Mediocrity

"Averageness: A quality of being adequate or acceptable, but not very good."

This is the definition that I found on one website. What does this mean when we are talking about a physician or a dentist? It means that the dentist does not know his or her subject matter very well but still continues to provide the treatment despite a lack of thorough knowledge of the subject. Or it means that the dentist does not CARE enough about their patient and "good enough is good enough." And more, it means that I can make all the money that I want with my current but inadequate knowledge.

Mediocrity is totally unacceptable when caring for another individual and yet many if not the majority of patients knowing select a mediocre doctor to take care of them. How or why is this possible? Many patients KNOW that their physician or dentist is average but he or she:

1. Takes my insurance and I don't have to pay a co-pay.
2. Is close to my home or office
3. I have been going to that office for a long time

If a physician or dentist KNOWS that they are mediocre but that they have plenty of patients then the dentists convinces themselves that mediocrity is 'ok' because that is what patients want anyway.

Mediocrity is never acceptable in my office or the offices of the specialists that I refer you to. It is never acceptable for me to become mediocre or average.I promise you that I will retire the day I can't take care of you a the highest level or Tricia or Jeanine tells me that I no longer have 'it.'

If someone wants a mediocre dentist for a low fee, then I will not be their dentist.

A dentist posted the following on a dental blog:
My concern is the day I had issues with an implant. I posted a question. Within minutes while my patient was in the chair, I had helpful texts, calls to my office and emails. How many are going to monitor this enough to do that? And most importantly, are all of my Facebook friends going to see that I didn't know what the heck I was doing?!?!

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!!!!!!