In our heart of hearts (for the most part) we pediatric dentists want to help our patients more through prevention than through restorative procedures. Unfortunately, pediatric dentistry has, partially by necessity, become way too focused on restoring a child's mouth.
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Popular puzzles show two pictures that are almost identical, so you can find the tiny differences. Probably great workouts for your brain. Interestingly, two people look at the same picture and see different things. This morning, looking out from our 16th floor apartment window at the Gulf, I noticed the bright turquoise color of the water, covering my view from left to right. Claude noticed the boats, yachts, sailboats and crew boats cruising the water. Same picture. What do you see in the picture of your life today? Do you see what is holding you down? Or what is lifting you up? Do you see opportunities? Do you see what is tearing you apart? Or what is holding you together? Do you see what your amygdala (ego) says is wrong with you? Or what is wonderful about you? Do you see worry? Or do you see beautiful? Put your focus on what is right with your world, on what is beautiful, on you are beautiful. Focus on love and loving others. The tiny differences are the difference. Love, Medical Drama on TV From 1969 to 1976, a favorite American television show was one of the early medical drama programs, the popular Marcus Welby M.D. Medical drama has continued to be a well-watched topic, beginning in the early 50’s, and includes Dr. Kildare, Ben Casey, M*A*S*H*, Dr Quinn Medicine Woman, City of Angels, Grey’s Anatomy, E.R., House and many others. The main characters are usually kind and loving, dedicated folks. After all, it is all about doctors and nurses taking care of people. Medical Drama in Real Life But another drama has changed the face and function of medicine. It’s been a slow, insidious, now dramatic change that has allowed big corporations to wedge themselves between the kind, loving, dedicated doctor and the patients who need medical or dental care. Beginning back in the 40’s, the drama of insurance company/corporate involvement in medicine began. The 1945 McCarran–Ferguson Act, created a United States federal law that exempts the business of insurance from most federal regulation, including federal antitrust laws to some extent. Anti-trust laws apply to doctors, but insurance companies are exempted in some ways. Insurance companies, corporate dental, Medicaid, Medicare, calling themselves healthcare (insurance-speak for we-want-you-to-pay-us-for-your-disease-care), began the drama which has resulted in: 1. Reduced quality of patient care as the time per patient is reduced, fee schedule charges for care are reduced, then split between corporations and doctors, certain treatments are “denied” (insurance-speak for we-won’t-pay-you-for-providing-that-care-to-your-patient), corporations recommend changing your delivery system (insurance-speak for reducing time, quality, materials, etc. in your care), and perhaps most egregiously, corporations are now defining what periodontal disease is, or what is medically necessary, etc. (insurance-speak for diagnosis- diagnosis that should be done by the professional, educated, licensed, experienced, wise doctor); 2. And, all the while, untold dollars in the coffers of the smart corporations, and great reductions in the doctors’ ability to make a living while they scramble to care adequately for patients. The real-life, shall we say, soap-opera drama has evolved. Your “provider” (insurance-speak for doctor) contracts with the corporations are regularly changed to the benefit of the corporations, though you of course sign them and agree to abide by them. The insurance companies re-contract with the employers who buy the coverage for their employees, and each new contract has the potential to “save the employer money“ by removing coverages and limiting payments out. These various changes further pour your profits into the corporate coffers. A New and Wonderful Medical Drama Doctors, we are here to change the world. We are here to love, to care, to transform lives, and through those transformations, the lives of related and others. Avrom King, a psychologist and health-care “futurist” pointed out, orthodontics is not about teeth actually, but about how the result of the treatment affects a person’s self-image. This is true across the spectrum of dentistry. Ours is a behavioral art, where love and caring are far more important than the mechanics of the dental and orthodontic treatments. Dr. F. Harold Wirth, who was Dr. L.D. Pankey’s closest friend and speaking partner for many years, considered hugs to be a key metric on how well we are connecting with - and therefore truly helping - our patients. It is time to understand that your calling in your life, in medicine, is best undertaken and advanced, outside of the corporate world. If this speaks to you, then you know you are here to change the world. Your love, your strength, your relationships, are your gifts. You can engage with your patients and the world in a new way. To do anything less, is to sacrifice yourself and the gift. |
Dr Chris BakerAmerica's most-trusted teacher of orthodontic continuing education, Dr. Chris Baker has practiced and taught for more than 30 years, and is a current or former faculty member of three U.S. dental schools. She is a pediatric dentist, author, blogger, dental practice consultant, and mentor. Dr. Chris is also Past President and Senior Instructor of the American Orthodontic Society. She is based in Texas, USA, but lectures around the world. Categories
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