Six JMB Dental Gems/Part II
Thank you, Dad!
This is the second part to The Six Dental Gems series. Originally penned for my Dad’s funeral. For gems 1-3 go to the previous post and for the introduction go to this post.
4. It is worth it to schedule the extra 15 minute appointment.
Back in Dad’s days of dentistry, most fillings consisted of silver or rather an amalgam of silver and other metals. The way that dental schools taught to finish and polish a silver filling was to bring the patient back after 1 week of placing the filling so that the filing could be polished and refined. This process could not be done until the filling had cured for one week. Polishing not only improved the appearance of the restoration but aided in its strength and retention. I never worked for another dentist who consistently brought patients back into their schedule for a no charge 15 minute polish. I also never have seen silver fillings that lasted as long or looked as good as those placed by JMB.
In life it is worth taking the extra time to do what we know will make all the difference. Some of Dad’s real-life examples of the extra 15 minute appointment included:clean the boat before returning it, take time to do a task at the cabin for the next family who will be coming or ALWAYS have polished shoes and a clean car for Sunday.
Some of my 15 minute examples would include: add flowers to the table setting, take time to really listen, do more than what is expected {aka: over deliver}. Often the doing more is where I find the most joy.
5. Know what you do well and do it, refer the rest.
Dad felt strongly about this. He was very good at what he did, but he knew his limitations. He told me once that if someone else could do a better job than he, then he owed it to his patient to refer them.
I love this! I think it is so important for us to know what we do well and really excel at that but also it is important to be humble enough to realize others have skills/talents that we could benefit from recognizing and appreciating.
6. There is no shame in a redo.
I remember multiple times assisting Dad in a procedure that was very technique sensitive and when I thought we were finished, he would get this look as he was reviewing what he had done and I would say to him, “We are going to redo it aren’t we?” and he would nod and we would start over.
The way to provide quality dentistry is to recognize that sometimes you are going to have to redo. Same is true in life.
Dad was an amazing man. He held himself to very high standards in every area of his of life. Not just in the dentistry he practiced.
This could feel overwhelming, exhausting and even impossible and it would be if he didn’t understand the concept and doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Lord has made it possible for us to have as many redos as we need.
I was the young assistant that only thought of the extra time and energy the repeat procedure would take whereas Dad was focused on the potential result that was only possible with a redo. THERE IS NO SHAME IN A REDO.
Life lesson: As we focus on the beauty of the potential outcomes this life provides and the desired quality of those outcomes, we will be more able to give ourselves the grace and patience to achieve such high standards.
I believe that ultimately a life focused on beautifully crafted outcomes allows us to be aligned with the divinity that is present in each of us. Not only will our best efforts benefit us, but all within our influence. Indeed, our divine potential.
Thank you, Dad for all of the dental+life lessons. And thanks be to God that I am your daughter.
xoKathleen
