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Five years ago a 17 year old girl and her Mother presented to our office for a cosmetic consultation. The patient was not happy with her extremely small front teeth (Normal tooth length is 10-11 mm and her front teeth were only 5 mm long.) and the spaces between her teeth. Her Mother understood that with such small front teeth, she would always look like a little girl even when she was 25. I referred the patient to Dr. Collins, the periodontist, who modified her bone and gum tissue so that the teeth were almost full size. (The teeth were normal size but was covered up by excess gum tissue.) I placed veneers and our young patient immediately looked like an adult. Her results were spectacular and her teeth look like they were the ones that God gave her.
Last week my patient's Mother was in for a check up and she told me that she had 'the talk' with her daughter. Mom told her that since she recently graduated from college, it was time that she sat down and made a decision on the direction that her life would go.
My patient said , " I have been thinking. I know how fixing my teeth had changed my whole life and I am thinking about going to dental school."
I have been waiting for a young patient to say that for almost 40 years.
And they say that kids today just don't get it.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Dentistry That is Exceptional
The average dental patient who sees a dentist on a regular basis has a mouthful of crowns. Those crowns were proposed and placed using (as I have told you before) pre 1992 rules for crown placement. Those rules said that when you have 1/2 of the natural tooth missing in the cheek to tongue dimension, the tooth was weak and needed a crown...And up until 1992 I followed those rules because they told me to in dental school and it made sense.
In 1992, bonding to the inside of the tooth (Bonding to enamel was 1956) was introduced and it was a game changer. When done right...and I know this because it is almost a quarter of a century..Bonding of teeth is exceptionally strong and called the need for crowns into question (except on back teeth with root canals.)
All dentists take an oath to do no harm and to save teeth.
Removing all the enamel (the outside of a tooth and the strongest material in the entire body) is doing harm to the tooth and is not saving the tooth...It is destroying the tooth, long term.
My long term patients have one or two crowns and many have NO CROWNS, that is EXCEPTIONAL dentistry because it saves teeth without destroying enamel.
And remember this: a well done resin bonded filling placed under a rubber dam in a back tooth has a life expectancy of 20+ years according to my personal experience. The life of the vast majority of crowns before they start to leak and cause the tooth underneath to rot away is also about 20 years.
My fillings cost about $350
My single unit crowns cost about $1600
Think about this: save your teeth for $350. What a bargain!
In 1992, bonding to the inside of the tooth (Bonding to enamel was 1956) was introduced and it was a game changer. When done right...and I know this because it is almost a quarter of a century..Bonding of teeth is exceptionally strong and called the need for crowns into question (except on back teeth with root canals.)
All dentists take an oath to do no harm and to save teeth.
Removing all the enamel (the outside of a tooth and the strongest material in the entire body) is doing harm to the tooth and is not saving the tooth...It is destroying the tooth, long term.
My long term patients have one or two crowns and many have NO CROWNS, that is EXCEPTIONAL dentistry because it saves teeth without destroying enamel.
And remember this: a well done resin bonded filling placed under a rubber dam in a back tooth has a life expectancy of 20+ years according to my personal experience. The life of the vast majority of crowns before they start to leak and cause the tooth underneath to rot away is also about 20 years.
My fillings cost about $350
My single unit crowns cost about $1600
Think about this: save your teeth for $350. What a bargain!
It's Rude
I am waiting to make a right hand turn at Division and Broadway and someone is in the crosswalk texting while crossing and not paying attention.
It's Rude.
Someone is reading a magazine at the checkout counter at the supermarket which prevents us from placing our groceries on the conveyer belt..Oh and her family had already left the area. And did I say that they left their shopping cart at the check out as well.
It's Rude.
Or the person checking out at the grocery but on the phone and not hearing the check out person asking her to pay.
It's Rude.
Or the person double parking on Broadway, blocking traffic despite the fact that there actually is a parking spot 10 feet away but they are too lazy to parallel park.
It's Rude.
Or how about the disabled man in his wheelchair who just throws his lighted cigarette onto the sidewalk.
It's Rude.
Ok you can say that I am old and not living in the real world. But then you are going to have to tell me when courtesy and consideration went out of style and WHY? When you live in the world by yourself, you can do what you want. When you live in the world with the rest of us, you have to show some consideration for the rest of us.
It's Rude.
Someone is reading a magazine at the checkout counter at the supermarket which prevents us from placing our groceries on the conveyer belt..Oh and her family had already left the area. And did I say that they left their shopping cart at the check out as well.
It's Rude.
Or the person checking out at the grocery but on the phone and not hearing the check out person asking her to pay.
It's Rude.
Or the person double parking on Broadway, blocking traffic despite the fact that there actually is a parking spot 10 feet away but they are too lazy to parallel park.
It's Rude.
Or how about the disabled man in his wheelchair who just throws his lighted cigarette onto the sidewalk.
It's Rude.
Ok you can say that I am old and not living in the real world. But then you are going to have to tell me when courtesy and consideration went out of style and WHY? When you live in the world by yourself, you can do what you want. When you live in the world with the rest of us, you have to show some consideration for the rest of us.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Setting Standards
One of my relatively young female patients (early 50s) needed to have a hip replacement and the plan was to have the anterior approach rather than the side approach. With the more advanced anterior approach, muscles are pushed aside rather than cut across which produces a rapid healing period requiring less physical therapy. The day before the surgery date, the doctors office called his patient and said that the table that is required for the anterior approach is broken and that the hip replacement would be using the side approach.
My patient's husband said, "If this was Dr. Benjamin, he would cancel the surgery until the table was fixed because he would want to do the right thing." My patient called her surgeon back and cancelled the surgery until the table was fixed.
I am so honored by my patient's comments. I always try to do the best for my patients and I am thrilled when they recognize that fact.
My patient's husband said, "If this was Dr. Benjamin, he would cancel the surgery until the table was fixed because he would want to do the right thing." My patient called her surgeon back and cancelled the surgery until the table was fixed.
I am so honored by my patient's comments. I always try to do the best for my patients and I am thrilled when they recognize that fact.
Saturday, July 18, 2015
The Call
Last night at around 7:45, my cell rang but I let it go to voicemail because I did not recognize the out of area number. I listened to the message from a woman from Brooklyn who said that they were visiting Saratoga for the weekend and her father had a toothache. She told me that her family was not one of my patients and that she would understand if I did not respond to her plea for help.
I have always believed that when someone is traveling and has a dental problem, that it is imperative upon the local dental community to help them so I called the woman and informed her that I do not do either root canal therapy or extract teeth but that if an antibiotic and/or pain medication would help, I was available to see her dad.
Fortunately, I located the problem relatively quickly and I identified a minor gum infection around an implant and provided a prescription for two medications. The patient, a slightly crotchety man approaching 70 asked me how much he owed for the visit. I told him that I would write it on one of my office notepaper.
The note said: SmileTrain.Com.
He and his daughter asked what this meant and I informed her that I didn't want to be paid but would rather have them make a contribution to SmileTrain, the charity that treats cleft lips and palates for children around the world. It is also one of the few charities that spends EVERY PENNY of your contribution on surgery for the children and not a penny for fund raising or administration.
Needless to say, the family was stunned.
I felt ethically bound to treat a visitor to our city and my intention was to get him out of pain. It was also my intention to let him know that not everything is about the money and that doing the right thing for the right reason is what we do.
All of us who are capable need to be more generous with our time and our money for those who are not capable.
I have always believed that when someone is traveling and has a dental problem, that it is imperative upon the local dental community to help them so I called the woman and informed her that I do not do either root canal therapy or extract teeth but that if an antibiotic and/or pain medication would help, I was available to see her dad.
Fortunately, I located the problem relatively quickly and I identified a minor gum infection around an implant and provided a prescription for two medications. The patient, a slightly crotchety man approaching 70 asked me how much he owed for the visit. I told him that I would write it on one of my office notepaper.
The note said: SmileTrain.Com.
He and his daughter asked what this meant and I informed her that I didn't want to be paid but would rather have them make a contribution to SmileTrain, the charity that treats cleft lips and palates for children around the world. It is also one of the few charities that spends EVERY PENNY of your contribution on surgery for the children and not a penny for fund raising or administration.
Needless to say, the family was stunned.
I felt ethically bound to treat a visitor to our city and my intention was to get him out of pain. It was also my intention to let him know that not everything is about the money and that doing the right thing for the right reason is what we do.
All of us who are capable need to be more generous with our time and our money for those who are not capable.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
Outcome is NOT by Accident
I wanted to recount MY recent health issues and the outcomes in an effort to show you that it is absolutely imperative that you find THE BEST physicians and dentists to take care of you.
Four years ago, I tore my rotator cuff and I asked my physical therapist who THE BEST surgeon was to treat my problem. His answer: 1. The renown sports surgeon James Andrews in Alabama or
2. David Altchek at Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Dr. Altchek takes care of the Yankees, Mets, Knicks and tennis players. He performed my surgery and I returned to work 25 days later.
Two years ago my knee was killing me and I again asked my physical therapist who THE BEST
knee replacement surgeon was and he responded: Thomas Sculco, Chief of Surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery. I returned to work 26 days after a total knee replacement and never had a day of physical therapy. And as you remember, the knee replacement was in the leg that was amputated in a car accident (1976) and reattached by the late, great Dr. Roger Seibel.
After I fell and fractured my shoulder, I called Dr. Sculco and asked who I needed to see at Hospital for Special Surgery for a shoulder replacement. His response: Dr. Lawrence Gulotta. Dr. Gulotta performed a reverse shoulder replacement on March 5 and I returned to work on April 9, 34 days after surgery.
My first shoulder surgery was uncomfortable while my knee replacement was definitely a challenge.
The shoulder replacement was in a different realm with regards to pain and inability to function. If you add up all of the lost days to recover from the three surgeries, the total is 85 days...
EIGHTY FIVE DAYS!!!!!!!!
When Tricia, my office manager looked up on the internet how long the recovery period is for a total knee replacement, she read as long as 6 months. I was not our of work for three months for all three surgeries.
Why????????????
Because I selected THE FINEST surgeons that I could find and let them do their magic. Patients need to learn that when you, indeed find fabulous people to take care of you that you must get out of their way and let them do what they are soooo good at doing.
People have told me that I was fortunate to be able to pay for the best but that is not necessarily so. I had the same insurance that everyone at The STATE has for my first two surgeries. And because I would not let an angry surgeon perform surgery on my shoulder, I did make a significant contribution to his research but that was my choice. In the big picture, I would have sold my cars to pay for the finest care that I could find.
The lesson of this blog: If you want to return to a normal life after surgery, find the best people to take care of you BEFORE surgery.
Four years ago, I tore my rotator cuff and I asked my physical therapist who THE BEST surgeon was to treat my problem. His answer: 1. The renown sports surgeon James Andrews in Alabama or
2. David Altchek at Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. Dr. Altchek takes care of the Yankees, Mets, Knicks and tennis players. He performed my surgery and I returned to work 25 days later.
Two years ago my knee was killing me and I again asked my physical therapist who THE BEST
knee replacement surgeon was and he responded: Thomas Sculco, Chief of Surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery. I returned to work 26 days after a total knee replacement and never had a day of physical therapy. And as you remember, the knee replacement was in the leg that was amputated in a car accident (1976) and reattached by the late, great Dr. Roger Seibel.
After I fell and fractured my shoulder, I called Dr. Sculco and asked who I needed to see at Hospital for Special Surgery for a shoulder replacement. His response: Dr. Lawrence Gulotta. Dr. Gulotta performed a reverse shoulder replacement on March 5 and I returned to work on April 9, 34 days after surgery.
My first shoulder surgery was uncomfortable while my knee replacement was definitely a challenge.
The shoulder replacement was in a different realm with regards to pain and inability to function. If you add up all of the lost days to recover from the three surgeries, the total is 85 days...
EIGHTY FIVE DAYS!!!!!!!!
When Tricia, my office manager looked up on the internet how long the recovery period is for a total knee replacement, she read as long as 6 months. I was not our of work for three months for all three surgeries.
Why????????????
Because I selected THE FINEST surgeons that I could find and let them do their magic. Patients need to learn that when you, indeed find fabulous people to take care of you that you must get out of their way and let them do what they are soooo good at doing.
People have told me that I was fortunate to be able to pay for the best but that is not necessarily so. I had the same insurance that everyone at The STATE has for my first two surgeries. And because I would not let an angry surgeon perform surgery on my shoulder, I did make a significant contribution to his research but that was my choice. In the big picture, I would have sold my cars to pay for the finest care that I could find.
The lesson of this blog: If you want to return to a normal life after surgery, find the best people to take care of you BEFORE surgery.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
From Newburgh to Syracuse
An old friend from the Newburgh area was in my office to have a new crown made for a front tooth. Dr. D is a dentist who I met in the late 1990s and was very disenchanted with dentistry. I met him several times for dinner and he was an observer in our office many times. Dr. D was very impressed with the comprehensive and cosmetic treatment that we offered in our office and I was able to convince him that if he started to study intensively that he too could perform exciting dentistry. Almost twenty years later, he credits me for changing his life; he is one of the best clinical dentists in his area.
The 7 year old boy had his tooth knocked out and the parents, both physicians, searched for the best endodontist for treating traumatic injuries. Dr. Francisco Banchs is one of the world's experts regarding traumatic injuries to teeth and the boy's tooth was saved. Yesterday, his Dad travelled 150 miles each way to have me place a direct bonded resin filling in the root canal treated tooth.
It is a true honor when others in my profession and our non dental patients seek me out and are willing to travel hundreds of miles to have their dental care in our office.
The 7 year old boy had his tooth knocked out and the parents, both physicians, searched for the best endodontist for treating traumatic injuries. Dr. Francisco Banchs is one of the world's experts regarding traumatic injuries to teeth and the boy's tooth was saved. Yesterday, his Dad travelled 150 miles each way to have me place a direct bonded resin filling in the root canal treated tooth.
It is a true honor when others in my profession and our non dental patients seek me out and are willing to travel hundreds of miles to have their dental care in our office.
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