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COVID Relationship Stories
The December 2021 issue of AGD Impact was an issue that has inspired me to share more stories. For some years, I have been espousing the concept that Success is All About Relationships and have taken that concept to everything I do in business. As a result, over the course of my 35-year long care
Self-Care is Not Selfish
In the June 2021 issue of AGD Impact, Editor Timothy F. Kosinski, DDS, MAGD, wrote about being physically vulnerable and the need to take time for ourselves to look after our physical health and well-being. It got me thinking about some other situations that happened to me recently. Bill (not hi
Stand Up Straight
When my son was in high school, my wife and I enjoyed going to his track meets. He went to a large suburban high school with over 100 boys on the track team. At some of the large meets involving multiple teams, as many as 500 athletes would be scattered across the track and the football field. Even
Leave the Loupes — and Patient Problems — at Work
As a dentist, I spend all day looking through the tiny lenses of my loupes that magnify small problems tenfold, many of which will grip me. Then I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about these problems that aren’t even mine. And, more often than not, I worry, worry, worry. Does anyon
AGD Pivots Toward Normalcy with AGD2021 and a Packed Convocation Ceremony
The AGD scientific session in Austin was the place to be this year. With over 1,800 on-site attendees, great camaraderie, amazing learning opportunities and a jam-packed Convocation Ceremony, AGD2021 was a smash hit as organized dentistry pivoted toward normalcy. It sure made me proud to be an atten
AGD2021 Was a Huge Success
I was honored to be asked to provide not one, but two, participation courses at AGD2021, this year’s scientific session, June 9–12 in Austin. When I arrived at the Fairmont Hotel, I found that I had a great view of the Colorado River from my room. I enjoyed some good BBQ with friends tha
On the Road Again
I have begun traveling to give my implant lectures again. I’ve gone to West Palm Beach, Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina; Pensacola, Florida; and Newport Beach, California. I always depart from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, which typically has not been busy. People seem to be thoughtful
Quality of Life: Changes to Get Healthy
The past two years have been life-changing for me. As we all get older, we exhibit aches and pains that we learn to live with. Two years ago, my left knee started to bother me. I had arthroscopic surgery about 20 years previously, and I thought it may be time to get re-treated. An orthopedic sur
Happy for the Rest of Your Life
The last thought I had before almost dying was: “Hey, I feel funny.” I now think my heart had already quit at that point, but, luckily, I survived this sudden cardiac arrest. Fortunately, I was at a fitness center with access to trained staff and an automatic external defibrillator (AED)
Getting Information out with ‘The Daily Grind’
Becoming AGD editor has certainly been an eye-opening endeavor for me. Serving as the associate editor for four years under the tutelage of Roger D. Winland, DDS, MAGD, prepared me well for the process of reviewing article submissions and even helped me develop an editorial style. There is a lot mor
The Golden 10
In a recent blog I discussed the Pareto Principle whereby only 20% of our success is based on our clinical skills and knowledge and 80% is from everything else. I also wrote a post about the importance of relationships. Additionally, in a previous blog published five years ago, I discussed assessi
Relationship Stories
“The Golden 10” concept developed by Roger Levin, DDS, states that if you get to know eight to 10 things about the person in front of you, you will change your relationship with them from a professional to a personal one. When this transition occurs with your patients, trust is develo
Survive, Revive, Thrive
This truly is a memorable period of time, but, for most of us, for all the wrong reasons. Most of us had our practices shut down for an extended period and are now back. What do we do now, and how do we get there? Kenneth Wong, MBA, a distinguished professor of marketing at Queens University, was
The Power Hidden Behind Your Masks
Did you know you are actually better looking when you smile? You are viewed as more attractive, sincere, relaxed and reliable. In fact, people treat you differently when you smile. Smiling is a natural antidepressant and a mood lifter. Journals in Neuropsychology have published studies have show
The Daily Grind
Many years ago, AGD leaders wanted to create a forum in which members could share and connect over what impacts our daily lives — the challenges, routines and triumphs. “The Daily Grind” was their answer. “The Daily Grind” is a virtual opportunity for us to compare no
The Pareto Principle
Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto noted in “Cours d’economie politique” in 1896 that 80% of Italy’s land was owned by only 20% of the population. Later, economist and management consultant Joseph M. Juran adapted this 80/20 principle to finance when he noted that 80% of sales
Create a Complimentary Culture Within Your Practice
The dental field is evolving faster than ever, and it certainly isn’t getting any easier to keep up. New products, social media trends, clinical techniques, laws, marketing strategies… the list of new things goes on and on. I’ll admit, sometimes it seems pretty daunting, but then
Seven Ideas to Keep Your Practice Looking Fresh Without Spending a Fortune
With spring around the corner, it’s time to freshen up your office space! Each year at the start of spring, my team and I walk around the office to see what we can do to keep it looking clean, modern and welcoming. The moment new patients walk into the office, they begin to evaluate who you
The True Rewards of Fellowship and Mastership
An essential yet commonly forgotten element of being a good general dentist is staying up to date on your knowledge of all ten dental disciplines. Excelling at endodontics is great, but what if many of your patients are requesting orthodontics? Maybe a new school has opened close to your practice, a
Always Hire People Smarter than You
Practicing dentistry in today’s fast-moving, technologically driven landscape is more complicated than ever. The modern dentist is expected to be not only a master clinician but also a master in the areas of business management, marketing/advertising, human resources, IT and many more. To succ
5 Ways to Keep Yourself and Your Team Inspired
Over the years, employees have come and gone, and I’ve had to endure the hiring process again and again. While this task can be less than fun, it is always an eye-opening experience. The faces and what people want and demand may change, but one thing does not — people leave their current
50 Years Later
It’s 1969. I am in my first year at Camp Wahanowin, a sleepover summer camp on Lake Couchiching, Ontario. On the evening of July 20, we are woken up late at night and ushered into the main auditorium to sit on the floor in front of grainy black-and-white TVs to witness history. Humankind is ab
Success is All About Relationships: How I Chose My Dental Lab
It was the spring of 1990. I had just returned from Northern Norway as the dentist assigned to Allied Command Europe Mobile Force exercises 200 kilometers (124 miles) north of the Arctic Circle in early February (it was a balmy 5 degrees Celsius, unlike the -27 temperature I left in Calgary, Alberta
When Is the Last Time You Had Your (Practice) Vision Checked?
As dentists, our eyes and ocular health are immensely important.We protect, maintain and even enhance our vision chair-side with loupes and microscopes.Vision is so closely linked to our livelihoods that, if our vision were to falter, we would likely make it a priority to address. But can the same b