Category: Opinion & Editorial

If you don’t know that this is the objective of health care reform, I have just one comment: Wake up! Beginning with the New Deal, changes in programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid were aimed at moving toward a government-run human care system. The Affordable Care Act is just the latest legislative effort to bring us under a ... [continue reading]

I was interviewed this week by a reporter for the website buzzfeed.com. According to their website, “BuzzFeed has the hottest, most social content on the web. We feature breaking buzz and the kinds of things you’d want to pass along to your friends.” As their slogan, they call themselves, “the media company for the social ... [continue reading]

Every year it seems a “Perfect Storm” occurs somewhere. The description is always the same. The forces of “XYZ” come together to create an apocalyptic moment. With exception of Mother Nature’s nuances, North Carolina’s Dental Board members probably still can’t believe that the validity of their rulings, ... [continue reading]

In my president-elect’s message to the House of Delegates last year I outlined the challenges facing our profession, our individual practices and organized dentistry in the coming years. As Dr. Marko Vujicic, vice president of the ADA Health Policy Institute, related during the ODA Leadership Institute, we are on the threshold of changes in ... [continue reading]

Like many of us in the profession of dentistry, I have spent my career building a relationship-based practice. In addition to providing excellent dental care, we endeavor to become close friends with our patients. By learning who they are and what they value, we can provide a higher level of care for them. We become a part of their lives and they ... [continue reading]

Mercury, trans-fats, wine, coffee, cholesterol, and sweeteners can cause consternation! We get bombarded with conflicting advice, causing us to experience dietary panic! Should we be vegans, carnivores, fat-free, kosher, lacto-ovo or just go organic?   Are you like me – dazed and confused about what to drink and eat? What’s the ... [continue reading]

This one goes out to all the ladies! About a year and a half ago, after a membership committee meeting in Columbus, volunteers were sought to offer a commitment to write quarterly in this ODA periodic. In the spirit of true volunteerism and a secret delight in having a sounding box, I was excited to participate. Karli Hill, the director of ... [continue reading]

Let me begin by saying that I have the highest admiration for nurses, both individually and as a profession. However, it must be acknowledged that in a hospital setting, nurses are subservient to doctors. Doctors issue orders. Nurses, by contrast, are expected to follow orders. Recently, our local dental society hosted Dr. Thomas Paumier as our ... [continue reading]

The recent passing of my father from cancer has me considering the concept of legacy.  I suppose that a legacy develops on its own, even without any effort or planning on a person’s part.  A legacy also seems to have a mind of its own.  We may find that our legacy is out of our control, especially if that legacy is less than ... [continue reading]

I am sure we all do it. We probably don’t do it in front of others, but when we are in private with our computers, we will do it. Don’t panic … I’m talking about putting your name in any search engine and seeing how many results you get. Are we being narcissistic or paranoid? Maybe we are being a little of both. You see, ... [continue reading]