Are You An Efficient Dentist?

No. I am not an efficient dentist. Actually, I am so proud that I'm not an efficient dentist. I'd like to stay that way. . . How could life be all about being efficient? Lingering over lunch at the sidewalk cafe in Paris is horribly inefficient way to get nutrients. The most efficient way to get nutrition is to drink and eat handful of vitamins. That would be extremly efficient and boring. To me, life and dentistry is not about being efficient.

When I'm treating patient, I am not looking for the most efficient way to get the patient in and get the patient out the door. I would listen, talk and most importantly, not rushing anything. To this day, I never got stopped by the police for driving too slow on the road. I don't think I am slower than any other dentist! However, even in driving, I think, that there are too many people who wants to get from point A to point to B too fast, rushing.

What is the rush? If I can keep your teeth healthy, what's the rush to finish crown in an hour, finish braces in six months, finish implant toothth in a day? If I can keep my teeth forever, what's another month of waiting? That's why I don't like six month smile at all.

Braces is a beautiful thing. If I want to be healthy, having braces on is something to be proud of. I don't run in the morning with mustache disguise and sunglasses. Braces is not something to hide. Metal braces is a sign to the world that I am taking care of my body and will be even more healthier and beautiful. I love classical/traditional braces. It has lots of colors that you can choose.

I don't like "teeth in a day". I have been placing implants for 9 years including two year studying at the NYU. Still, I can't believe so many smart patient and dentist fall for "teeth in a day" or "teeth in an hour" concept. I have a story. Once, a world famous dentist was lecturing about different techniques on placing implant. Toward the end of the lecture, one dentist raised a hand and asked. "If you are placing implants on your family, which method would you choose? He said, without hesitation, " I would place using traditional method rather than teeth-in-an-hour-way." To me, he said it all that I needed to hear. Actually, I felt that I have wasted the whole day of seminar. If I wouldn't do it to my family, I wouldn't do it to my patient. Simple.

Effective dentist? Sure. . . Efficient dentist? . . . Efficient for whom? Would you be efficient to your family? No. Thank you.