I want to thank all of the readers of TAOofDentistry.com through the years. I have learned a lot through my years in dentistry, and chose to write my original blog in order to share my philosophy—or way of practice.

I have recently retired from clinical dentistry and want to continue writing because so much has occurred in the dental profession and I would still like to continue to write about the perennial wisdom that helped me though my career. Last week I did an interview with an editor about my next project. Her last question was, “what one tool could you not live without in practice?” I thought about that for a while. I think she thought I would say something like my electric handpiece or even the telephone. But I told her it would be “my personal philosophy.”

That is the one tool that rarely changed and the one tool that brought me to where I am today. (Successfully retired).

I first started developing my philosophy when I went to the Pankey Institute many years ago. L.D. Pankey developed his own life and practice philosophy based on the writings of Aristotle. I became enchanted. I couldn’t get enough of that material and continued to study philosophy, psychology and personal development over the next twenty five years. I read everything and ended up writing four books. The theme of all the books was personal development.

I also studied Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.

As you know dentistry is a very intimate profession. The craft of dentistry is quite objective but the human side of dentistry is filled with emotional situations that can change everything. The dentist must learn to become an excellent clinician as well as a businessman and a psychologist. In my Positive Psychology program I realized that the philosophy of L.D. Pankey, Aristotle, the cognitive psychologists, the humanists, and today’s self-help gurus like Tony Robbins, Dale Carnegie and Napoleon Hill were basically teaching what has been taught through the years by a group of philosophers known as The Stoics. Mainly the philosophy of the three most well-known – Seneca, Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius.

Albert Ellis, the founder of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) credited the ancient stoics for being the inspiration for his work in helping patients to make rational sense of intense emotional situations. Viktor Frankl the Holocaust survivor used Stoicism to help develop his form of therapy—logotherapy, which helps us to slow down and get into the gap between stimulus and response.

Stoicism has become very popular these days. It is regularly discussed on the podcasts of Tim Ferriss and Joe Rogen. Ryan Holiday has made Stoicism into a cult following with his books, The Daily Stoic, The Obstacle is the Way and The Ego is the Enemy. I have been studying and applying Stoicism in my life and practice for the past four years.

That is why I am changing the name and the focus of this blog to Stoicdentistry.com. The posts will help answer much of the confusion that young dentists have these days concerning, leadership, purpose, meaning, practice management, excellence, burnout and motivation, well-being (physical, mental and emotional).

So this will probably be my last post on TAOofDentistry.com. Hopefully you can join me on Stoicdentistry.com for continual posts. I will try to post every week —maybe twice per week. If you are a young dentist looking for thoughts and ideas on dental practice, don’t hesitate to contact me – and if you have suggestions on what you would like me to write about–please comment below. Remember – before success–before happiness—there is philosophy.

I am proud to announce the publication of my latest book, The Complete Dentist: Positive Leadership and Communication Skills for Success in Dentistry. 

While writing this book I went through many emotional ups and downs. My past books were about specific procedures like the examination and case presentation. This book was borne out of the thought of “what really matters” for a career in dentistry.

I wanted it to be relevant for today’s younger dentists. My own career path was a very bumpy road, and I practiced at a time before the professional landscape became so difficult to practice with a sense of autonomy. I began practice before insurance, before HMOs, PPOs, advertising and corporate influence.

I wanted to write a book that could work in any environment. One that focused more on the overall well-being of the dentist. I wanted to write a book that didn’t focus on technical dentistry or dental marketing or ways to “get new patients.”

Looking over my 45 years in dental practice I realized that dentistry was less about the technology of the day and more about making it work so that I could sleep at night, knowing I did my very best and spend time building a thriving practice and life.

Those who know me personally know that I spent a lot of time studying positive psychology. I found that the answers to the “big questions” that young dentists want to know, lie in positive leadership and communication. Along the way we want to do excellent dentistry.

Our culture rewards mediocrity. The word mediocre actually means “halfway up the mountain.” My feeling is that if we are going to take a journey up the mountain we might as well go all the way to the top…not just halfway. This books explains how to get to the top.

After reading this book I hope you will agree, that in today’s professional environment, our dental education does not equip young dentists to adequately deal with the leadership and communication skills necessary to practice truly excellent dentistry...dentistry that is not only satisfying for the patient but meaningful. Dentistry that is part of the bigger overall healthcare of our patients. This is not today’s dentistry.

Third parties and the forces outside of the profession have taken over how dentists practice. As I said I had some low points while writing the book…even I, while writing a book about positive leadership, sometimes heard a voice in my head saying, “what’s the use?”

In re-reading my own book I became even more inspired because leaders are never satisfied with the status quo (mediocrity?)—leaders are always about change. The status quo in the dental profession right now is at its lowest levels. It’s up to dentists to take on more of a leadership role—this die has not been cast.

If you read my book- and I hope you do—I would love to open up an ongoing conversation. If you feel the desire to share–please do. The book and the ideas are important.

 

 

 

 

It has been two weeks since the second Republican debate was televised to the American public.  I found it ironic that the debate was held at The Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.  The backdrop for the event was Reagan’s presidential plane, acting as a constant reminder of the deceased ex-president.

America learned many things from the debate…but this blog is about dentistry and life, so I will leave that discussion to those who choose to argue about the political issues.  I want to go beyond the issues to the candidates and how they choose (or don’t choose) to get their message across…because we all have a message to get across, and our success depends on how we do it.

The setting was ironic because Ronald Reagan was a master of leadership and communication.  He was the Great Communicator.

The irony reared its ugly head throughout the evening as many of the candidates acknowledged Reagan’s ability and ranted how our country lacked leadership…and then proceeded to insult each other and carry on as if it were a street fight.

I recalled something someone once told me, “Never argue with a moron, because from a distance, you can’t tell who is the moron.”

The irony was that the issues got lost in their expression.  That is still holding true two weeks later.

How we say something is more important than what we say.

Maybe that is the lesson from the grave.  Communication is the gateway to better leadership.

During the debate I tried to see through the issues and concentrate on how each candidate chose to get their message across.  Who could deny the haughtiness of Trump, the contentiousness of Fiorna, the humility of Carson or the storytelling ability of Rubio?

My own affinities toward or against these styles was irrelevant especially during the debate while my emotions interfered with what was really going on.

All the while Reagan’s image watched over…The Great Communicator.

It has been two weeks since the debate and I find it interesting how the polls have moved.  Trump is trending downward while Carson and Rubio upward.

And Ronald Reagan is smiling from the grave.  Communication will out the real leader…it always does.

Even Jack Kennedy had a communication problem until Bobby, his campaign manager convinced him to school himself on how to relate to the public…how to become “everyman.”

But I digress…this is a dental blog.

Everyday we have our platform.  We have opportunities to impress our public everyday.  Our new patient examination is our platform.  We cannot abuse the platform.

We have abused the platform—some of us are Trump, some Carson, some Fiorina.  Watch these candidates, learn what creates followers and what doesn’t.

Mostly, understand that your message and how you express it will determine your success, and never, never, never abuse your platform.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine back in 1969 had strong leanings toward periodontics.  Our dean D. Walter Cohen, after all, was the co-author of dentistry’s premier text in periodontics, the appropriately named Periodontal Therapy.  Future deans helped the pedigree by emphasizing periodontics.  Included in that group was my commanding officer in the U.S. Army Dental Corps, Dr. Jay Siebert, followed by the renowned Swedish periodontist, Dr. Jan Lindhe.

Yes…saving teeth, no matter what, was the theme of dentistry back in the sixties and seventies.

I remember a funny little fact about Dr. Cohen’s book.  One chapter, written by the popular instructor, Dr. John Derbyshire, was dedicated to the subject of human motivation.  That’s right, human motivation was recognized as a discipline that dentists needed to consider.

The thing I remember most about that chapter was that it was just a few pages long in a book of over 1200 pages.

Things have changed an awful lot in the world of periodontics – but human motivation hasn’t changed much at all.

A few weeks ago I was in a steam room at my gym.  I got into a sticky debate with a psychologist about what the role of today’s health care professionals encompassed.  Amazingly he was firmly attached to the idea of the doctor being a technician.  I tried to convince him of the behavioral component, but he would have none of it.  And he is a psychologist.

I wondered how physicians see their jobs, or how the public views our role?  There is no doubt that the role of health care professionals has changed since 1969…and many still don’t see human motivation as part of that job.

Technology has changed everything in all fields.

Some say the democratization of medicine will enable patients to access all of their records from the cloud, have the ability to take their own tests through apps and sensors (iWatch anyone?), and even have Skype consults with doctors.  This will lower the need for physicians in the future…and the education they presently supply.

Of course, hands on physicians, surgeons, will stay as busy as ever.

But the information will be democratized.  Your smartphone will be the key to your healthcare.

Dentists do more than just provide and interpret information…we are hands on, more like surgeons.  Dentists will not be replaced by smartphones in the future.  Sure technology will rule, but patients will still come in with the same fears and dread they had back in 1969.  This is the human side of dentistry…the same component that helps people to make major changes in their lives like smoking cessation and weight loss, disciplines fraught with objections like fear, money, sense of urgency…that are not life mandated.

There is no app for that. 

The successful dentist of the future will have to be adept in the latest digital technology no doubt.  If you are a Luddite and refuse to get on the train it will cost you…but being adept in human interaction may just be your bigger ticket to success.

If I were writing Periodontal Therapy today I certainly would devote more pages to the chapter on human motivation.