The Smile from Within
When I met with A Few Words from the Chair author/patient spokesperson David Clow, he observed a typical dental experience could be all about clinical smiles while no actual smiling was going on. It was often like, for the lack of a friendly, human smile, a smile was lost. And what about the smile from within?
A great example from David Clow’s book is the transcendent smile on the face of the Buddha. And how can you help but wonder about the health and happiness on the inside creating such an expressive result on the outside? Turns out, some traditional Eastern meditation exercises are designed to cultivate an inner smile. Buddhists and Taoists teach smiling is good medicine (I’d like to see some of those exercises turn up as Continuing Ed for dental school faculty.)
Clow quotes Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh, explaining, “Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile and sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.”
About a month ago when I met new patient Martha, she was upset, depressed, and frustrated. And she was sobbing. Martha was basically being held captive by a smile she wouldn’t, or couldn’t, share. I remember sitting down and having a conversation. Martha did most of the talking; I did most of the listening. Seemed like the best care we could offer that first day was a friendly ear and equal doses of understanding and reassurance. Martha could have been my daughter.
So I’ve yet to experience an official endorphin that I know of during spin class. And shucks, if I could restore smiles like Martha’s every other day and not even twice on Sunday I probably wouldn’t have to exercise at all.
Martha later shared that on leaving the office with her new smile she pulled over to the side of Las Tunas, glanced up into the rear view mirror and cried…from relief and joy. And the smile we get to see today is a great match for the beautiful person we met on Day One.
I also used to wonder about “Family” dentistry. Like, was the alternative “Hot Singles” dentistry or even worse, “Disco” dentistry? But today, I think I finally understand; I get it. And what is family dentistry if not a loving network of smiles from within?
