Yesterday was an amazing day. I had the first massage of my life at age 50. The entire experience was incredible except for a minute detail which will forever cast a toothpick of a shadow on this near perfect day.
Paula and I treated our office team to a Friday seminar which was followed by a "spa" experience. After the seminar, our team had their hair done professionally for dinner that night. The dinner was at one of the finest restaurants in this Midwestern town. It was a true moving culinary experience. This pampering set the stage for the following morning which was our day at the spa.
I was told to arrive promptly at 11:15 am, which I did. I was greeted by a pleasant young lady behind a counter who gave me a form to fill out, a robe to carry and a pair of shower shoes. "You can go through the door at the left into the men's locker room, and then continue on to the sanctuary where you'll have time to fill out the form." I found my locker, removed my street shoes, readied into my spa robe and sat down to put on the shower shoes I had been given. Nice shoes, I thought, even had little nubs on the foot side to give a little pre-massage for my feet. On with the left, and then - - another left? No problem. I opened the velcro strap, placed the second left shoe on my right foot, and it seemed to work well enough. And, I had already decided that it was no big deal and that it was just more work than I needed to think about going back out in to the crowded salon area and try and explain my dilemma.
Through the next door into the "sanctuary" I was pleasantly surprised to see Paula and three of our team lounging in quiet, near darkness on soft leather chairs and sofas. Curved walls, green trees, and soft music supplemented by the sound of trickling water from a large fountain began to set the mood for time of relaxation. Paula looked up, "what do you think?" I told her that it seemed pretty neat, but that I had something she didn't have. "Look, two left feet." Everyone chuckled. I explained that they were still comfortable, but there was sure to be a lesson there for us all.
After drinking copious amounts of fresh water in champagne glasses, Paula and I were ushered deeper into the confines of this quiet place by our two massage therapists. They introduced themselves, confirmed that we were there for our "signature full body massages," and left the room briefly while we made ourselves comfortable on our massage tables. I removed both of my left shoes, and climbed onto the massage table. Under warmed blankets, I began to realize Paula was right that this would be the experience of a lifetime.
Our therapists returned to the room, and proceeded to provide a life-changing massage. She knew where every sore spot was, and claimed that in time she could even get my dentist's rolled shoulders to sit flat on the table. The hour passed quickly, and we were released back into the sanctuary to sip more fancy water with some other members of our team who were between spa services. "Nice shoes," one of the ladies quipped. "Thanks." They're special.
I have had few experiences in my life that were as relaxing and invigorating as my first massage treatment. I would return to this spa, because the people were very talented, attentive, and nice. We had, however, learned the day before about the importance of our team at the front desk of the dental office paying attention to detail. They are the front line in helping establish good relationships with our patients. They set the stage for the total experience that our patients remember in our office. We need to be vigilant to carefully avoid handing out two left shoes at the front counter or over the phone. We could be the greatest dental team in the world, but it won't help us one bit if we become known as the "two left shoes" smile center.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Awakening Times Three
I got hit on the side of the head last night. It started when one of my celebrity patients got hit on the side of the head. After her daughter got hit on the side of the head.
After an enjoyable dinner with friends last night, I had the pleasant opportunity to visit with one of my celebrity patients. "I just love my smile, but you don't know what happened the other day." She went on to say that her daughter saw her Murano Veneers TV commercial for the first time. In the commercial, Paris (name changed) gives heartfelt testimony that she has spent most of her life taking care of the needs of her husband and children, but having smile improvement with murano veneers is finally something she has decided to do for herself.
"Mom, did you really say that?" her daughter asked. "Why did you say that?"
Paris, in astonishment, relays to her daughter that she gave this testimonial because it was true.
At this point, Paris explained to me that she could see puzzlement in her daughter's facial expression. Paris did not need to explain any further, and within seconds her daughter realized for the first time that her mother had sacrificed much of her life for her family. An awakening!
Immediately, the second awakening occured as Paris came to terms with the fact that her daughter had no idea of the sacrifices Paris had made for the family over the years. The good news was that Paris also understood that she and her daughter were on the precipice of newfound understanding of love and appreciation for each other.
After their discussion, Paris took her daughter to the Jacobs Smile Center website and they looked at the before and after photos of her. Neither Paris or her daughter could even remember what she looked like before her transformation. It was as if they had both shut out the memory. Paris relived once again how painful it was for her to smile before she entered her new life. "People stop me everywhere. I know what they are going to ask. " "Can I see your smile?" Each time it gets easier, and more fun, and more special for Paris to have become the beautiful, confident celebrity that she is today.
Paris thanked me again, and of course it was only my pleasure. What a wonderful feeling to know that Paris's new smile has not only given her the celebrity of familiarity within her community, but more importantly (and surprisingly) the satisfaction in knowing that her family now appreciates her more for the great sacrifices she has made for them. What great love does a mother have for her children, but what great rewards when she knows they "get it."
Thanks, Mom!
After an enjoyable dinner with friends last night, I had the pleasant opportunity to visit with one of my celebrity patients. "I just love my smile, but you don't know what happened the other day." She went on to say that her daughter saw her Murano Veneers TV commercial for the first time. In the commercial, Paris (name changed) gives heartfelt testimony that she has spent most of her life taking care of the needs of her husband and children, but having smile improvement with murano veneers is finally something she has decided to do for herself.
"Mom, did you really say that?" her daughter asked. "Why did you say that?"
Paris, in astonishment, relays to her daughter that she gave this testimonial because it was true.
At this point, Paris explained to me that she could see puzzlement in her daughter's facial expression. Paris did not need to explain any further, and within seconds her daughter realized for the first time that her mother had sacrificed much of her life for her family. An awakening!
Immediately, the second awakening occured as Paris came to terms with the fact that her daughter had no idea of the sacrifices Paris had made for the family over the years. The good news was that Paris also understood that she and her daughter were on the precipice of newfound understanding of love and appreciation for each other.
After their discussion, Paris took her daughter to the Jacobs Smile Center website and they looked at the before and after photos of her. Neither Paris or her daughter could even remember what she looked like before her transformation. It was as if they had both shut out the memory. Paris relived once again how painful it was for her to smile before she entered her new life. "People stop me everywhere. I know what they are going to ask. " "Can I see your smile?" Each time it gets easier, and more fun, and more special for Paris to have become the beautiful, confident celebrity that she is today.
Paris thanked me again, and of course it was only my pleasure. What a wonderful feeling to know that Paris's new smile has not only given her the celebrity of familiarity within her community, but more importantly (and surprisingly) the satisfaction in knowing that her family now appreciates her more for the great sacrifices she has made for them. What great love does a mother have for her children, but what great rewards when she knows they "get it."
Thanks, Mom!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Seeing is Believing
Brenda (name changed) was in to see me today, and we started fabrication of a new denture for her. She had previously been having severe facial pain, headaches, muscle aches, and was unable to get comfort even during her sleeping hours. Today Brenda is pain free, and ready to anxiously receive the smile of her dreams.
Three months ago, Brenda came into my office, and I could tell by her negative attitude and the deep anguish lines carved into her face, that she was in great pain. She explained that she had seen several doctors and two dentists trying to find a solution to her facial pain. Her doctors had tried putting her on some medication for headaches, and she got some minimal relief from that. She didn't like the way the medications made her feel, though. The dentists she saw recommended that they might be able to alleviate her pain through making her a new set of dentures, but she was not convinced that was the solution.
Understanding that the dentists she had seen were good dentists, and probably right, I immediately told her that this may be the needed solution for her. My approach to the situation was slightly different, though. I knew that she needed new dentures, and that her old dentures had worn excessively to the point that her nose and chin were closer together. Some people refer to this as "overclosure". This will occasionally cause sore jaws, ringing in the ears, and other facial pain problems. Before I would fabricate a new set of dentures for Brenda, I was sure to let her know that I couldn't guarantee that the problem would be solved, but that I would be able to let her see for herself if increasing the thickness of the dentures would make a difference.
At a subsequent appointment, I placed a temporary liner in her dentures, but did not alter her denture at all. If this wouldn't have helped, the liner could be stripped out, and she could continue with her dentures as they were. In this case, there was no risk for me or for her. Two weeks later, Brenda returned and was elated to tell me that she no longer had any facial pain. Confident that this overclosure was her ultimate problem, and after two more confirmation visits, she is well on her way to recovery.
Our paradigms can sometimes hinder us from accepting the cause of our problems. Many times we look for a complex solution to a simple problem. Allowing Brenda to see for herself that her problem was being caused by her dentures, allowed us to continue on with confidence. I didn't have to be a better or smarter dentist to treat Brenda, I just had to listen to her needs and help her find her way around the mental block that kept her from getting better.
Three months ago, Brenda came into my office, and I could tell by her negative attitude and the deep anguish lines carved into her face, that she was in great pain. She explained that she had seen several doctors and two dentists trying to find a solution to her facial pain. Her doctors had tried putting her on some medication for headaches, and she got some minimal relief from that. She didn't like the way the medications made her feel, though. The dentists she saw recommended that they might be able to alleviate her pain through making her a new set of dentures, but she was not convinced that was the solution.
Understanding that the dentists she had seen were good dentists, and probably right, I immediately told her that this may be the needed solution for her. My approach to the situation was slightly different, though. I knew that she needed new dentures, and that her old dentures had worn excessively to the point that her nose and chin were closer together. Some people refer to this as "overclosure". This will occasionally cause sore jaws, ringing in the ears, and other facial pain problems. Before I would fabricate a new set of dentures for Brenda, I was sure to let her know that I couldn't guarantee that the problem would be solved, but that I would be able to let her see for herself if increasing the thickness of the dentures would make a difference.
At a subsequent appointment, I placed a temporary liner in her dentures, but did not alter her denture at all. If this wouldn't have helped, the liner could be stripped out, and she could continue with her dentures as they were. In this case, there was no risk for me or for her. Two weeks later, Brenda returned and was elated to tell me that she no longer had any facial pain. Confident that this overclosure was her ultimate problem, and after two more confirmation visits, she is well on her way to recovery.
Our paradigms can sometimes hinder us from accepting the cause of our problems. Many times we look for a complex solution to a simple problem. Allowing Brenda to see for herself that her problem was being caused by her dentures, allowed us to continue on with confidence. I didn't have to be a better or smarter dentist to treat Brenda, I just had to listen to her needs and help her find her way around the mental block that kept her from getting better.
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