Back in the Saddle
So it’s been about eight weeks since I’ve written anything more than E-mail and my world was starting to get a little shaky. And wouldn’t Miss Winters from mid-60s Mark Keppel High English crack a smile if she knew just how much I’ve missed putting down some words? Haven’t typed out veneer or “cosmetic” or Invisalign. Ugh!
For about the last ten years or so I’ve shared something in print every seven days for the San Gabriel Valley Weekly. My weekend ritual went something like: see a movie, get inspired, and write a column. And I’ve had worse dates. Trust me.
But like with most good things and me (women and my topspin backhand included), I tend to take them for granted and they must therefore someday end. One Sunday morning I was writing all about health and veneers, my beloved USC Trojans, and the big Temple City shifting pile of dirt we call “The Piazza (coming soon.)” The next thing I knew I was writing a tribute to our fallen founder/ publisher/ editor, Dana Baskin.
So the Weekly was history and my not turning out a column for eight weeks has accessed way more time for me to hit golf balls and perfect any self-loathing techniques I might have missed since the Tenth Grade. Wow! Sure feels good writing some stuff down again. All praise the Temple City Tribune!
I started writing just for the pure pleasure of it, recognizing the obvious limitations of my verbal skills and jumping at the opportunity to edit. Also, when you’re a DDS type, the expectation bar is set even lower than the sun setting on Bruin football.
I’ve been practicing dentistry for about thirty years and that’s a lot of rehearsal time but I know you won’t think I look old enough. You’ll have to settle that timeless debate with my Office Manager, OM Dalila (She’s referred to me as the Older Gentleman since we were both about thirty.)
I promise to tell you all about the latest cosmetic advances in dentistry. And I know from social interaction (with the few friends molar jockeys like me tend to have) that most of you have a morbid curiosity about things dental. If you’ve ever met a DDS at a party and haven’t once pointed inside your mouth while asking a question like, “Utt’s up with my lowa mowa?” you just need to get out more.
Well, I couldn’t be more excited to share about all the latest clinical stuff (especially Invisalign) and I’m even more enthused about my being your advocate. I take a ton of continuing education (CE) and travel all over the country accumulating 200 hours of CE per year (It’s like, be a slow study and see the world!)
I’m also really looking forward to sharing about the human and compassionate side of health and dental care and the role you can play in having the kind of experience you want. I realize going to the dentist isn’t fun for most folks but it can be. Patients, students, and health care providers all do better when they smile; research shows that laughter really is powerful medicine. Shucks, part of our practice intention is actually “…making dentistry fun.” And we’re not kidding.
I’ll be happier than VP Cheney in a roomful of Big Macs if you’re generous with your feedback; your input will serve as a great guide for my putting out the info you want.
Dentistry has amazing potential to impact the quality of your life and even the length of your life. If you don’t believe me, just look up the Surgeon General’s Oral Health in America report of May, 2000.
So I can’t wait to catch up with you guys. Please remember, don’t be a stranger.
