Category: Opinion & Editorial

I’ve been thinking about language these days, which is nothing new for me.  As your editor, I’m supposed to be the “word guy” and I firmly believe that “words mean things!”  I’ve been reflecting on two nautical terms that perfectly capture the challenges of running a dental practice: floundering and foundering. While they sound ... [continue reading]

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to take my grandkids to Leeds Farm, a child-friendly experiential place with animals, games, hay maze, corn pits and all sorts of great activities near Marysville. I learned that this day had been set aside for families with children on the autism spectrum and I got to watch their joy as they, for this moment ... [continue reading]

There’s something profound about opening the office refrigerator and finding yesterday’s dinner waiting to be today’s lunch. Those Tupperware containers, carefully saved and stored, represent more than just prudent food management – they’re a message to our future selves, a small but significant act of care for tomorrow. As dental ... [continue reading]

There is a really great slide that Dave Owsiany, J.D., executive director of the Ohio Dental Association, shows when he is doing his organized dentistry presentation. It essentially shows all of the different regulatory agencies and requirements that, as dentists in Ohio, we must abide by before we can even pick up a handpiece to do a patient ... [continue reading]

To the Members of the Ohio Dental Association: I understand that some of you have recently received factually inaccurate information regarding the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact. Senate Bill 40, which includes the Compact, passed the Ohio Senate and Ohio House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support and was signed into law ... [continue reading]

Not All Who Wander Are Lost, But Some Need a Guide In J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved epic “The Lord of the Rings,” we encounter the enigmatic character of Aragorn. Of him, Tolkien famously wrote, “Not all those who wander are lost.” This poetic line speaks to the noble quest and inner compass that guides some individuals through life’s ... [continue reading]

With 100% authenticity, I am writing this piece as I sit in the waiting room of a busy pediatric dental office. My son has a hypoplastic molar, and between you and me and the ODA, let’s just say it got away from us. Routine operative dentistry hits differently when it’s your own kid, and I am feeling a mixture of guilt, anxiety and annoyance. ... [continue reading]

In the colorful tapestry of Italian idioms, there’s a phrase that should resonate deeply with our profession: “Non avere peli sulla lingua.”  Literally translated as “don’t have hair on the tongue.” This vivid expression encapsulates a principle that should be at the core of every dental practice – to speak the truth plainly and ... [continue reading]

One of our faithful readers, Dr. John Smith, of Logan, sent me a clipping that talked about our (dentists’) preoccupation (OK, obsession) with detail. The philosophical questions asked were that if we become so focused on minutia, do we lose track of the big picture? And what does a professional lifetime of minutia focusing do to us? We all ... [continue reading]

Some restaurants keep a photo of the local food critic in the kitchen.  The theory is that if someone notices that she’s in the dining room, everyone can up their game.  Some musicians wait for a talent agent to be in the crowd.  If they really kill it tonight, they could get the big break they have been hoping for. The better plan, of ... [continue reading]