If I Speak, I do Declare!

If I Speak, I do declare!

Lately, I have been hearing an advertisement on the radio about how a deejay is getting his smile fixed with Invisalign from "Dr. Such-and-such".  The ad sounds as if the deejay is just speaking in one of his normal radio breaks.  He says how great "Dr. Such-and-such" is and how happy he is with the treatment.  My question is...Is the deejay paying for the treatment? or is he getting it done in exchange for the radio promos?

I do declare!

There is a certain media personality here in town that "trouble-shoots" for the citizens.  If something is unfair, it seems to be his responsibility to expose that unfairness and to publicly embarrass the company allegedly perpetrating the action.  I used to be with a practice that paid to be on his endorsed list as "the endorsed dentist".  We had a link to his website and we would serve as "experts" to help him expose the wrongdoings.  One day, he started to endorse another dentist on the air as the place to go for dentistry of all kinds.  In fact, he told the listeners how this doctor had changed his life by creating a new smile for him.  He no longer just had a "face for radio"!  When we called to see why we weren't consulted, as we were the preferred dentist on his list.  

The "trouble-shooter" brushed us off and said that he didn't know that we did those types of procedures.  Hmmm....What about the strict research of the company to be on the good list?  I guess the only research that was done was "Did the check clear?"   It was obvious that he never even looked at our website, or our list of services, or our dozen's of published testimonials with pictures...We achieved the "preferred" status because we paid him to have this status.  I never felt good about our relationship with this guy. 

I do declare!

When I do presentations to dentists,  I must sign all sorts of waivers and publicly announce that I have no conflicts of interests - no company is paying me to endorse the company. If I do have a conflict, I must announce it so the attendee can then make a judgment about my information that I am presenting.  Is this true, or is he just trying to promote his product?  When my colleagues and  I attend a lecture, we view the lecture with a jaded eye if no declaration is made.  

Why is it we, as dentists, can go out and not be forthcoming in our advertisements to the public?  What happened to the professionalism?  Where does ethics fit in here?

I do declare!

My declaration - all that I write here is from me (Dr. Brett Kessler) or from my wife (Dr. Gina Kessler).  All the pictures here and on our website are of our patients showcasing our work.  All of the testimonials are real and from our happy patients. All the opinions expressed here are ours!  If they are unoriginal, I will quote the source.

I welcome comments and perspectives on this.  I am no expert and would love to hear other opinions - especially if I am off base here.

If you like this blog post, I would love to hear about it.  Please comment or share it on Google+, Facebook, Linked in, Twitter, etc.  If you are looking for a dentist in the Denver area, we are always looking for new patients.  Please visit our website http://www.tcdodenver.com/ or like our facebook page,  https://www.facebook.com/TCDOdenver.  Or you can do it the old fashion way - call us at 303-321-4445.

Thanks for reading!  BK

I do declare!

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