Dentists are gadget people. We just can’t help ourselves. If there’s a seminar on new techniques or technology, we flock to it; if it’s a seminar on practice management, you can almost hear the crickets chirping over the speaker’s voice, it will be so empty. My instructors always taught me never to be the first to adopt new technology, but... read more »
As everybody knows, sugar is the arch-nemesis of the dentist. Think Spiderman vs. Green Goblin, Batman vs. Joker, Mr. Krabs vs. Sheldon Plankton (for you SpongeBob fans!). Well, think again! There is a tooth-friendly sugar out there in the universe that actually helps decrease the incidence of dental cavities. That sugar is xylitol, a naturally-occurring sugar alcohol that can be... read more »
I was preparing two crowns on a friend of mine that Tuesday morning when an assistant told us that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. Dismissed right out of hand by us as an accident, I remember my friend’s face going pale—his mother lived close to the Twin Towers—when we found out there were two planes with... read more »
I have to admit it: I still become very kid-like whenever I fly. Whenever possible, I get the window seat so I can gaze out at the landscape as we take off, cruise, and land—there’s something about the change of perspective that I find very relaxing. And so it will be tomorrow morning when I take off for NYC--the Big... read more »
Maybe they just like the abuse. Or, since the dental profession tends to draw altruistic caregiver types, maybe they actually think there’s a chance they can change me for the better—smooth out my mischievous edges, calm my Type A tendencies, convince me not to add in a root canal at 4:30pm—for the benefit of society at large……no, they’re smarter than... read more »
Summer is usually the time for high school reunions, and so it was for mine this past weekend….30th to be exact. It was fun to see many of my high school classmates, some that I had gone to school with from K – 12, and some I hadn’t seen since graduation. I grew up in an interesting time and place: ... read more »
Well, the “much-too-quick, fun-filled summer” I referred to in an earlier blog post is over. My firstborn struck out for Raleigh this past Monday morning, heading down early to start his job as a videographer for the NC State Athletic Department. School doesn’t start for a couple of weeks, so it’s nice that he’ll beat the rush of students for... read more »
As I crept back into the water—the same place I place I had my knock-the-rust-off instructional lesson just a week ago—I silently remarked to myself how devoid of fish the stream looked. To the most casual observer, it was a beautiful stream: a happily babbling brook, 8 – 12 inches in its deepest recesses, with smooth moss-covered rocks and a pretty canopy of old... read more »
The patient said, “Don’t say I told you so.” I said, “I don’t have to, you just did.” She said, “This is going to cost twice as much now, isn’t it?” I said, "Yes.” “Will the root canal make the pain go away?” “Yes.” “Well then, let’s get this over with.” “Open, please.” It didn’t have to be this way. ... read more »
With my changing family dynamic—oldest heading off to college, middle son completely absorbed with friends and social media, youngest taking up tennis—I’ve decided to rekindle an old flame. No, it’s not another woman…it’s a trout. Recently, after trading in my old Red Ball waders, Cortland reel, and Cabela’s fishing vest for some new gear, I took an early morning fly fishing... read more »