People hear about a comprehensive approach to dentistry and immediately assume it’s expensive. In our view, it’s more expensive NOT to be comprehensive!! For instance, if being thorough in the beginning saves you the cost of just one implant and the crown that goes on top of it, the savings more than offsets the investment in a thorough examination and evaluation. By about a factor of six!
What if a person was able to intercept things that were headed in a negative direction that could be costly later? Kinda like if you were able to know a day in advance that your hard drive was about to crash, would you just let it crash, or would you do something about it before it did? Replacing a hard drive is an investment alright, but nothing compared to having to retrieve any unsaved date on a crashed disc. Or, let’s say you were going to build your dream house. Would you just start putting lumber in the air, or would you give it a lot of thought? Or, your dream vacation. Just take off and see what develops?? I don’t think so!!
Back to health: If you had a way to diagnose a tumor before it became obvious and symptomatic, how would you feel about that? Okay, you’re thinking: “what kind of dentist can even recognize that kind of stuff?? What kind of dentist can help you intervene before you just start slinging money at one dental crisis after another? All they’re interested in is maxing out my insurance until the next calendar year!” We get that. We hear stories of patients just slinging money at one dental crisis after another until they throw up their hands and say: “My mouth is turning into a money pit!” If only the developing problem could have been identified (diagnosed) in it’s earliest stages.
Being an astute diagnostician takes time, effort, experience and a TON of postgraduate education. Why would a guy spend that kind of time and money pursuing the care, skill and judgment that it takes to become accomplished and astute? With me, it’s a values thing–I can’t help myself. I feel every single person who presents themselves for my care deserves the best I know how to do it. Every year I re-define what that looks like for me, and it had better be a cut above last year. Just because!!
Let me relate a couple of stories about being “astute.” Webster defines “astute” as “keen in discernment.” Several years ago, I did one of those full body scans, and something showed up on one of my lungs. The physician who read the scan at least reassured me: “It’s NOT cancer, but what is it?” There then was the resultant referral to a pulmonologist who ordered several tests, including an MRI, etc. He came to the same conclusion: “Well, it’s NOT cancer, but I don’t know what it is.” Not long after this all happened, I was visiting with my wise old endocrinologist. I related the story to him, and he smiled and asked: “Ever have pleurisy?” Man, did I ever when I was in high school! I can still remember having a special pad made for my ribs when I was playing football, as it was so painful!! “Well”, he said, “that’s a scar from the pleurisy!” That’s what I mean by astute!!
Here’s another classic: An M.D. friend had been practicing in rural Oregon for a number of years when he decided to go back to school and get a Masters in Family Practice. During his residency, each of the interns was presented with patients who had challenging conditions to test the interns diagnostic capabilities. Most of the interns were very young, fresh out of medical school, while my friend had some wisdom, maturity and experience going for him. One patient had a particularly vexing diagnosis, and it really caused the assigned intern a real challenge. Finally, after an exhaustive battery of tests and much time spent in the biomedical literature, the proud intern was ready to announce his findings to the rest of the group. My friend walked in the room with the group, sniffed the air a couple of times, and thought out loud: “Diphtheria!” The intern in charge almost had a breakdown on the spot for this wise, astute physician had made a diagnosis without a single test or examination, but by the particular odor of diphtheria. Wisdom, maturity, experience–that’s what it takes to become astute. Do you think my friend was a pretty cost-effective and astute physician in his little community? Wouldn’t you feel comfortable in his presence? Quiet confidence–that’s what evolves out of this process of “paying the price” in terms of hours and course work to become astute.
We’re offering a no-charge visit to any of you who think you or a loved one has a developing bite problem that needs attention. We believe that mouths need NOT become money pits!!
Remember that scene in the movie “The Rookie” starring Dennis Quaid as the high school baseball coach who starts on a Cinderella trip back to the major leagues? When he gets close to being called up to “The Show” (The major leagues) he quips to the hot young rookie who is on his way up as well: “Isn’t this great? We get to play baseball today!!” That’s the way I feel when I come to work: “I get to help people by doing dentistry today!” Everyone I see today will be unique! Everyone I see today will be impacted by their dental condition in a different way, so I get to hear their stories! I get to help out in whatever way I can consistent with each person’s circumstances, temperament and objectives. How lucky can a guy get? What a blast!! Never a dull moment!
I also get to work with some of the finest professionals I know on planet Earth: My team! Our relationship as professionals has grown to be very special because we have shared wonderful moments with people who have reclaimed a lost portion of their health in ways that I never dreamed possible when I graduated from dental school.
If you our a loved one is struggling to make sense of your dental condition, trying to avoid “Money Pit Mouth syndrome,” please consider our office. We’re hear to listen and to help!!
To your health!
Dr. R.
the useful advises you provided do help our team’s research for my group, thanks.
Glad you found it useful!! Please, do come again!!
My cousin recommended this blog and she was totally right keep up the fantastic work!
Thanks!! LOTS more ahead!!
This is a superb post and may be one to be followed up to see how things go
A companion e-mailed this link the other day and I’m excitedly anticipating your next page. Proceed on the top quality work.
Learned your blog via yahoo the other day and absolutely think its great. Carry on the truly great work.
Thanks for you comment!! Hope the passion comes through. Please encourage other like-minded folks to have a look! Thanks!!
Good info
Thanks for the encouragement!!
Thanks! Stay tuned for more interesting info!!
Took me time to read the whole article, the article is great but the comments bring more brainstorm ideas, thanks.
- Johnson
it was very interesting to read.
This is the most interesting paper that I have read all year?!?
Glad you like it!! What resonated most with you??
Thanks!! What topics would be of interest in the future??
You made a few excellent points there. I did a search about the topic and barely got any specific details on other websites, but then great to be here, really, thanks.
- Lucas
I usually don’t post in Blogs but your blog forced me to, amazing work.. beautiful …
Thanks! Any other dental subject matter you would like to know more about??
Thanks! C’mon back!!
Glad you liked it! Any other subjects that would be of interest, please, let me know!!
What a nice compliment! Any suggestions for future topics??
Got a lot of feedback on this post! Anything else you’d like to hear about??
Awesome web site, I hadn’t come across http://www.drrisbrudt.com before during my searches!
Continue the great work!
Glad you like it!! Come back again!!
how are you I was fortunate to come cross your subject in baidu
your subject is impressive
I learn a lot in your blog really thanks very much
btw the theme of you website is really brilliant
where can find it
Thanks for your comment!! More to come!! THR
My cousin recommended this blog and she was totally right keep up the fantastic work!
Thank your cousin for me, and spread the word to other folks who might resonate with this idea!! THR
http://juliapr65.octobersolutions.info/uncategorized/simple-ways-to-control-excessive-sweating-and-body-odor/ Thanks for that awesome posting. It saved MUCH time
thankyou for posting writing this article. I’m decidedly frustrated with struggling to search out pertinent and intelligent commentary on this issue. Everybody today goes to the very far extremes to either drive home their viewpoint that either: everyone else in the planet is wrong, or two that everyone but them does not really understand the situation. Many thanks for your concise, pertinent insight.
Thanks for your concise pertinent comments!! I have learned that “needing to be right” can be very costly in doctor/patient relationships. Patients are usually crystal clear about their realities if one will only listen!! It’s nice to know there are folks who value that!!
Thanks!! Come back for more!! THR
Thanks for creating this. I really feel as though I know so much more about the topic than I did before. You should continue this, Im sure most people would agree youve got a gift.
Good Afternoon
Awesome blog, great write up, thank you!
How very nice of you to say!! Your comment literally made my day! Quick and easy seems to be the modus operendi these days, but in the long run, it can prove to be costly!! Customizing the approach for an individual’s unique circumstances, temperament and objectives works best for all parties in my view! THR
Thanks for your comment! This post has generated a lot of comment. Glad it’s “stubbing some mental toes!” THR
Great work keep it coming, best blog on earth
When i visit a blog, chances are that i get disappointed.On the other hand,I have to say that you have done a good job here.
You made my day–thanks! Any suggestions for content??
Book mark us–I’d value your continued feedback!! Thanks!!
Best blog on earth?? Wow!! What do I do for an encore?? Any subject matter you’d like to hear about?? THR
I’m impressed!
Maybe this is worth sharing that i found in this few posts below.[url=http://www.carcoverspal.com]Car Cover[/url]
Thanks! You made my day!! Come back!! THR
Hi! I want to wish you and yor friend so and Merry Christmas. I believe that new year will be very succesful for us. It is great oportunity to make some plans for the future and it is time to be pleased. I have read your post and if I can I want suggest you two or three important things or advice. Perhaps you could publish more articles connected to this post. I want to read new things about it!
This post has drawn more comments!! Interesting!! Being the last professional on the head, neck and shoulder pain food chain, I’ve got a million stories to tell !! So many folks going to ENT doctors, massage therapists, chiropractors, neurologists when the real problem was between their nose and their chin! So, be watching: I’ll call it “Comprehensive?? Sounds Expensive!” (Re-visited) THR
Most what i read online is trash and copy paste but i think you offer something different. Bravo.
I usually get bored easily and close the tab but i think you can add some value. Grats !
Hi, i think that i saw you visited my blog so i came to “return the favour”.I am looking for ways to add things to my blog!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!
Okay by me!! THR
Here’s to Value-added blogs–thanks!! THR