In a previous post, Dr. Steven T. Cutbirth discussed the importance of having time to listen to his patients. Structuring a dental practice so that dentists can serve their patients as “Doctors of Dentistry” begins with time, and also includes performing a comprehensive exam. Having time to comprehensively listen to patients proves key to properly diagnosing and treating their problems. What’s also key? Having a treatment plan. Dr. Cutbirth explains below why he stakes his entire practice on the utilization of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Want to learn how to move away from high-volume, low-production, managed-care dentistry to low-volume, high-production, fee-for-service practice without going broke or giving up income in the process? Join us at the Center for Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry. Classes begin in the fall. Space is limited, so register now.
The most rewarding thing about my practice is having the time and the system to properly diagnose and treat complex dental pain, restorative and aesthetic problems. My father, a small town family physician, once told me that if a doctor will listen to their patients, they will tell the doctor what is wrong with them.
I am fortunate to have the time in my comprehensive practice to hear the stories from my patients that often unlock the answers to their interesting dental situations. These ongoing “conversations” allow me to know these patients as people.
I believe this low-volume method greatly assists in unraveling the most complex situations, partly because the patient has the confidence and appreciation that their story has been completely heard in their own words.
I grew up loving to hear great stories from my older relatives, who were primarily ranchers and farmers. I continue to love hearing a great, interesting story, then putting the pieces together and solving the riddle.
One of the ideals of the Center for Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry is to organize your practice and balance your life so that you think the same of work and play. Like the different food groups, we believe both are required for an optimal life. Check out a week in the life of Dr. Steven Cutbirth, C.A.R.D. Director, who practices what he preaches about the important of a work-life balance:
“I practice four days a week in Waco, and we are in Dallas at a CARD seminar 11 weekends a year. I usually present about four additional seminars at state or national dental meetings annually. My wife, Sharron, and I walk and exercise most days after work. Most Friday and Saturday mornings I work on dental presentations or publications. If I am in Waco, I reward myself Friday and Saturday afternoons with a round of golf with my friends. Sharron and I often go to dinner/movie with friends on weekend nights. When we are in Waco we normally go to church on Sunday mornings, eat lunch at the country club, then go to our ranch near Crawford, Texas. We normally take a vacation about every three months. Time off every three months was something my mentor Dr. Pankey felt was very important. He felt that people working intently, with responsibility, must ‘get away’ every three months to clear the mind and allow fresh, creative ideas to germinate. I think Sharron and I have a nice balance of work and play.”
Here’s an exercise: Next time you’re working on a patient’s mouth, note your posture. Is it straight like an arrow or curved like a question mark? Chances are, it’s the latter, says Tim Caruso, a physical therapist and workplace injury consultant in Chicago: “I think a lot of practitioners become so focused on the procedures that they’re doing they lose track of how they’re sitting and the position they’re in,” he told the American Dental Association. “If you multiply that by eight to 10 patients a day, there’s a negative cumulative effect on their bodies.”
To avoid back pain in your aesthetic dentistry practice, Caruso offers a few tips to dentists:
Develop verbal and visual cues in the office: In many cases, avoiding back pain is as simple as sitting up straight. Get help remembering from your staff, and do the same for them.
Size up your equipment: If you’re having to hunch over, the dental chair may be the culprit. It could also be your stool—choose one that can provide support all day long and is adjustable. Choosing a stool with armrests can also help alleviate pressure on your neck and back.
Prevention of back and neck pain can lead to a longer professional life and improved career satisfaction, not to mention better health. On a related note, keeping your brain in shape can have a similar effect—check out Dr. Mehmet Oz’s 6 tips to keep your mind sharp.
If you like to chew ice, you’re not alone. Untold millions find crunching on ice to be almost irresistible, especially on a hot day when they’ve finished the liquid part of a soda and still have all that ice left. Mmmm, refreshing!
But, as your mother (and your aesthetic dentist) probably told you, chewing ice is not refreshing for your teeth. Ice is a hard substance that can scratch, chip or crack teeth and tooth enamel, fillings or crowns, or cut your gums (the same goes for hard candy, popcorn kernels and other hard objects).
Instead of chewing on the ice, allow small amounts to melt in your mouth. And if you just like that crunchy sound, try chewing on crunchy vegetables such as carrots, radishes or celery.
If the urge to chew on ice remains strong, you might consider asking your physician to do a blood test. Craving and chewing ice—a phenomenon known as pagophagia—may be associated with a condition known as iron deficiency anemia. Iron is an essential part of hemoglobin, the substance that carries oxygen in red blood cells. Low iron levels can be treated with supplements and diet.
In the current issue of Dental Economics, Dr. Gordon Christensen gives esthetic dentists an important reminder about dental sealants: They’re great, IF no dental decay remains in the dental anatomy.
Dr. Christensen brings it up as it relates to the air-slurry polisher, which he says is a great tool to help make sure the tooth is clear of decay before the sealant is applied:
“If stain remains in the grooves after using the air-slurry polisher, the likelihood of caries being present is high,” he writes. “An additional advantage to using air-slurry polishing during the sealant technique is that plaque can be removed from the deepest portion of the grooves, thus allowing the acid etch to penetrate into these grooves. The acid cannot penetrate plaque!”
Much like a clear varnish, these clear sealants prevent sticky sweets from clinging to those hard to reach, deep valleys of the teeth and hence, prevent decay. The reverse is obviously true. If a sealant is placed over decay (even a tiny bit), the decay is “sealed in” and actually worsens.
As practicing dentists, we’re looking for valid, practical information from people we trust (i.e. dentists in practices not connected to manufacturing companies). If you have discovered something that is helpful, we want to know about it. This blog is all about community and the sharing of useful information by trusted colleagues.
With that in mind, let’s talk about de-sensitizing agents in advanced aesthetic dentistry. What de-sensitizing agent do you prefer and why?
Please leave your answer in the comment section below. We look forward to hearing what you have to say!
The importance of choosing a trained aesthetic restorative dentist shouldn’t be taken lightly. Referrals from trusted sources are a great place to start, but don’t stop there. Before starting treatment with an aesthetic restorative dentist, consider these five questions:
1. Does the dentist have a specific and accredited advanced training in a particular area?
2. Can the dentist show you quality photographs of cases they have personally completed?
3. Has the dentist published articles, taught or presented seminars on a particular topic or technique?
4. Are the dentist and staff professional, courteous, neat and clean?
5. Is the office well-maintained and clean?
You can also search the Center for Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry alumni directory (PDF download) to find dentists who have been trained the C.A.R.D. way.
Don’t view dental continuing education (CE) as something you have to do; view it as an opportunity to enhance your dental practice and enjoyment of dentistry. Make the most of your next CE with these tips from the Center for Aesthetic Restorative Dentistry:
Choose the right program: Some dentists want a one-day course; others look for more thorough training. Determine what you really want out of your dental continuing education. If you choose advanced training, make sure you’re ready to commit. Our Advanced Restorative Series, for example, is a five-weekend course. It requires a commitment, but we—and our more than 500 alumni—say it’s worth it.
Leave the office behind: To make the most of any CE, immerse yourself in the course. Forget about your inbox and tell your staff that you’re not available (unless it’s an emergency) while you’re training.
Participate fully: Don’t pick and choose which sessions to attend. Go to everything, and don’t forget to take notes and ask questions. When you return home, present what you learned to your staff to further drive home the lessons.
Network: Learning opportunities don’t just happen during the training sessions—there’s a chance to learn with every fellow dentist you talk to. Introduce yourself, share your successes and your frustrations with your practice. Chances are you’ll learn something valuable from them. For our students, learning opportunities also exist by talking with our faculty, which is composed of world-class specialists from around the world. Find a mentor in one of our faculty or alumni of the program.
Apply lessons slowly: Making the most of your CE continues once the training is over. To ensure success, apply lessons you’ve learned slowly. Stay in touch with the faculty and check-in with your colleges to compare notes. For our students who are using the Advanced Restorative Series to transform their practice, this is particularly important.
