The other day I was visiting a mentor of mine and we were discussing the process of decision making.  He related a story to me about a conversation he had with a gentleman who was the CFO of a mid-sized company.  When asked how he made decisions concerning the company he said, “Well, I take a good look at the short and long term impact of the decisions, the cost of capital necessary – both short and long term, and the risk/reward potential to the bottom line of the company.”  My mentor commented, “Sounds like you study the problem and/or opportunity with reflection and quite a bit of detail. You slow down and take the necessary time to uncover the best decision”.  Ideally, that is exactly how decisions affecting your oral health should be approached.

Yet, more often than not, dental health is a response to crisis rather than a process of being proactive for long term health.  Do you see your dentist as a “fixer of teeth or a facilitator of health”?  Thousands of patients in thousands of communities across the country continue to assume that crisis dentistry is the norm. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”   Yet, being proactive with your dental health is one way to minimize or eliminate the “it broke” part all together.

Let me give you an example.  I know there are a lot of golfers out there and many of you (unlike me) are very accomplished at the sport.  Fortunately for the purveyors of golf equipment, many of you are serious golfers and have updated, matched swing-weighted custom sets of clubs.  I’d like to compare your mouth to your set of golf clubs.  It’s as if, when you were a young man, God gave you a new set of clubs. We, as dentists, call them teeth. You used them through the years as you refined your golf game but in time you broke the 9-iron. You went to the Pro Shop and tried to get a new one. It was a 9-iron, of course, but the grip, the shaft and the swing weight were not quite the same as your original set. It was okay; you knew how to adjust, if you remembered to accommodate for the differences. But, as time went on, you had the same experience with your 7-iron, the 4-iron, the pitching wedge, and your favorite wood. In time, you were adjusting your swing and stance every time you used a club.  You noticed there were times when certain muscles would get sore and the differences would get in the way of your swing until finally you decided to get refitted with a whole new set of clubs.  You went to a professional who put you through a whole series of tests and thorough evaluations to diagnose and plan the best solution that fit your uniqueness.  Your teeth should be thoroughly evaluated in the same way to determine the best solution for your oral health.

Over time as restoration of your teeth is needed a little here and a little there, it eventually gets to where you have to “adapt” to your bite.  The muscles can get sore; it’s difficult to eat without thought, etc.  Wouldn’t it make sense to address problems before they occur rather than wait for the crisis?  Dentistry has accommodated patients in “fixing” crisis situations by treating only the immediate concern then waiting for the next crisis to occur, rather than being proactive in preventing the problem before it arises.  Yet, what should be considered for your best interest, is to slow down, be as thorough and informed as you can in your decision-making so in the short range and long range, it will be better for your overall health.  Be proactive talk with your dentist about a thorough examination and stay healthy! 

Need help with a dental question?  Contact me through our web site at www.drscottlogan.com in the “Contact Us” section if I can assist in any way.