of that revolution and to that end he asked Dr. McIntyre and I to create the world's first Esthetic Center at a Dental Schools.
The problem that we had was that the full time faculty only knew old style dentistry and they wanted to teach only the techniques and materials that they were experts using. And so they opposed the formation of the Esthetic Center and ultimately had the Center closed. Currently, about 60% of all dental fillings are done with bonded composites but the Dental School still teaches the old silver/mercury filling techniques.
I was devistated when the Dental School announced that the Esthetic Center was closing in 2007 and I wrote to the President of the University of Buffalo asking him to have the Dean reconsider. The President asked me to speak with the Vice President in Charge of the Medical and Dental School and I took two days off from work to meet with Dr. Dunn who told me that he would look into it.
Five years later, the Dental School is STILL teaching silver/mercury fillings, I recently wrote another letter to the NEW President of UB, Dr. Satish Tripathi who forwarded my letter to the NEW Vice President in Charge of the Medical and Dental School, Dr. Michael Cain.
What do you think Dr. Cain is going to do? Ask me to visit him in Buffalo? Probably.
But the fact of the matter is that the Universtiy LIKES to teach 1980s style dentistry.
What would I have done if I was Dr. Tripathi? I would have called me to schedule a meeting with him and the Dean of the Dental School and asked the Dean if my complaints were true. And then I would have FIRED THE DEAN.
Change is necessary. Change is not optional and change is what propels humanity to our next level of progress. It's time to FIRE people that can't do what we hire them to do and won't keep an open mind to new ideas.
Change is humanities only hope.
PS: I am not a chronic complainer and Susan and I donated over $100,000 to the University of Buffalo.
For the last 17 years, I have been prodding the Dental School at SUNY/Buffalo to move into the 21st Century and for a very brief time, I succeeded. My friend, Fred McIntyre and I convinced Dean Goldberg that destroying tooth structure for the sake of 'strengthening' teeth was old fashioned thinking and that our patients in the mid 1990s wanted beautiful smiles like they were seeing on television. Dean Goldberg understood that significant advancements were being made in dentistry in materials and techniques and he wanted SUNY/Buffalo to be part of that revolution and to that end he asked Dr. McIntyre and I to create the world's first Esthetic Center at a Dental Schools.
The problem that we had was that the full time faculty only knew old style dentistry and they wanted to teach only the techniques and materials that they were experts using. And so they opposed the formation of the Esthetic Center and ultimately had the Center closed. Currently, about 60% of all dental fillings are done with bonded composites but the Dental School still teaches the old silver/mercury filling techniques.
I was devistated when the Dental School announced that the Esthetic Center was closing in 2007 and I wrote to the President of the University of Buffalo asking him to have the Dean reconsider. The President asked me to speak with the Vice President in Charge of the Medical and Dental School and I took two days off from work to meet with Dr. Dunn who told me that he would look into it.
Five years later, the Dental School is STILL teaching silver/mercury fillings, I recently wrote another letter to the NEW President of UB, Dr. Satish Tripathi who forwarded my letter to the NEW Vice President in Charge of the Medical and Dental School, Dr. Michael Cain.
What do you think Dr. Cain is going to do? Ask me to visit him in Buffalo? Probably.
But the fact of the matter is that the Universtiy LIKES to teach 1980s style dentistry.
What would I have done if I was Dr. Tripathi? I would have called me to schedule a meeting with him and the Dean of the Dental School and asked the Dean if my complaints were true. And then I would have FIRED THE DEAN.
Change is necessary. Change is not optional and change is what propels humanity to our next level of progress. It's time to FIRE people that can't do what we hire them to do and won't keep an open mind to new ideas.
Change is humanities only hope.
PS: I am not a chronic complainer and Susan and I donated over $100,000 to the University of Buffalo.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Charity
When we give something of value to someone or something that they cannot afford to do it for themselves, it must always be done for the right reason.
You know that repairing children's cleft lips and palates for children around the world (including the United States) is my favorite cause to receive my money and my favorite group to give money to is SMILE TRAIN. 100% of the money donated goes for the surgeries for the children and the founders of the group pay for all of the administrative and fund raising costs.
I don't give money because I get a tax right off in fact, I believe that the government should remain neutral in the tax treatment of charitable giving.We should give money because it is the right thing to do. My parents raised me to do the right thing and no one has to persuade my or reward me to give for the right reasons.
One of my patients has been in my practice for 30 years and about 15 years ago her husband left her and her young son. She went back to school to get her college degree and was taking her student teaching internship. One day she came to my office with a large piece of a lower molar broken off and asked me to fix her tooth. When I told her that could and would do that for her she stopped me and told me through her tears that she would be unable to pay me today but that she would do her best to pay the bill. I told her that there would be no bill for that days treatment because it was never my intention to take food out of a child's mouth.
No one has to MAKE me Do the Right Thing.I was raised knowing what the right thing to do is.
Most of us KNOW what the right thing is but that does not mean that we put that into practice.
You know that repairing children's cleft lips and palates for children around the world (including the United States) is my favorite cause to receive my money and my favorite group to give money to is SMILE TRAIN. 100% of the money donated goes for the surgeries for the children and the founders of the group pay for all of the administrative and fund raising costs.
I don't give money because I get a tax right off in fact, I believe that the government should remain neutral in the tax treatment of charitable giving.We should give money because it is the right thing to do. My parents raised me to do the right thing and no one has to persuade my or reward me to give for the right reasons.
One of my patients has been in my practice for 30 years and about 15 years ago her husband left her and her young son. She went back to school to get her college degree and was taking her student teaching internship. One day she came to my office with a large piece of a lower molar broken off and asked me to fix her tooth. When I told her that could and would do that for her she stopped me and told me through her tears that she would be unable to pay me today but that she would do her best to pay the bill. I told her that there would be no bill for that days treatment because it was never my intention to take food out of a child's mouth.
No one has to MAKE me Do the Right Thing.I was raised knowing what the right thing to do is.
Most of us KNOW what the right thing is but that does not mean that we put that into practice.
Still the Standard
I left the ACE forum 3 or 4 months ago because the group was too accepting of mediocrity in clinical dentistry and too concerned about making money instead of taking care of their patients. I still receive the ACE forum postings but I no longer contribute any of my work, my practice philosophy or my opinions. Today I read the following post on the ACE Forum:
I can’t seem to get away from Artiste. It does what it says it will do. I’ve never trusted the bulk fill idea. Surefill was the best of the lot. If I bulk fill, I’m going to cure like Gerald Benjamin…from the buccal and lingual at the same time. A huge number of restorations are under cured. Why the hell are we in such a hurry.
People may not have appreciated the fact that my focus was on excellence and the fact that I always placed my patient's best interest above my own but they most certainly knew that my clinical protocols were first rate and produced excellent clinical results.
I am thrilled to be known as a standard of excellence
I can’t seem to get away from Artiste. It does what it says it will do. I’ve never trusted the bulk fill idea. Surefill was the best of the lot. If I bulk fill, I’m going to cure like Gerald Benjamin…from the buccal and lingual at the same time. A huge number of restorations are under cured. Why the hell are we in such a hurry.
People may not have appreciated the fact that my focus was on excellence and the fact that I always placed my patient's best interest above my own but they most certainly knew that my clinical protocols were first rate and produced excellent clinical results.
I am thrilled to be known as a standard of excellence
I AM Missing Something
The older I become the less clear life seems to be...When I was younger, I assumed that maturity brings wisdom and as we approach the end, life is much more in focus.
Paul Krugman wrote a column in today's New York Times in which he said the following:
44% of those on Social Security
43% of those who receive Unemployment Benefits
40% of those receiving Medicare
Do not believe that they "have used a government program."
How can we so blatantly fool ourselves? How have we changed so much in the last 25 years that we cannot see truth for what it is? And does this explain why our children act and behave as they do?
How can I be so out of touch?
Paul Krugman wrote a column in today's New York Times in which he said the following:
44% of those on Social Security
43% of those who receive Unemployment Benefits
40% of those receiving Medicare
Do not believe that they "have used a government program."
How can we so blatantly fool ourselves? How have we changed so much in the last 25 years that we cannot see truth for what it is? And does this explain why our children act and behave as they do?
How can I be so out of touch?
Saturday, February 11, 2012
They Are Beginning to Listen
I have been espousing the benefits of conservatively done dentistry for at least 10 years and have been ridiculed by many dentists for doing so. I do not believe that we should be cutting down beautiful tooth structure for crowns and onlays unless that is the only option. Unfortunately, I would make a significant amount of additional money if I did not hold strongly to my beliefs.
A Canadian dentist posted the following on the IDF forum: (David Garber is a world class dentist practicing in Atlanta, GA)
Just saw David Garber yesterday. He also talks of popping veneers of with a laser - and in some cases re-cementing them.
He also spoke of the over-use of crown and the under-rated longevity of resin bonding (on enamel). He showed one bonding case in particular that none of us believed could be done without endo, crowns, or extractions that turned out amazingly well with a bit of reduction and enamel bonding. Gerald would have loved it ;-)
I am not renown because I do not seek to be famous and I just want to take care of my patients. I AM well known because of the quality of the restorative dentistry to I do for my patients and post on the web.
Dentists are starting to listen to what I have been saying about keeping as much natural tooth structure as they can by placing direct bonded resin fillings.
Doctors made fun of the two physicians who told them that stomach ulcers were not caused by stress and fatty foods but rather by a bacteria. We now KNOW that ulcers is a BACTERIAL INFECTION...But it sure seemed to be laughable when we first heard that concept.
The better dentists are starting to listen to me so that they can take better care of their patients...I have taken a lot of ridicule but now they are listening.
A Canadian dentist posted the following on the IDF forum: (David Garber is a world class dentist practicing in Atlanta, GA)
Just saw David Garber yesterday. He also talks of popping veneers of with a laser - and in some cases re-cementing them.
He also spoke of the over-use of crown and the under-rated longevity of resin bonding (on enamel). He showed one bonding case in particular that none of us believed could be done without endo, crowns, or extractions that turned out amazingly well with a bit of reduction and enamel bonding. Gerald would have loved it ;-)
I am not renown because I do not seek to be famous and I just want to take care of my patients. I AM well known because of the quality of the restorative dentistry to I do for my patients and post on the web.
Dentists are starting to listen to what I have been saying about keeping as much natural tooth structure as they can by placing direct bonded resin fillings.
Doctors made fun of the two physicians who told them that stomach ulcers were not caused by stress and fatty foods but rather by a bacteria. We now KNOW that ulcers is a BACTERIAL INFECTION...But it sure seemed to be laughable when we first heard that concept.
The better dentists are starting to listen to me so that they can take better care of their patients...I have taken a lot of ridicule but now they are listening.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
What the Komen Story Tells Us About Us
The Susan G. Komen Foundation has been at the forefront of Breast Cancer fundraising for cancer treatment and research for the past 3 decades. It was established to honor the memory of Susan by her sister Nancy Goodman Brinker.
Last week, the Komen Foundation publicly announced that it would no longer provide $700,000 to Planned Parenthood specifically for breast examinations. The reason was that certain folks did not want Komen to be associated with the abortion issue even though abortions are a VERY small part of what Planned Parenthood does.
In less than a work week, citizens from around the country contacted the Komen Foundation and withdrew their support and convinced the organization to reverse their decision to pay for breast exams for poor women.
What does this say about Komen and about us?
It says that the subjects of abortion and religion are beyond our ability to have reasonable and civil discourse even among intelligent and well meaning individuals.
We no longer can agree to disagree among honorable people.
As I have said for many years, "People make lousy human beings."
We need to work on this.
Last week, the Komen Foundation publicly announced that it would no longer provide $700,000 to Planned Parenthood specifically for breast examinations. The reason was that certain folks did not want Komen to be associated with the abortion issue even though abortions are a VERY small part of what Planned Parenthood does.
In less than a work week, citizens from around the country contacted the Komen Foundation and withdrew their support and convinced the organization to reverse their decision to pay for breast exams for poor women.
What does this say about Komen and about us?
It says that the subjects of abortion and religion are beyond our ability to have reasonable and civil discourse even among intelligent and well meaning individuals.
We no longer can agree to disagree among honorable people.
As I have said for many years, "People make lousy human beings."
We need to work on this.
It is Paying Off
I had another young dentist bring her patient to my office so that we could co-treat her patient. I had the opportunity to meet the patient for a consult many months ago but the patient decided to have the treatment performed by her family dentist (which is perfectly acceptable to me.)
The patient arrived at my office a few minutes before her dentist and we had an opportunity to chat. She told me, "I was really very happy to know that you were going to help my dentist plan my work and do some of the treatment."
This is a great honor to be respected by young dentists AND THEIR PATIENTS. This is what I have worked for my entire professional career.
I was serious when I told you that I expect to leave you in good hands when the time comes for someone else to take care of you.
The patient arrived at my office a few minutes before her dentist and we had an opportunity to chat. She told me, "I was really very happy to know that you were going to help my dentist plan my work and do some of the treatment."
This is a great honor to be respected by young dentists AND THEIR PATIENTS. This is what I have worked for my entire professional career.
I was serious when I told you that I expect to leave you in good hands when the time comes for someone else to take care of you.
"Teach Your Children"
This is a song from Crosby,Stills,Nash and Young.
Last night Susan and I went to a marvelous jazz concert by Branford Marsalis. The audience, to quote Lee Iacoca when asked about Cadillac owners said, 'they are between 70 and death.' There were no children,no teenagers, no Generation X ers or even people in their 40s. Everyone was old like Susan and I...or older.
Two years ago, we went to the Williamstown Theater to see some live Summer Theater. The audience was half empty and would have been a funeral directors delight.
Something is wrong in our nation when we fail, in the words of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, "To Teach Our Children,"
The concept of finding Excellence in the people to take care of us is almost non existent with almost everyone (including people with means and highly intelligent folks) asking who 'takes my insurance?' rather than 'Who is the best?'
Our children are not being taught the ideas, concepts and principles that made America great and are still needed (in my opinion) to keep America strong. We need to teach our children that music and the arts are vital to our humanity and need to survive. That being smart in school is something to be proud of along with honesty and integrity.
It is disheartening to see empty seats when wonderful things are readily available to us...Teach your children.
Last night Susan and I went to a marvelous jazz concert by Branford Marsalis. The audience, to quote Lee Iacoca when asked about Cadillac owners said, 'they are between 70 and death.' There were no children,no teenagers, no Generation X ers or even people in their 40s. Everyone was old like Susan and I...or older.
Two years ago, we went to the Williamstown Theater to see some live Summer Theater. The audience was half empty and would have been a funeral directors delight.
Something is wrong in our nation when we fail, in the words of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, "To Teach Our Children,"
The concept of finding Excellence in the people to take care of us is almost non existent with almost everyone (including people with means and highly intelligent folks) asking who 'takes my insurance?' rather than 'Who is the best?'
Our children are not being taught the ideas, concepts and principles that made America great and are still needed (in my opinion) to keep America strong. We need to teach our children that music and the arts are vital to our humanity and need to survive. That being smart in school is something to be proud of along with honesty and integrity.
It is disheartening to see empty seats when wonderful things are readily available to us...Teach your children.
Represents a Commitment to (Insert here)excellence
Susan and I went to the Branford Marsalis Jazz Concert at Proctor's in Schenectady last night.The concert was wonderful so this morning I did some reading about Branford to see what makes him 'tick.' I went to his website where I saw the statement, "Branford Marsalis represents a commitment to musical excellence."
You know that when I see the words, "A commitment to excellence," my attention level rises dramatically.
I have met many people in my life but only a relative handful of them are committed to excellence. In my dental life I would only say that Frank Speak, Fred McIntrye and Francisco Banchs would qualify to say that they are committed to excellence. The overwhelming majority of people who SAY that they are committed to excellence are more often committed to making money. Earning a good living is most certainly important but we cannot confuse "Committed to Excellence" with "Committed to Making Money."
My life long goal is to be on someone's list when they are asked who in dentistry is 'Committed to Excellence."
You know that when I see the words, "A commitment to excellence," my attention level rises dramatically.
I have met many people in my life but only a relative handful of them are committed to excellence. In my dental life I would only say that Frank Speak, Fred McIntrye and Francisco Banchs would qualify to say that they are committed to excellence. The overwhelming majority of people who SAY that they are committed to excellence are more often committed to making money. Earning a good living is most certainly important but we cannot confuse "Committed to Excellence" with "Committed to Making Money."
My life long goal is to be on someone's list when they are asked who in dentistry is 'Committed to Excellence."
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