Dentaltown May 2013 - (Page 80)

do good feature by Michael Scoles, DMD A few years ago, I got this e-mail from a complete stranger. His words made me pause and reflect on what I was doing with my career. When I was an associate, I spent one day a month at a free clinic in Seattle. Fast-forward to two practice purchases, the neverending CE chase and a new baby – volunteering was the last thing to eat on my very full plate. I’m not sure how he got my e-mail address; I’m assuming from my website where it mentions volunteer work. Here you have someone who appears to be truly down on his luck and saw in the media that someone died from a tooth infection. He was scared and couldn’t find anyone to help him. d the Union es, eration. I calle Dear Dr. Scol much in desp ent. It is the to you very ntal appointm I am w riting to make a de restoration many times ery and teeth Gospel Mission t dental surg abou ing that I at mentions ges mention only place th s. I left messa dure about a Today I read routine proce er called me. and not only ody ev However, nob am afraid. am suffering. fection and I dental in of man w ho died e of the at you are on finding out th me get I am u please help search today, sion. Could yo After some re n the Mis of my situatio volunteers at a bit ashamed doctors w ho is. help feeling th ent? I can’t on living like an appointm t I can’t keep my teeth. Bu ow and even to sh g from you. ard to hearin I do look forw Sincerely, Chip 80 MAY 2013 » dentaltown.com It took one e-mail to get him an appointment; thirty seconds to make a profound difference in someone’s life. As dentists, we have a unique ability that not many others possess: we can remedy acute pain for another person in minutes. We do it every day. People pay us to do it. It becomes routine. I will leave it up to the philosophers as to whether we have an obligation to do work for free. I still have a very full plate, but I am down to four days a week and I am finding a bit more balance in life. I’m going to start volunteering at the clinic again. Sometimes, it is too easy to get caught up in your own life and stress over truly insignificant things, when just down the road, there is someone who has a legitimate fear of dying from a toothache. I am glad this person e-mailed me. It definitely made me do an inventory on my life priorities. A few weeks later, I received this e-mail: Hi Dr. Scole s, Just wante d to let yo u know Dr. Friday. He Paul took is great! H care of me is hands a upper tee last re so light! th. I still h He extrac ave many those were ted two teeth left the worst to be extr and most acted but painful on es. I was a bit sad not to see you at you one d the Missio ay. I have n. I am su your websi a little be re I’ll mee te bookm tter for m t arked. W h e, I want to en things the Missio volunteer get n. I’ve lea my time a rned quite t/donate to a bit throu gh my hard I just wan ships. t to thank you again Kind rega from the b rds, ottom of m Chip y heart. http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown May 2013

Dentaltown.com Highlights
Howard Speaks: Is Dentistry Getting Too Easy?
Professional Courtesy: High Tide for High Tech
Continuing Education Update
Industry News
Second Opinion: The Stainless-Steel Crown for Primary Molars
Special Second Opinion: Prevent a Tulsa Repeat
Simple Two-implant CT Guided Case
Does Your Staff Ask for Referrals?
Your 2013 Website Optimization Starts Today
I Attended Your CE and All I Got Was This Crappy Notebook
Dentaltown Research: CAD/CAM
New Products
DIY Finance, Part VI: Red Flags and Scams
Employee Working Interviews: They’re Legal, Aren’t They?
The Sleeping Giant in Your Practice
What’s on My Tray? Prep and Impression, Crown and Bridge
Continuing Education: Articaine and Paresthesia in Dental Anesthesia: Neurotoxicity or Procedural Trauma?
Concentric Circles Dentaltown’s annual focus on the charitable side of dentistry
All the Things Money Can’t Buy
Taking on Pro-bono Cases
Doing Good and Doing Well
Global Dental Relief
Giving Thanks, One Smile at a Time
Big Help on a Local Level
Oral Health America
You Should Know: Climb for a Cause
In This Issue: Where Should Prevention Begin?
Perio Reports
Ad Index
Profile in Oral Health Prada or Prevention: A Look at Public Health and Oral Health
Dentally Incorrect

Dentaltown May 2013