Category: Opinion & Editorial

Our profession faces a strong, well-funded cadre of folks that do not appreciate the finer points of dentistry (like proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning) and believe that they can drill and fill their way to good oral health. This is an echo of the ’60s and ’70s when the push was to increase class sizes and reduce ... [continue reading]

At the risk of sounding like a movie critic, I highly recommend the movie “La La Land” to you. At the time I’m writing this, it has already swept the Golden Globe awards and is garnering expansive praise from around the world. It is an old-fashioned musical set in modern times but anchored more in the golden age of Hollywood. Two ... [continue reading]

I’ll never know if I was a mistake (quit laughing) and I certainly hope not. Sometime after Aug. 15, 1945, my father returned from the Pacific Theater, and in July of ’46 I made a premature entrance into this world. The only person that was offended was my older sister. She took sibling rivalry to a whole new level. How could both of ... [continue reading]

The month of January marks a definitive break, and reset in so many ways. Janus, the Roman god, was the god of beginnings and doorways. His two faces reminded the Romans of the need to reflect on where they were coming from as well as to look forward to where they were going. It is important to remember our history, and to learn from ... [continue reading]

In high school, many of us were forced to read “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupery.  The author draws a distinction between “Matters of Consequence” and “Essential Matters.”  Early on, Saint-Exupery lists a number of Matters of Consequence:  bridge, golf, politics, neckties.  ... [continue reading]

Forget the fitness plan. Eating better? Come on, that’s never worked. Organize your closets? Entropy is a law, for Pete’s sake ... the closet will be messy again in three days. Ask me how I know. This year, try something new. Something with a lasting impact. Something good for others. Something that utilizes your many years of highly ... [continue reading]

We have witnessed how a movement can overcome adversity and prevail against what Tom Brokaw has referred to as "tribalism." In dentistry there has been a recent trend of dentists defining themselves as members of different tribes delineated by gender, age, practice modality, ethnicity, etc. and then focusing only on those issues that pertain to ... [continue reading]

The election is over and, regardless of your party affiliation, there is much to be learned. We live in an information age. Everyone has a cell phone and is an investigative journalist. Now more than ever, there is video and audio of every possible candidate. Some of it is buried – lying in wait until the most damaging moment to be released. ... [continue reading]

When I was a mere lad in dental school,you did what “prof” said, unless you were a total fool.When I was finally a real doc, I made it “work in my hands”And people seemed happy, my patients were my fans! Now I’m told that’s no longer good enough,And I have to read and digest all that dry scientific stuff!What ... [continue reading]

One of my ENT physician colleagues asked me to see a patient for him, since she was having headaches that were refractory to his migraine treatments.  During our interview, she reported that she had “had a root canal done” this past June.  I asked who the dentist was, so that we could get the records to help determine why the ... [continue reading]