Category: Opinion & Editorial

My time treating dental oncology patients has been among the most rewarding experiences of my career. It has required the highest level of clinical skill and forced me to think outside of routine dentistry to craft inventive solutions for patients. Every day, there is another case that touches my heart. But some leave an impression that will last ... [continue reading]

In the autumn of 1974, sitting in a class given by an Appalachian-born pediatrician at the University of Iowa, I learned that some children were born with “ambiguous genitalia.” Having been raised in a 1950s traditional Catholic household, that concept had never occurred to me. From the silence of our small seminar group, emerged, “What do ... [continue reading]

I just got back from a weekend getaway to western Pennsylvania. As tough as it is for a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan to suggest a trip into the heart of Steelers’ country, I can’t recommend it highly enough. I had always heard about the resort at Nemacolin but we had never made the trip. I’m sad that it took 60 years! Three and a half ... [continue reading]

I write this column today in the parlor of the St. Regis Hotel in Rome. As Covid protocols have lifted, wanderlust is pervasive and we decided to celebrate our Latin loving, social justice high school graduate with a trip abroad of his choosing. My brother, a periodontist from Canada, accompanied us also with his new graduate, my niece, in his ... [continue reading]

“That’ll never happen to me!” How many of us have said this countless times throughout our careers? Aspirated instruments, paresthesia, natural disasters, cardiac emergencies, the list goes on. It’s easy to get into the daily routine of dental practice and forget that adverse events can, and do, happen. As the years wear on, it becomes ... [continue reading]

At the end of the day, our stories are who we are and what we know. We share them with each other, so they know what to think about us. We try to convince them that we are a person they can love and count on. But the stories are only words. As a writer, I am always working in my novels to “show, don’t tell.” In the literary world, that ... [continue reading]

Dentists and dental hygienists from the community and dental students from OSU and CWRU and dental hygiene students from OSU volunteered at the Special Smiles Program at the Ohio Special Olympics Summer Games. Volunteers performed oral screenings for the athletes and also provided ... [continue reading]

“When you’re dead, you don’t know it, but it is painful for others. It’s the same when you’re stupid.” -Ricky Gervais So lately, in both our dental world and the world at-large, some things have perplexed me and maybe our readers can help me out. The first two, which confront all of us in some way, are the formula shortage and ... [continue reading]

Throughout our lives we all have been on the receiving end of countless gifts and have so much for which we can be grateful. From a personal view, one of the greatest gifts I have received is entry into this esteemed profession we know as dentistry. Dentistry has provided so many of us with a profound purpose in life, the joy of being valued and ... [continue reading]

I am continually amazed and often smile at how “things” come together in perfect timing to bring greater meaning to events which are already celebratory individually. Whether you view those times as stars aligning, God winks, kismet, good karma, or just plain luck, being open to see these connections can make life even more special. Allow me ... [continue reading]