Doctor, Heal Thyself!

In January, the CDA completed its Strategic Planning process. Among several other established goals, the process charged the CDA with being the indispensible resource to support member dentists professionally and personally. As the chair of the CDA Well-Being Committee, I am happy for the opportunity to promote wellness to our members. I was charged with writing a series of articles to remind, inform and educate dentists to take care of the most important asset…themselves.

The Heritage Dictionary defines wellness as: the quality or state of being healthy in body and mind, especially as the result of deliberate effort.

As dental professionals, we all face challenges: physical, emotional or mental problems, struggles in our businesses, frustrations in the roles we play in our careers, family problems, legal concerns, and the list can go on and on.

I have never met a dentist who didn’t have some cross to bear in his/her career. Some hide it better than others, but all have had to go through some struggles.

I am reminded of a helpful quote from the classic book by M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled.

“Life is Difficult.


This is a great truth, one of the greatest truths. It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it. Once we truly see that life is difficult – once we truly understand and accept it – then life is no longer difficult. Because once it is accepted, the fact that life is difficult no longer matters.


Most do not fully see this truth that life is difficult. Instead they moan more or less incessantly, noisily or subtly about the enormity of their problems, their burdens, and their difficulties as if life were generally easy, as if life should be easy. They voice their belief, noisily or subtly, that their difficulties represent a unique kind of affliction that should not be and that has somehow been especially visited upon them, or else their families, their tribe, their class, their nation, their race or even their species, and not upon others.


I know about this moaning because I have done my share…”

I have done my share too!

Once we realize that we are not alone in our struggles, the weight of the world is lifted and our attitudes shift to begin to face and then solve our issues head on.

I urge you to take some time to define your wellness goals. Start small, start big – just

Patient Retrospective

I saw a patient today for a repair of his denture.  His re-connection with our office really moved me.

His name is Steven.  When Steven first came to me he was 26 years old.  He received a grant from Access to Recovery (ATR).  ATR at the time, had funding to provide dental work for those in recovery from drug (meth) addiction.  Steven had been in his addiction for several years.  He ended up in prison - I didn't ask specifically why. At the time of our first meeting he was living in a half-way house as he was integrating back into society..

The unfortunate reality of his addiction was that among the consequences that he suffered, his teeth were beyond repair and needed to be removed.  He was 26 years old and was going to lose all of his teeth.

I remember the conversation that we had.  He confided in me that he was excited to get his teeth taken care of.  He was no longer a meth addict and he didn't want to look like one anymore. I discussed the process of making dentures.  I painted the picture that dentures are prosthetics and there will be a learning curve with getting used to them.

I told him, "If you lost your leg, a prosthetic leg can be made, but you won't be running a marathon on it anytime soon.  You may be able to in the future, but it is going to take some patience and some work on your part."

He understood, "When can we get started?!?!?!"

The making of dentures, as with anything in dentistry, is an art-form that must be blended with sound science. Combined with experience, it is a fairly standard procedure.

What I am constantly amazed with is the impact that creating a custom smile has on my patients.

I got to see that today with Steven.

Three years later - Steven, a former professional felon, is now supervising large window installing teams in various areas around the country.  Most recently in Chicago.  He is buying a new house.  He has a good job.  He is sober. He is no longer in pain or self conscious about his smile....

He no longer feels like a drug addict.

Holistic approach to dentistry addressing the mind, body and spirit...Success!   

 Steven's teeth ravaged by Methamphetamine addiction

 His new smile