The Old Fashioned Way

Susan and I were in Charlotte, NC for the long Labor Day Weekend and we went to dinner with some new friends that we met on our last visit to that area.

The man works in internet digital marketing and has read many of the popular business books on sales, marketing and success. At one point he turned to me and asked, "And how did you manage to become so successful?" Most marketing people believe that there is a 'secret' for  business success which usually involves a unique way to sell or market oneself.

I responded that I did it the old fashioned way: I took virtually more post graduate courses than an other dentist in my area and usually with some of the best clinicians in the country. Having taken 7,000 hours of post doctoral education in one area: fixing teeth and restoring implants, I was eminently competent to do what I do.

I also told him that my GOAL is to try to be the best in what I do. (Note to those in organized dentistry: this is NOT a claim that I am the best.) In addition to trying to be the best, I am the most passionate dentist that I know in restorative dentistry, I work more hours than the vast majority and I always place my patient's well being ahead of my financial well being.

Practicing excellence in any business in America is a rarity in 2017. Almost every business wants to make more money, do less work and skimp on the product or service.

My office success is simply based on what lots of people used to do in America: Work hard, study hard and do the right thing.

Sorry to disappoint the marketing people. There is no secret to our success.

Texas Floods

Most of us are emotionally impacted by watching the severe flooding in Texas and many of us feel that Texas is a 'victim of Mother Nature."

Now mind you, Texas has had other significant storms and incidents of flooding so this is not the first experience with this kind of event.

I am sure many readers are wondering why I am blogging about this.

Texas is one of seven American States that does not have a State Income Tax. How could they be prepared for tragedies when they cannot PLAN because they don't have the money?

Galveston is BELOW sea level; Houston is just at sea level and no significant plans to avoid catastrophes have been made unlike in the Netherlands which spent $30 Billion in the 1950s to prevent any chance of new floods.

What  does Texas do????

They ask you and I  (i.e. the Federal Government) to help pay for rescue and cleanup. Do I think that FEMA should provide expertise, materials, people and heavy equipment? Absolutely!!!!!!!

Really????

Why don't we ask them to institute an immediate State Income Tax of 5% (For reference NY State Tax is 6.65% for above average wage earners and wealthy individuals pay 8.82%.)

Don't you wonder why things happen when you feel that something could have been done to ameliorate  the crisis? Or is it just me?

I don't think that it is the role of you and I to pay for what the citizens of Texas should pay for.

Don't You Feel Proud!

I am fairly well known among dentists that practice high level restorative dentistry i.e. fixing teeth and restoring implants. My work has  appeared on many quality internet dental forums to significantly positive comments.

This evening, I was reading some emails that I received from one of my dental forums and saw these words:

"Gerald Benjamin taught me to create a bevel at the cavo-surface margins and this REALLY helps blend in composite resins. Many times my hygienists can’t tell that the patient has a restoration!

Thanks Gerald!
Ray

I am truly honored by Ray Voller's comments.

I hope that you feel that you have selected the right dental office and right dentist to take care of you.

I am sincerely honored to take care of you.

Dirty, Lying, Stealing, Crooks 2

I always like to keep you informed about situations that have been mentioned in previous blog posts.
Remember that I told you about an insurance company which refused to pay for the replacement of two 30 year old crowns because the x-rays didn't show tooth decay? Then I took the crowns off  and showed you (and them) photos of the tooth decay under the crowns and inside on the underside of the crowns.

Well the insurance company conceded that there WAS tooth decay but they went into a new delay tactic of asking for a report about the bone level and soft tissue..

The insurance company HAS the x-ray which shows healthy bone.

Dirty, Lying, Stealing, Crooks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is why I won't deal with insurance companies..They could care less about your dental health AND they want to drive a wedge between YOU and ME so you don't trust me.

Back in the day, you went to the doctor and the insurance company paid the bill, less any deductibles.
But that was before some of the CEOs of insurance companies made 40 MILLION DOLLARS a year.

Ask yourself: Why would you trust  these dirty, lying, stealing, crooks?

I don't know!!!

Interesting Thoughts

The Japanese have a few words to express a kind of pathway towards mastery of any area.
Shūjuku: means to “study and ripen” with your knowledge and skill level. Jukuren :means expertise, skilled or to be proficient through practice and
repetition. The literal translation is to “ripen and repeat.”

I hold a Certificate of PROFICIENCY in Esthetic Dentistry or JUKUREN. I do the same thing all day: fix teeth and restore implants from very simple to very complex.

I have 7,000 hours of Continuing Education past my DDS degree or Shūjuku.

Many dentists that I communicate with in person or online do not enjoy their work; they don't value their work. They value their job for the economic rewards.

I value my work because I value YOU. And I have made a promise and commitment to you to take care of you.

Try to LOVE your work and it won't just be a job.

My Second Birthday

Today is my 'second' birthday.

41 years ago I was crushed between two parked cars which virtually amputated my right leg... It was a defining moment of my life but it is NOT what defines me.

My injury is why I limp and why it is becoming increasingly difficult to walk.

In my opinion, we  must use the negative things that happen to us as inspirational moments to take us to the next level. This is what I have done and I would suggest that when bad things happen to you that you take a moment, collect your thoughts and ask yourself:

"Something bad just happened to me. How can I move forward with my life."

That is what I did and it 'worked' for me.

I Don't Get It 2

Another Update about the dentist who views his job in terms of dollars..

He wrote to me and said:

"No one does the right thing. Everyone only does what is in their own interest."

Really????

No

REALLY???????

If this dentist is correct, we are all in big trouble.

Dentistry is my passion.

Taking care of you is my life's work.

It is not about the money...It has NEVER been about the money.

In a Capitalist Society, making money should be a REFLECTION of how well you do your job but it is NOT nor should it be,  the reason for our work.

As you can probably see, I am not the most liked person on this Dental Forum.

So what...Truth should never be a victim and taking care of you is why I work 50+ hours a week.

Wabi-Sabi 2

I feel compelled to update you on the patient who claimed that my 'recently' placed (4 or 5 years ago) bonded resin filling  was wearing away.

I told my staff that I would see her for a short consult at no charge so that I could see for myself what my work looked like. After meeting my patient, it was obvious that she had fallen on tough times so I could not be upset with her about the claim that my work was not doing well.

A clinical exam revealed that despite the work being about 5 years old, it looked as ideal as the day that I had placed it.

I am not infallible.  I am not the world's best restorative dentist.

But I know the level of my work and knew that the fillings that I placed would look great.

If you have a problem with my work,  please call Donna so that I can make it right.

Wabi Sabi: Nothing is perfect, Nothing lasts forever and nothing is ever finished...

It would be wise for all of us to remember that.

Adults Who Say Hurtful Things to Children

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I was looking at CNN.Com and noted a letter of apology sent to one of the New England Patriot football players. The letter was from the players high school English teacher. The  teacher told the student that  he would never make it to the National Football League.  The letter:



I related to this because after graduating from Andrew Jackson High School  in Queens, NY, I met my high school math teacher on the platform of the New York City subway. She asked me what my plans were and I told her that I would be going to college. She blurted out uncontrollably,

"YOU????

That went into my memory file to serve as an inspiration when things weren't going well in college.

About 20 years later, Andrew Jackson held a 50 year reunion for anyone who had graduated from the school. The college adviser for the really smart kids (obviously NOT my advisor)  was taking tickets and greeting people at the door. Mr. Blatt was also the most accomplished high school Track coach in New York City and I had been on the team for four years.

When Mr. Blatt asked me my name he remarked,

"Did I see DOCTOR before your name?"

Neither teacher thought that I would amount to much.

Adults and especially teachers should not say disparaging things to children...The effects are life long.  My life has been an attempt to prove all the adults wrong who underestimated me.

I know how the football player felt.

I Don't Get It

I have been a dentist for 40 years and my job, as you know, is to take care of you in the best possible  way. In the biggest picture, it is my job to fix a tooth as FEW times in your life as possible. Yes, I won't make the most amount of money because fixing a tooth many, many times IS PROFITABLE.

But it is not about the money for ME but about taking care of YOU.

I am on a dental forum where dentistry is a low priority for most of the people on the forum. One dentist basically called me a fool (ok it was in stronger terms than that) because by doing really great dentistry, I will make far less money and which allows the insurance company to make more profit.
If I fix a tooth twice in a patients life, I make a little money in 30 years but if I fix the same tooth six or seven times in 30 years, I will make far more money and deprive the insurance company of profits.

Do you see a YOU (the patient) in any of this explanation????

This is what I wrote on the forum 10 minutes ago:

Hi Matt;

Well it took me a night to sleep on what you are saying but I FINALLY understand.

You are saying, if I understand you,  that in order to to get back at the insurance company and limit their profit, you are advocating doing crappy dentistry.

You get the MOST money from the insurance company at the patient’s expense..

So you willing to hurt your patient so that you can be the most successful businessman.

It is like saying if we kill all the poor children, we won’t have to feed them and your taxes will be lower.

It is all about greed.

Nice

PLEASE correct me if I am misunderstand you…because I hope that I am. I hope that I have been too stupid to understand what you are saying an misinterpreted your example.

gerald 

You know I am passionate about my work...More importantly, I am more passionate about taking care of you. I will not.....EVER.... place my financial success over your best interest.

You are my reason for doing what I do.

There is absolutely a generational difference and now you can see it with your own eyes. Very troubling for me.