A Philosophy of Practice and of Life!

This will be a place for a long series of pieces that will hopefully help you make sense of your dental conditions and give you options to consider that promote predictability, longevity, comfort and esthetics.

It may be helpful to know where I’m coming from, both personally and professionally, in order to evaluate where the value is for you, the dental consumer:

I have had several significant mentors in my life, each building on the other. They collectively helped me to identify and embrace what really matters most in terms of professional and personal fulfillment and happiness. One of the major themes of all their collective works with me revolved around providing superior personal service to people presenting for care. Providing that kind of service with an eye to becoming better with each successive year is what keeps me and my team going year in and year out. “Service before reward.” “The magic of giving–nothing but your best!” “There is no pride in doing slipshod work–only in doing one’s best!” “Never treat a stranger!” This will probably date me a bit, but I remember a little limerick we used in school years ago: “Good, better best; never let it rest; until the good is better, and the better best!”  The concept is simple, really:  I feel that if your God-given teeth without any disease represents perfection, my job is to faithfully emulate that perfection to the best of my ability.  Since the philosophy of this practice is devoted to the concept of maximum dental longevity, I have dedicated my life’s work to have my patients retain their teeth for a lifetime in a state of health function and acceptable appearance.  This demands thoroughness and dedication to excellence. Because you deserve it!!

This philosophy is part and parcel of why I look forward to each day’s work.  I get to apply my knowledge with patients. If you’ve perused my website, you’ve probably come across the charge that one of my most significant mentors, Dr. L.D. Pankey, posed to me 30 years ago: “Sooner or later, Tom, you’ll have to decide if you want to have superficial relationships with a lot of people, or life-changing relationships with a few!” Once I understood the meaning of his admonition, it changed my personal and professional life forever. I slowed down, something I had been yearning for in my heart of hearts for as long as I could remember, and started spending time with people coming in to my practice in a whole new way, relationally.  The result? There are many friends (patients) in this practice who have been coming for over 25 years and counting. What a blessing!!  It just doesn’t get much better than that!!

Here’s a quote from John Wooden, one of my heroes: “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”

And, in the same vein: “Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle!”–Michelangelo

I encourage you to visit our website:  www.drrisbrudt.com to get the whole picture at your leisure.  Now that you know a little about me, in the weeks ahead we’ll visit many areas of dental and holistic health that I trust will be of value to you as a dental consumer.

Have a great week!!   Dr. R.