Category: Opinion & Editorial

As we approach Thanksgiving this November, I find myself reflecting on nearly four decades in dental practice — not on the procedures performed or the technologies adopted, but on the people who have made this journey meaningful. In our profession, we often focus on clinical excellence, continuing education, and practice management. But perhaps ... [continue reading]

Welcome to the second installment of our humble chronicle, detailing some of the facts and mysteries surrounding three of the ODA’s most celebrated member dentists – Dennis McTigue, Henry Fields and Paul Casamassimo. Or as I likened to describe them in my past article (I’m sure you read it!), The Hero, The Cowboy and The Friend. In Part I, ... [continue reading]

For decades, the dental profession has relied on a simple formula: clinical expertise plus professional credentials equals patient trust. Walk into any dental office today, and you’ll still see the familiar elements of this approach — diplomas on the wall, white coats and the assumption that professional authority naturally commands respect. ... [continue reading]

See below for references relevant to the central points of what follows. Those interested in understanding the known and possible effects on dentistry, directly and indirectly, can review these for a deeper dive into our future. Earlier this year, Congress and the president enacted legislation, commonly called One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), ... [continue reading]

My car was in the shop recently. I took it in because the car texted me that it needed service! When I first got my license, cars had an oil light, and that was about it. When that red warning appeared on your dashboard, you knew trouble was brewing under the hood. But by then, damage might already be done. Today’s vehicles are engineering ... [continue reading]

If there is one part of owning a practice that continues to give me massive anxiety, it is the Personnel Policy Manual. HR 101 would suggest that every business that has employees must have a manual and it should not only be reviewed frequently for compliance with state and federal regulations, but also be nimble to roll with the changing needs of ... [continue reading]

I’m a dental student at Ohio State University and am passionate about organized dentistry and public health dentistry. I was raised in Morgan County, Ohio, and plan to return to Southeast Ohio as soon as I graduate. Working with underserved populations is the key driving force in my passion for dentistry. In rural counties where public health ... [continue reading]

Every morning, we put on our scrubs, adjust our loupes, and step into our operatories. What we’re really doing is donning our superhero costume and entering our Fortress of Solitude – or perhaps our Batcave. After nearly four decades of practice and countless conversations with colleagues across Ohio, I’ve come to realize that we dentists ... [continue reading]

I’ve lived in Ohio my whole life. I attended public school in rural Ohio, the University of Toledo for college and The Ohio State University for all my dental training.  Like many, I have also been around the world – to Hawaii and Hong Kong, Alaska and Zurich. But I have never been to Iowa. My professional life and education have been ... [continue reading]

As I sit in my office surrounded by textbooks that will soon seem quaint and technology that’s evolving faster than our curriculum committees can keep pace, I’m struck by a fundamental question facing our profession: Are we writing the script for dentistry’s future, or are we simply casting the familiar actors in a play we’ve been ... [continue reading]