"The Best Dental School Lecture"

I made my annual visit to SUNY/Buffalo to lecture to the senior class about excellence in restorative dental treatment. Usually, I lecture to the entire senior class in the morning and then teach the eight 'esthetic students' how to perform advanced cosmetic precedures for the entire afternoon. This year was a little different because the senior dental students take their final exams next week and they 'needed' to study and could not attend my lecture. The students that attended my course were promised at the beginning of the day that I would attempt to give them the best lecture that they had in their four years in dental school...And at the end of the 8 hour long course, each student told me how much they enjoyed my presentation and 'hands on' course. My friend and former chairman of the Restorative Department is trying to make a difference in the lives of our students and if were not for him, I would never visit the dental school again. I have little use for mediocrity and IN MY OPINION, my dental school has become a breeding ground for mediocrity. There is no reason that the material that I presented yesterday is not included in the dental school curriculum...Perhaps it is because some of the faculty has never attended one of my lectures. I was honored by my former chairman's comments about my work and his invitation to travel with him to lecture around the world. He believes that many dentists would greatly benefit from learning about the work that I do. I would rather take care of my patients than earning large sums of money to lecture.

Incredible!

I redid my brother-in-laws 15 year old veneers about 6 months ago and I thought that they looked great. I saw him yesterday at a family wake and he told me that his dentist in Alabama told him that she thought that they were the best veneers that she had ever seen. His wife went to her new dentist and when he saw her 15 year old veneers he asked, "Are those veneers and are they new?" He was astounded to know how old they were and told her how wonderful they were. I am always thrilled when other dentists admire my work and I know how much pride my patients feel when someone tells them how beautiful their smile is.

When Patients Take the Time to Offer a Review

Patient's usually vote on the ability of a dentist with either their feet or their credit card. That is, they either walk away from their current dentist to find a new one or they will spend money in the office of their current dentist. I was pleasantly surprised when one of my colleagues emailed a Google Review that they found online of my office. This is what the annonymous patient wrote: "I had multiple complex dental and cosmetic issues and had been to multiple dentists who are famous in their field for cosmetic surgery. Only Dr. Benjamin was able to diagnose and correct my problem. He is so good that I cannot believe I'm the first google review! If you have any dental pain and have been dismissed by other dentists, you have to see Dr. Benjamin. He will figure it out and tell you your options. He was able to diagnose and tell me the cause of my dental pain after many other dentists were not. I was also able to have the cause corrected. This man is the real deal. I suffered long and hard until I found this office. Do yourself a favor and just come here first. You'll be glad you did." I am thrilled that someone would take the time to post their comments. While I personally would not select a dentist based on a patient review, I recognized that some patients place a high value on this kind of information. I am honored to be recognized in a public way.

A Different Place in My Career

In the last two weeks, four of my patients said, "Dr. Benjamin, I love you." What they were really saying is "I trust you to take care of me and thank you for doing so in a very caring and competent way." I am so honored by my patient's kind words. I have told you many times that taking care of you is the most important aspect of our relationship and the money is secondary. When a patient says, "I love you," it means that I am communicating and connecting with my patients in the way that I want to. You know that you can trust me to take care of you.

Dr. Ashok's Visit

Almost four years ago, I received an email from a young dentist in Bangalore, India asking me explain a post that I made on a dental forum. I answered his question and assumed that I would never hear from the young man again. I was soooo wrong. Week after week, Dr. Ashok asked question after question about different aspects of the restorative treatment that I provide for my patients and then one day, he announced that he wanted to visit my office if that was not too much of an imposition. He stayed in our home and visited our office as well as that of Drs. Banchs and Byrne for a week in February, 2009. It was a very frustrating time for the young dentist because he complained that we made very challenging work look so easy but that is not surprising because my colleagues give my work high praise and Dr. Banchs is recognized as one of the best in the world in endodontics.

I have been in weekly contact with Dr. Ashok and last month he announced that he was returning to Saratoga Springs to continue his education...And learn he did. He continues to be amazed at the attention to detail in the work he sees. Dr. Banchs paraphrased a well known quote when he told Dr. Ashok that we do not do exceptional work but we do simple things exceptionally. I guess that is another was of saying, "Master the basics." All dentists want to do the exotic forms of treatment without ever mastering the simple aspects of treatment.

After a week, Dr. Ashok returned home knowing that he must continue to strive for excellence even though the demand for excellent dentistry is very small.

Professionals Being Professional

Have you been to restaurants that primarily hire young college students as their waiters and waitresses and then go to a really nice eating establishment where you will be served by people that serve you for living? You really cannot compare the professional food server with the young person that needs a summer job. The professional fills your glass of water without being asked, picks up your napkin that fell off your lap and replaces it with a clean one and tells you which foods will delight you and which won't.

My staff IS a professional dental staff. Each has been at their job for more than 15 years and everyone is knowledgeable in the job that they have. Trisha and Jeanine are extraordinary in their knowledge of the treatment that we provide to our patients. Donna is friendly, courteous and helpful to everyone that calls and I know this because you, my patients tell me that. Trish, our 'new' staff member has been commended by our patients for her thoroughness in doing her job.

We are professional in what we do so that we can take care of you in the best possible way and we hope that it shows.

An Article about our Office in HERLIFE Magazine

HERLIFE Magazine was kind enough to publish a short article about me and my office in the April issue of the Magazine. This is a great local magazine mainly for women but I read it every month. I am also one of the monthly full page advertisers and for the last 3 or 4 months, my office actually created the ad. I thank Michele and Amanda for permitting me to show you the fabulous smiles that we created for them.

HERLIFE is a local business that NEEDS to succeed and I encourage everyone to pick up a free copy at many local businesses including Price Chopper.

This is the link to HERLIFE. (It will take a minute to load)

http://www.herlifemagazine.com/albany/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/NY-April.pdf

Remembering an Old Friend and Colleague

Ed Rogozinski was my dental laboratory technician and friend for almost 20 years. As you know, I have been a dentist for more than 30 years and I have the good fortune of having many patients for my entire career in the Capital District. Last week I saw a few crowns that Mr. Rogo (as I called him although everyone else called him Rogy)fabricated for one of my patients and it brought back many good memories of a good friend and dental collaborator. He was one of the best 'gold men' as technicians used to be called and during one stretch we cemented in 250 crowns in a row without a remake which is probably a record if records were kept.

I miss Mr. Rogo but delight in the fact that after 30 years, I still take care of his son, Richard. We were one hell of a good team.

The Return of a Young Colleague

About three years ago I received a series of questions by a Bangalore dentist via email asking about polishing composite resins, the material to fix front teeth so that they restore the teeth as if they had never been touched by a dentist. The dentist told me that he was from Bangalore, India and that he had many questions for me because he had been to my website many times and was impressed by my work. His questions were endless and sometimes we communicated by email 7 days a week. After about 6 months, Dr. Ashok informed me that he wanted to visit my office and study with me. We invited Dr. Ashok to stay in our house for a week and come to the office with me.

Dr. Ashok is what every young dentist should be like: smart, caring, passionate and wanting to pursue excellence.

For the last two plus years, I have emailed Dr. Ashok about his work and my work and I knew that someday he would again travel around the world to return to study. Tomorrow evening Dr. Ashok will return to the Capital District for another round of learning. And I am honored to help him become a world class clinician.

Dr. Ashok also has the privilege of studying with Dr. Francisco Banchs, one of the the world's best root canal specialists who is also located at 18 Division Street in Saratoga Springs.

Is is worth traveling more than half way around the world to study with two dentists at the peak of their careers...I will let you know in a week.