It Is Nice to Be Recognized

I am attending the Global meeting of Dental Xp, the education group that provides online advanced education for dentist primarily aimed at restorative and implant dentists.  The group is owned by Team Atlanta a high level group practice in Atlanta, Ga that is among the finest dental groups in the country if not the world. It is also the only place that I post my work.

Today I met two of the principal dentists at Team Atlanta Dr. Ronald Goldstein and Dr. Maurice Salama.  When Dr. Goldstein, an icon in Cosmetic Dentistry, autographed his book for me he wrote:

To Gerald-
With much appreciation for your excellent work!!

Dr. Goldstein has commented many times on my work and I am happy to be recognized by him. Later in the day, I introduced myself to Dr. Salama who broke into a big smile and shook my hand. He said, " Your work is the most widely viewed work on our site."

What a great honor to be known by some of the best in the world.

YOU are the reason that I continue to get better.

Still Learning

I just arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the Global Dental XP meeting. This is, as the name implies, an elite international meeting which concentrates on restorative dentistry (fixing teeth) and implant dentistry  which is exactly the type of dentistry that I do on a daily basis.

My good friend and colleague from Bangalore, India is always amazed that I am still heavily involved in learning my craft at my 'advanced age' as he so gently puts it.

Why would you pay me to take care of you if I was past my prime and a dental 'has been?' I have devoted my life to my profession and nothing but my relationship with Susan is important in my life.

You want me to be at this most important meeting so that I can continue to provide the best possible care to you and your family.  I am well over 4,000 hours of CE and might even make it to 5,000 before I retire in 9 years.

I do it for YOU!

A Recent Development

I inform all of my new patients that I am a general dentist that limits my practice to fixing teeth and restoring implants....from simple to complex. I hold a Certificate of Proficiency in Esthetic Dentistry from SUNY/Buffalo School of Dentistry (2001) which means that I am a general dentist with a specialty in Esthetic Dentist. Given that there is no such thing as a 'cosmetic dentist', I am the closest thing to a specialist in esthetic dentistry.

I have almost 4,000 hours of post graduate education and was a little ole country dentist for over 30 years of my 37 + year career. For everything that I done and accomplished, I remained a complete unknown in the Capital District dental community. This is something that I sincerely regret and I would not let that happen again if I could have a 'do-over.'

During the last month, I have seen two new patients for cosmetic consultations. I have a fair number of consultations but these two patients are different. Each patient had complained to their general dentist that they did not like the appearance of their front teeth and each dentist informed their respective patients that they could not or would not be able to solve their problems and that they 'Needed to go see Dr. Benjamin in Saratoga Springs.'  One of the dentists told their patient, " Every dentist thinks that they are a cosmetic dentist but I would only go to see Dr. Benjamin."

I have never met these dentists nor have I ever heard of them. I am honored that the at large dental community is taking note of my work. Four decades  of being an 'unknown' is a long time.

Being Appreciated

I have a middle aged patient who came to my office about 4 years ago with the complaint that her crowns were falling out. This patient had a complex medical history including diabetes and a benign brain tumor. X-rays revealed that ALL of her root canals (about 20) had failed and that removing all of her teeth would be in her best interest despite the fact that she had followed every recommendation a dentist had made. Dr. Banchs confirmed my conclusion that her teeth could not be saved.

My patient is so much healthier today  because she has removed her chronically infected teeth and given the fact that diabetics cannot fight infection as a non-diabetic would do.

A few weeks ago my patient was in for me to check something and she said to me, " You and my ENT (a physician treating problems of the ear, nose and throat)  have spoiled me. I have never had doctors before that truly care about me and how I am doing."

I thanked my patient for her most kind comments. It is my job to take care of you and I take that responsibility very seriously. When I refer you to a dental specialist like Drs. Banchs, Byrnes , Bulford, or Cooney among others, it is because I feel that you need more expertise than I have and I need you to be taken care of. I make no money when I refer you to another dentist and in fact, sometimes Dr. Cooney ends up moving your teeth instead of me cutting  your teeth.

I care passionately that you are well taken care of.

Interesting Story

Root Canal Experts holds an annual golf tournament as a way of thanking referring dentists and, more importantly, to help foster a professional relationship among like minded  dentists. Many of these dentists maintain contact with each other throughout the year but for some, the golf outing is the only time that I will see these dentists during the year.

One dentists that I only see once a year came up to me and told me that she had an interesting story for me. She was up in the Adirondacks  visiting her lake cabin and the small town where it is located. She was online behind an attractive middle aged man and immediately took note of his smile. Unable to control herself she told him that he had a perfect smile and he so lucky for his beautiful smile.

The man thanked her and said, "Dr. Benjamin is my dentist and he gave me this smile...And my son's smile as well." The dentist was amazed because she  assumed that he was one of the fortunate people with a naturally beautiful smile.

What a great job I have.