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You know that I do not place much value in professional reviews because a majority of them are bias and corrupt.
What does that mean?
Many dentists REQUEST that their patients write a review and sometimes while they are still in the dentist's office with the staff finding the site to make the review. Who is going to say 'no' to the nice dentist who just took care of them?
I have never asked a patient to write a review or to 'vote' for me as 'the best' dentist in town when one of the local weekly papers has a 'contest.' And I never will.
Do not pay attention to professional reviews...Read them all, look at the dentist's website with their gallery of their own patients and make your decision.
Do I read restaurant reviews or reviews of new cameras...sure...But I still make my own decision.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Friday, November 27, 2015
For the Third Time
We are about to paint our office for the third time in 7 years...(On January 13, we will be starting our seventh year in our Saratoga office.)
Why am I painting AGAIN?
Because of YOU.
I never want my patients to think that my office is getting old and dingy and that I no longer care. Our office is just another reflection of the quality of the dentistry that happens within our walls. If the walls are looking old perhaps my dentistry is becoming second rate as well.
I cannot let you think that.
I am doing the best dentistry of my career at this very moment. You don't have to worry that perhaps
(God forbid) I don't care as much as I used to. Actually, I care more today than ever...
Just as it is supposed to be...You pay us for excellence and we do our very best to deliver excellence. (Understanding that nothing is perfect and no one is perfect.)
You deserve a beautiful office, a great staff and fine clinical dentistry and we try very hard to meet your expectations.
Why am I painting AGAIN?
Because of YOU.
I never want my patients to think that my office is getting old and dingy and that I no longer care. Our office is just another reflection of the quality of the dentistry that happens within our walls. If the walls are looking old perhaps my dentistry is becoming second rate as well.
I cannot let you think that.
I am doing the best dentistry of my career at this very moment. You don't have to worry that perhaps
(God forbid) I don't care as much as I used to. Actually, I care more today than ever...
Just as it is supposed to be...You pay us for excellence and we do our very best to deliver excellence. (Understanding that nothing is perfect and no one is perfect.)
You deserve a beautiful office, a great staff and fine clinical dentistry and we try very hard to meet your expectations.
We Used to Understand ...Today We Are Unreasonable.
I like my blog to reflect things that are going on in the world, in America, in our local community, and sometimes, how it relates to my own little world and dentistry (my favorite thing.)
The children of our friends were in the Capital District for Thanksgiving. They live in a rent controlled apartment in NYC. Rent control means that the GOVERNMENT is going to tell the owner of a building what he or she can charge. In practical terms, this means that the building will stay in a high state of disrepair because the landlord cannot make a penny if they do repairs. The children complained that the building was almost a fire trap with the insulation around electric wires disintegrating due to old age.
If we don't want to pay for something why would we expect that we will receive more than the minimum?
In another aspect of our lives:
Everyday, I hear my patients tell me about a serious misdiagnosis by a physician for themselves or a family member... How is this possible and why is it so common? Because doctors are allowed to spend only minutes listening to their patients and developing a diagnosis.
I know that you believe that you pay a lot for health insurance...and you do. Unfortunately, the vast majority of what you pay does NOT go to the doctor...It does go to 'administration' of health care which eats up the majority of health dollars.
We didn't want to pay doctors for taking care of us so now we pay the insurance industry to do it...And I think that we are are no longer getting the great care that we deserve.
The children of our friends were in the Capital District for Thanksgiving. They live in a rent controlled apartment in NYC. Rent control means that the GOVERNMENT is going to tell the owner of a building what he or she can charge. In practical terms, this means that the building will stay in a high state of disrepair because the landlord cannot make a penny if they do repairs. The children complained that the building was almost a fire trap with the insulation around electric wires disintegrating due to old age.
If we don't want to pay for something why would we expect that we will receive more than the minimum?
In another aspect of our lives:
Everyday, I hear my patients tell me about a serious misdiagnosis by a physician for themselves or a family member... How is this possible and why is it so common? Because doctors are allowed to spend only minutes listening to their patients and developing a diagnosis.
I know that you believe that you pay a lot for health insurance...and you do. Unfortunately, the vast majority of what you pay does NOT go to the doctor...It does go to 'administration' of health care which eats up the majority of health dollars.
We didn't want to pay doctors for taking care of us so now we pay the insurance industry to do it...And I think that we are are no longer getting the great care that we deserve.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
Thanks and Giving
I have recognized for a very long time that I live a life that is better than 99.999999999999% of all humans that have ever lived...in the history of the world..
99% of that is due to the fact that I was born in America and to my parents, Mildred and Larry Benjamin, and for those two facts, I am most grateful.
And to Susan...who has been with me almost half a century.
I am also grateful for my health, my family and friends, the best job in the world, a great staff and to YOU, my patients.
For those that have, we must give. This year either through our office (or I personally) have donated to:
Smile Train
Dana-Farmer
Roswell Park
Hospital for Special Surgery
The Grafton Library
St. Judes Hospital for Children
The ASPCA
Our House of Worship
Universal Preservation Hall (Saratoga Springs)
The Dance Museum
School of Dentistry, SUNY/Buffalo
SUNY/Albany
This morning we went to Compton's for breakfast and a homeless man walked in and ordered breakfast... I have no idea whether he had any money or whether the restaurant would just provide him his food on Thanksgiving. Many of us tell ourselves that if we KNEW that the money that we would give to street people would go for the purchase of food rather than alcohol or drugs, that we would give them money. So I asked our waitress, Lisa if we could have his check but that she should not tell him who paid his bill. You give because it is the right thing to do.
Be Thankful.
Give to those that need our generosity.
99% of that is due to the fact that I was born in America and to my parents, Mildred and Larry Benjamin, and for those two facts, I am most grateful.
And to Susan...who has been with me almost half a century.
I am also grateful for my health, my family and friends, the best job in the world, a great staff and to YOU, my patients.
For those that have, we must give. This year either through our office (or I personally) have donated to:
Smile Train
Dana-Farmer
Roswell Park
Hospital for Special Surgery
The Grafton Library
St. Judes Hospital for Children
The ASPCA
Our House of Worship
Universal Preservation Hall (Saratoga Springs)
The Dance Museum
School of Dentistry, SUNY/Buffalo
SUNY/Albany
This morning we went to Compton's for breakfast and a homeless man walked in and ordered breakfast... I have no idea whether he had any money or whether the restaurant would just provide him his food on Thanksgiving. Many of us tell ourselves that if we KNEW that the money that we would give to street people would go for the purchase of food rather than alcohol or drugs, that we would give them money. So I asked our waitress, Lisa if we could have his check but that she should not tell him who paid his bill. You give because it is the right thing to do.
Be Thankful.
Give to those that need our generosity.
Sunday, November 15, 2015
How We Get Things Done
We usually close our office on Veteran's Day but since I took last Friday off to see our good friends in Boston, I decided to work last Wednesday instead of having the day off. I saw one patient on that day to finish a large case which took 51/2 hours to complete. At 3 hours into the case, my cell phone rang and a voicemail was left. Jeanine called the patient who said that he had pain in his tooth on Monday night and it had been severe but it was only a dull ache the following day. Unfortunately the pain returned with a vengeance on Wednesday and Jeanine told our patient to come to our office as soon as he could which was 3:30.
I have taken care of my young patient for most of his life and I also take care of his Dad and his Grandfather. The family are all long time patients and one of our practice's favorite. I took an x-ray and saw that his tooth was infected and I requested that he grab his jacket and keys because we were taking a walk up to Root Canal Experts on the 4th floor. I spoke with Jenny the office manager and she told me that Dr. Banchs would see my patient at 4:50 that afternoon for an evaluation. My patient went out for coffee and I returned to my office to straighten up my office.
My patient and I returned to Dr. Banchs' office and a scan and evaluation was performed. Dr. Banchs informed my patient that he had to be home by 5:30 to take care of his young children but after looking at the scan and x-ray and doing some clinical tests, he got up out of his chair and left the room. His top notch assistant told me that he is going to call his wife because he NEEDED to start the root canal that moment.
Dr. Banchs successfully got our patient out of pain by 6 PM. I walked out with my patient and said to him, "Where else could you have access to one of the best root canal specialists in the world with one hour notice?" My patient responded, "No where else."
This is how we take care of our patients. You need me and my team of specialists when you are in pain and our office will do everything that we can to arrange for you to be seen THAT DAY if at all possible.
We care about YOU and we need to tell you that.
I have taken care of my young patient for most of his life and I also take care of his Dad and his Grandfather. The family are all long time patients and one of our practice's favorite. I took an x-ray and saw that his tooth was infected and I requested that he grab his jacket and keys because we were taking a walk up to Root Canal Experts on the 4th floor. I spoke with Jenny the office manager and she told me that Dr. Banchs would see my patient at 4:50 that afternoon for an evaluation. My patient went out for coffee and I returned to my office to straighten up my office.
My patient and I returned to Dr. Banchs' office and a scan and evaluation was performed. Dr. Banchs informed my patient that he had to be home by 5:30 to take care of his young children but after looking at the scan and x-ray and doing some clinical tests, he got up out of his chair and left the room. His top notch assistant told me that he is going to call his wife because he NEEDED to start the root canal that moment.
Dr. Banchs successfully got our patient out of pain by 6 PM. I walked out with my patient and said to him, "Where else could you have access to one of the best root canal specialists in the world with one hour notice?" My patient responded, "No where else."
This is how we take care of our patients. You need me and my team of specialists when you are in pain and our office will do everything that we can to arrange for you to be seen THAT DAY if at all possible.
We care about YOU and we need to tell you that.
Sunday, November 8, 2015
When Patients Want More from a Doctor than They Can Deliver
Recently a new patient was referred to me by a dental specialist so that I could fill a very deep original- ( tooth without a prior filling) area of tooth decay. I told my patient that she could see Root Canal Experts for a root canal OR, I could remove the decay and she would have a 50-50% chance that the tooth would not need a root canal until sometime in the future.
What did the patient hear? That, "I promised her that she would not need a root canal for many years."
Now really...Can any dentist or physician make a promise if we don't have a crystal ball to see into the future? Do you really think that I would make such a promise to a patient?
The patient stormed out of our office after speaking to Tricia and Donna claiming that I promised that she would avoid a root canal by having the filling.
When a dental problem involves bacteria or infection, patients cannot decide what the outcome can be..They cannot WILL themselves to be better.
When a patient has cancer, having surgery does not guarantee that they will be cured
When a patient has triple by-pass surgery, that does not mean that they will not die of heart disease.
If a patient has a very deep cavity in their tooth, having a filling does not mean that an infected tooth will not need a root canal.
I am not sure that I need to explain this but obviously I do need to explain this to some people.
In a world where every kid gets a trophy we begin to feel that every option results in the outcome that we desire.
Sorry but The Rolling Stones told us 50 years ago that "You Can't Always Get What You Want."
I never promise anything to a patient that I can't keep. That means if you have a filling in a deep cavity, you still may require a root canal.
What did the patient hear? That, "I promised her that she would not need a root canal for many years."
Now really...Can any dentist or physician make a promise if we don't have a crystal ball to see into the future? Do you really think that I would make such a promise to a patient?
The patient stormed out of our office after speaking to Tricia and Donna claiming that I promised that she would avoid a root canal by having the filling.
When a dental problem involves bacteria or infection, patients cannot decide what the outcome can be..They cannot WILL themselves to be better.
When a patient has cancer, having surgery does not guarantee that they will be cured
When a patient has triple by-pass surgery, that does not mean that they will not die of heart disease.
If a patient has a very deep cavity in their tooth, having a filling does not mean that an infected tooth will not need a root canal.
I am not sure that I need to explain this but obviously I do need to explain this to some people.
In a world where every kid gets a trophy we begin to feel that every option results in the outcome that we desire.
Sorry but The Rolling Stones told us 50 years ago that "You Can't Always Get What You Want."
I never promise anything to a patient that I can't keep. That means if you have a filling in a deep cavity, you still may require a root canal.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Physicians Love Being a Doctor but They Hate the Job
There was an interesting story on CNN Money today about physicians who are leaving Medicine not because they don't enjoy being a physician but because Insurance Companies tell them how to practice and how much money they can earn.
If a doctor can't earn a living to have a good life and pay back $300,000 to $500,000 in student loans why would anyone stay in that job?
Remember a few blogs back I told you that the surgeon who replaced my shoulder was paid $1433 by Medicare (Medicaid for the old) which was below the cost of doing business. In fact the parts in my new shoulder probably cost more than what the doctor was paid. Now why would anyone want to become a talented surgeon when you can't earn a decent living?
I gave up participating with insurance companies about 25 years ago because I can listen to one master: YOU.
I don't care what an insurance company says but you can bet that I listen to each and everyone of my patients. My job is to take care of you the best way that I can and I will not let an insurance company with a CEO earning $40 million a year tell me that I have to work faster (sorry 'more efficiently'), use cheap materials, hire an inexperienced staff and have an old dingy office.
As long as I continue to practice dentistry, I will do what I have always done...Give you my very best effort.
I feel sorry for young physicians and dentists who have no idea how wonderful medicine and dentistry can be.
If a doctor can't earn a living to have a good life and pay back $300,000 to $500,000 in student loans why would anyone stay in that job?
Remember a few blogs back I told you that the surgeon who replaced my shoulder was paid $1433 by Medicare (Medicaid for the old) which was below the cost of doing business. In fact the parts in my new shoulder probably cost more than what the doctor was paid. Now why would anyone want to become a talented surgeon when you can't earn a decent living?
I gave up participating with insurance companies about 25 years ago because I can listen to one master: YOU.
I don't care what an insurance company says but you can bet that I listen to each and everyone of my patients. My job is to take care of you the best way that I can and I will not let an insurance company with a CEO earning $40 million a year tell me that I have to work faster (sorry 'more efficiently'), use cheap materials, hire an inexperienced staff and have an old dingy office.
As long as I continue to practice dentistry, I will do what I have always done...Give you my very best effort.
I feel sorry for young physicians and dentists who have no idea how wonderful medicine and dentistry can be.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Yuck
I cannot over emphasize how important it is to replace old mercury fillings when they get to be 20 years old.
I photograph virtually every single tooth that I treat so that I can show my patient what is under their old filling and why I am replacing it. One does not need to be a dentist to see the brown 'stuff' inside the tooth.
If you want me to keep you out of crowns, you have to give me the opportunity to replace the mercury fillings before they cause the teeth to break apart. You remember from high school science class that all metals expand when heated (by coffee, pizza or hot potato). Teeth are made of glass and glass cracks when the metal filling expands as when heated by a cup of coffee.
I was able to place two bonded resin fillings in these teeth ( total cost: $645) and was able to save my patients a few THOUSAND DOLLARS when they didn't have to pay me $1650 x2 or $3300, the cost of 2 crowns.
Hey, I am doing what I can to help you keep your OWN teeth (ie no crowns) and help you save money. YOU have to help me though.
I photograph virtually every single tooth that I treat so that I can show my patient what is under their old filling and why I am replacing it. One does not need to be a dentist to see the brown 'stuff' inside the tooth.
If you want me to keep you out of crowns, you have to give me the opportunity to replace the mercury fillings before they cause the teeth to break apart. You remember from high school science class that all metals expand when heated (by coffee, pizza or hot potato). Teeth are made of glass and glass cracks when the metal filling expands as when heated by a cup of coffee.
I was able to place two bonded resin fillings in these teeth ( total cost: $645) and was able to save my patients a few THOUSAND DOLLARS when they didn't have to pay me $1650 x2 or $3300, the cost of 2 crowns.
Hey, I am doing what I can to help you keep your OWN teeth (ie no crowns) and help you save money. YOU have to help me though.
But What is Their Standard?
I am having a lot of fun at work because I have the perfect mix of regular (general) dentistry and complex or cosmetic cases.
Last Friday I began a big case that started on a cosmetic consultation basis followed by a referral to Dr. Cooney for Invisilign treatment. After my patient's teeth were in the correct position, I had to correct all the wear of the teeth that resulted from having misaligned teeth. Some people would call this 'cosmetic' dentistry but really we are making the teeth look like they would have had the teeth been straight and in the right place.
I spent three hours planning out the case before the patient came to our office on Friday and the actual chair time for treatment was about 5 1/2 hours. At the end of the appointment, and with my patient smiling broadly with her new temporaries, she said to me, "I have never had a doctor spend so much time taking care of me."
I thanked her for noticing how hard Jeanine and I had worked to created a perfect and beautiful smile and I said, "You know, many dentists would have done your treatment in 2 hours and they would have had a lab plan out your case instead of me doing all the planning." What we are really talking about is not how fast a dentist works but what is their standard.
Is good enough really good enough?
I agonize in preparing teeth so that I don't accidentally remove too much tooth structure and so that I can give the ceramicist a copy of a perfect tooth to work on. My standards have gotten tougher every year that I have been a dentist. This means that I am harder on myself now than at any time in my career.
Sure I could work faster, do more dentistry and make more money.
But that would not be fun, wouldn't make ME happy and would mean that we would have to lower our standards.
You and I both know that I am not perfect but I am always striving for excellence and to do the best that I can for YOU.
Last Friday I began a big case that started on a cosmetic consultation basis followed by a referral to Dr. Cooney for Invisilign treatment. After my patient's teeth were in the correct position, I had to correct all the wear of the teeth that resulted from having misaligned teeth. Some people would call this 'cosmetic' dentistry but really we are making the teeth look like they would have had the teeth been straight and in the right place.
I spent three hours planning out the case before the patient came to our office on Friday and the actual chair time for treatment was about 5 1/2 hours. At the end of the appointment, and with my patient smiling broadly with her new temporaries, she said to me, "I have never had a doctor spend so much time taking care of me."
I thanked her for noticing how hard Jeanine and I had worked to created a perfect and beautiful smile and I said, "You know, many dentists would have done your treatment in 2 hours and they would have had a lab plan out your case instead of me doing all the planning." What we are really talking about is not how fast a dentist works but what is their standard.
Is good enough really good enough?
I agonize in preparing teeth so that I don't accidentally remove too much tooth structure and so that I can give the ceramicist a copy of a perfect tooth to work on. My standards have gotten tougher every year that I have been a dentist. This means that I am harder on myself now than at any time in my career.
Sure I could work faster, do more dentistry and make more money.
But that would not be fun, wouldn't make ME happy and would mean that we would have to lower our standards.
You and I both know that I am not perfect but I am always striving for excellence and to do the best that I can for YOU.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
Right Again!!!!
The headline on CNN.Com said:
Amazon sues more than 1,000 sellers of 'fake' product reviews
Sometimes reviews are valid and sometimes they are not.
When it comes to professional services, do not trust the reviews but instead go to the website and see if the dentist shows his or her work. If the photo shows up on several dental websites, then you know that the dentist does not have their own work to show.
This reminds me of a patient who returned to my office this past week after having a cosmetic consultation with me in 2010. She learned everything that she needed to know about what her treatment should be but she did not have sufficient funds to have me restore her teeth. Instead she went to several other 'cosmetic dentists' ( You know that I am the only dentist is the Capital District to say that I am a general dentist with a specialty in Esthetic Dentistry, SUNY/Buffalo, 2001.) but none of those dentists told her the same thing that I did and she inherently KNEW that what I told her was true.
She told me that she knew that I would be the one to give her a beautiful smile and she was ready to have the work started.
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