25 Years of Dental Care
Looking Back
This blog and the next few will be dedicated to my thoughts upon reaching my 25th year of practicing dentistry. It is a significant milestone and one that I find myself somewhat awed by, and greatly appreciative of the immense privilege of serving so many patients over these years. I think the most inspiring part of this reflection happens during those moments when a patient who made their first visit to me in 1986 as a young child, brings in their children for their regular check-up.
Family Traditions of Dental Care
The knowledge that I have had the opportunity to take care of that family for so many years, and have been trusted by those parents to continue a tradition of dental care, in some cases for four generations(!) is quite humbling. We truly become part of the lives of these patients. We watch their children grow up, and leave for college. We are there as their parents become older and go through their life transitions. We share all these changes with our patients and their families – often with joy, and sometimes, with sadness. The continuity of these special relationship built with trust and maintained through the true concern we have for each other is the number one gift I celebrate this year.
The Big Changes
Certainly the constant through all the years are the patient relationships that we value so deeply. And that is probably one of the few things about my practice that hasn’t changed! The technological advances that have been introduced since I graduated from dental school are too numerous to detail. Suffice it to say that every procedure I learned back then has been updated and nothing is done now the way it used to be. That’s why continuing education has always been a major part of my practice – for me and my staff. I estimate that I have logged an excess of 3000 hours of continuing education in my career.
Continuing Education is Key
I have also presented literally hundreds of seminars during which I have taught dentists at national and international dental associations how to enhance their skills to offer their patients superlative, up-to-the-minute dental care. Reading dental journals, taking courses, training on new equipment and traveling to meetings where the most current technology and dental educational advances are shared is all part of that ongoing process of staying abreast of the best practices in dental care.
This constant renewal of ideas and technology keeps me fresh and passionate about my dental career and it is my objective that this passion and enthusiasm is always apparent to my staff and patients!
