Seattle King County Dental Society Membership Quarterly Summer 2022

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MEMBERSHIP

Quarterly SUMMER 2022

VOL 20 / ISSUE 5

Teddy Bear Adventures Dental Injury Claims Dental Help for Kids 1111 Har vard Avenue Seattle, WA 98122-4205 206.448.6620 www.skcds.org 2022 SKCDS SUMMER QUARTERLY

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YOUR VISION, DELIVERED.

C O N S TA N T I N E B U I L D E R S . C O M

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SUMMER 2022 Volume 20, Issue 5

Seattle-King County Dental Society Summer Quarterly

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contributors: Ms. Angela Bond Dr. Randy Ogata Dr. Christy Kirchner Dr. Kal Klass Dr. Christopher Brown Dr. Al Munk

President’s Message...................................................................................5 From the Desk of Dr. Ogata ........................................................................6 Dental Help for Kids....................................................................................8 New Members...........................................................................................9 Saving Time and Staying Safe with Paperless Documentation.........................14 Dental Injury Claims: The Good and The Bad...................................................15 Teddy Bears and Teeth ...............................................................................16 PNDC 2022.............................................................................................17 Member Feature: Dr. Christopher Brown......................................................18 Dr. Munk........................................................................................................22

Publisher: Bill Newcomer, Vancouver, WA OFFICERS Dr. Christy Kirchner, President Dr. Harlyn Susarla, President-Elect Dr. Adam Kennedy, Past President Dr. Ryan Lemke, Secretary EXECUTIVE COUNCIL Dr. Elena Andronova, Executive Council Dr. Kate Christian, Executive Council Dr. LeRoy Horton,Executive Council Dr. Mamiko Kuriya, Executive Council Dr. Stephen Pong, Executive Council Dr. Christine Shigaki, Executive Council Dr. Christopher Shyue, Executive Council Dr. Randy Ogata, Executive Director Contact and Change of Address: To ensure continued receipt of issues, change of address must be reported to: SKCDS Central Office , 1111 Harvard Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122-4205, as soon as possible Phone: 206.448.6620 | Fax: 206.443.9308. Email: skcds@skcds.com | website: www.skcds.org The information in this publication is for the exclusive benefit of Seattle-King County Dental Society members. Neither the Society nor the publisher makes any express or implied warranties as to the information herein, including the contents of any advertising. Opinions in The Quarterly do not necessarily express the official policies of the Seattle-King County Dental Society, nor the opinions of the editor, unless so stated. Publication of advertising is not an endorsement, qualification, approval or guarantee of either advertisers or product. For advertising and publishing details, contact: Mr. Bill Newcomer, 503.318.5916, bill@bncprinting.com

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Cover Photo: UW Students at an MTI Clinic, Teddy Bear Adventures, and SKCDS Sealant Program 2022 SKCDS SUMMER QUARTERLY

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Seattle King County Dental Society Staff

Executive Director: Dr. Randy Ogata randy@skcds.com

Membership and Administrative Manager: Angela Bond angela@skcds.com

CONTACT US Seattle King County Dental Society Central Office 1111 Harvard Avenue Seattle, WA 98122 | Phone 206.448.6620 • Fax: 206.443.9308 | Email: skcds@skcds.com • Website: www.skcds.org

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The

President’s Message

Summer Fun Have you ever noticed how King County does summer? It’ll sound a bit cheesy, but we really rush into it with reckless abandon. We accept the spring showers; we enjoy the lush green and explosions of color dappling our world but give us even the slightest possibility of sunshine and we all perk up. Admittedly, at the time of this writing, we’re all a bit chilly and confused but by the time of publication that will likely have changed to glorious summer heat. And hopefully not the melting kind we experienced for a bit at the beginning of last July…but the kind we actually want to bask in with our backyard BBQ’s, tubing, and the burst of festivals and fairs that come about in King County in the summer months.

After a two-year hiatus, the Seafair hydroplane races and the Blue Angels are back! You can kick off the festivities by watching the Seafair Pirates land at Alki and then support the community organizations of King County by spending an afternoon at one of the many street fairs and/or art festivals throughout the county taking place the whole summer! The 2022 King County Fair will be lighting up Enumclaw in July, the number of food festivals cropping up every single weekend over the next few months is incredible (seriously, just check your nearby events on Facebook or scroll through EventBrite), craft and Farmer’s Markets have returned with gusto, and the outdoor movies at any number of parks across the county are available for your viewing pleasure! That doesn’t even touch on all the great farms and community activities that you can flock to (with a protective layer of sunscreen). When was the last time you went to the Woodland Park Zoo? You might have a tradition of going to the Lanterns during the holiday season, but have you been and strolled through in the daytime lately? How about this…do you know the Space Needle roof is orange again? It’s the 65th anniversary so we’ve got a good old-fashioned throwback happening but while we’re at it…have you been up there without out-of-town guests since they completed the remodel of the rotating glass floor? The restaurant is gone, but you can book some stunning sunset views in the wine lounge after strolling around Chihuly Garden and Glass and the Pacific Science Center. Perhaps you’re in the mood for something on the water…rent an electric boat or kayak or get your leg workout in with a paddleboat at Greenlake! We’re so spoiled in King County. Maybe we know it, maybe we don’t because we’re so used to it. We have such a fun food scene to support, community centers that are an easy drive from us (we’ll ignore the parking part of the word “easy” there), fairs and festivals and opportunities for downright fun. And honestly? A lot of other counties in our own state don’t have these same opportunities as accessible as we do. Take advantage of all that you have this summer, do things that maybe feel touristy, maybe feel silly, that are probably out of your comfort zone. Do them because you CAN. And while you’re at it…show us! Tag SKCDS on Facebook (@SeattleKingCountyDentalSociety) or Instagram (@skcds) to show your fellow members what you’re getting out and doing this summer because you never know, you might just give them some ideas on what to get out and do themselves! Sincerely,

Dr. Christine Kirchner Dr. Christine Kirchner

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Summer 2022 From the desk of Dr. Randy Ogata Executive Director

Your Dash

As I sit in the ‘Field of Dreams’ event, the Medical Teams International Annual Fundraiser, I am honored to represent the SKCDS and SKCDF surrounded by a cadre of other dedicated dentist volunteers: Drs. Linda & Bryan Edgar, Carrie York, Christine Chen, Chris Delecki and Melanie Lang. SKCDS volunteers, enrolled through MTI, can provide thousands of dollars’ worth of treatment every year to populations that do not have dental homes. At the opening of the ‘Field of Dreams’, they “batted leadoff” with a reading by a lifelong MTI volunteer, Ken, who had recently passed away.

The Dash Poem By Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak At the funeral for a friend He referred to the dates on the tombstone From the beginning...to the end He noted that first came the date of birth Then spoke the following date with tears, But he said what mattered most of all Was the DASH between those years For that DASH represents all the time That they spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved them most Know what that little line was worth For it matters not, how much we own, The cars...the house...the cash. What matters is how we live and love And how we spend our DASH. So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left

That can still be rearranged. If we could just slow down enough To consider what’s true and real And always try to understand The way other people feel. And be less quick to anger And show appreciation more And love the people in our lives Like we’ve never loved before. If we treat each other with respect And more often wear a smile, Remembering this special DASH Might only last a little while So, when your eulogy is being read With your life’s actions to rehash... Would you be proud of the things they say About how you spent YOUR DASH?

SKCDS is dedicated to helping dentists who wish to volunteer, make the most of their DASH by providing community outreach opportunities that are offered throughout the year. During my time as your Executive Director we have helped to provide PPE to all dental offices when there was none to be bought, served our fellow dentists by providing Mask Fit Testing, partnered with MTI and the UW SOD to expand upon the care provided by the dental vans, presented at job fairs to middle school students about the opportunities in the dental workforce team, sponsored dental education programs and free screenings during National Children’s Dental Health Month in partnership with KidsQuest in Bellevue as well as taking part in their ‘Teddy Bear Clinic’, and started a sealant program in the Highline School District. We are not done yet – but we need dedicated volunteers to continue to provide these programs; and even more volunteers if we wish to expand them across our communities. So – what will your DASH look like? It is an honor and privilege to serve the dentists and dental students of King County. Sincerely,

Dr. Randy Ogata 6 l 2022 SKCDS SUMMER QUARTERLY


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DENTAL PRACTICE TRANSITIONS

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Dental Help for Kids Dental care for underserved communities was Dr. Bill Leicht’s passion for his thirty-year career, most of which was spent at a community health center in New York. After retiring as the center’s Dental Director, he moved to Seattle to start his next chapter which, lucky for us, includes commitment to his professional passion. The SKCDS Access to Care Committee and SKCDF had partnered on and approved a grant to create a mobile dentistry program that would focus on applying sealants to first molars, to stop any early signs of decay and provide the children treated with a positive dental foundation moving forward. Programs such as these used to be common in school districts in King County, but with budget cuts and funds shifting to other needs, these programs have disappeared from the education system. To add to potentially brewing problems, many parents have put off dental care during the global pandemic. Therefore, the Sealant Program steps in to support our public schools and provide necessary care to children in need. For the initial launch of this program, the Highline School District was approached to gauge interest in hosting Dr. Leicht and volunteer dentists to carry out the procedures. Through a lot of red tape, COVID-related bumps in the road, and back and forth on equipment needed to make this experience as optimal as possible, the program formally launched at Midway Elementary with a focus on the second-grade class! The first day of treatment took place on May 20, 2022 and Dr. Sonia Takasaki (with Dr. Leicht assisting) screened seven children, provided fluoride varnish on five, and placed a total of fifteen sealants. All seven children screened that day had untreated caries, although on the consent forms that had been sent out to parents prior to the treatment day, only four of the children had indicated not having a dental home. Regardless of this, all children seen were sent home with information on nearby dental resources (based on the school zip code). The final treatment day for this school year took place on June 8, 2022 with Dr. Chris Shyue performing treatments in the morning and Dr. Randy Ogata taking over in the afternoon. Between the two of them, they saw six children, applied fluoride varnish to five, and placed a total of twelve sealants. Dr. Leicht has already begun discussions with some of the principals at other elementary schools in the Highline School District who are excited to welcome this program to their own campuses during the next school year. The plan is also to return to Midway to check on the placed sealants of the now-third graders and provide treatments to the new second grade class! If you are interested in taking part in making this program possible, please reach out to Dr. Bill Leicht at accessmanager@skcds.com to let him know of your availability during the coming school year. With planning taking place so early, he will be able to use the dates you provide him to work with the schools to find the best dates possible for all involved.

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Saving Time and Staying Safe With Paperless Documentation Article Provided by TDIC

If you’ve ever lost a receipt, arrived at the grocery store without your list or misplaced a lucky lottery ticket, you know the perils of paper. When navigating your practice’s many clinical, compliance and employment requirements, those perils are exponentially multiplied. As you prepare for a fresh start in the new year, streamline operations with digital documentation.

THE DOWNSIDE OF PAPER DOCS

Analysts who answer The Dentists Insurance Company’s Risk Management Advice Line field thousands of calls — often about practice challenges. As reported in a recent call, a dentist who shared a storage area with another tenant experienced an issue when the space was being remodeled. Returning to work after the weekend, she realized some charts were misplaced and was unsure whether information was missing and possibly even compromised. The analyst advised the dentist to conduct a HIPAA breach assessment. Without any certainty of the scope of the issue, the practice might have needed to send a blanket notification to all patients whose charts were contained in the storage area. The inability to monitor, track and access paper documents during practice interruptions — no matter how brief — introduces risk. Whether you’re working through converting existing records into digital formats or looking for more paper-free opportunities, be thoughtful and strategic in your approach.

SAYING YES TO THE PAPERLESS IN FOUR STEPS

• Understand retention guidelines. The amount of time you keep dental records after a patient’s last visit is determined by each state’s laws and the provisions of any contracted benefit plans — ranging from several years to “indefinitely.” Employment documents, tax returns, business contracts and insurance policies all have unique retention guidelines. Digital solutions allow you to more easily find and access documents on the cloud without the clutter. Check with your state dental association or dental board for region-specific requirements. • Secure records against risks. One of the biggest benefits of going paperless is the ability to protect important and confidential information from loss, theft or damage. Your role is to ensure that the right individuals on the practice team have access, that passwords are strong, that protocols are consistent and that your practice is insured for potential liabilities. Comprehensive protection to respond to and recover from cyber-related incidents is essential for dental offices of any size. • Get on a backup cycle. Another paperless upside is anytime, anywhere access. During an emergency or unforeseen event, you can have confidence that you’ll connect to the data you need. Your backup cycle is determined by your risk tolerance. How much data can you afford to compromise in a day, a week or a year? Secure, HIPAA-compliant, cloud-based solutions can back up data dependably but still need to be checked that they are functioning as expected. • Facilitate team buy-in. While digital documents can streamline processes, the entire team still needs to be aligned and engaged. Use consistent naming conventions for files so that information can be cross-referenced or searched with ease. Provide training and opportunities for staff to weigh in on how the practice can be most successful at going green. Those who do the most paperwork can be the best champions for reducing repetitive tasks. Get started with quick wins, like online access for managing your insurance policies, business services and supply shopping. And commit to consistent protocols that allow you to enjoy the flexibility of digital documents while keeping data safe and secure.

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Dental Injury Claims: The Good and The Bad by Dr. Kal Klass

As the lead reviewer for dental injury claims in Washington State, for the Department of Labor and Industries, I consult for and review many of these submitted claims. The two most common dental injury claims are of two major types: 1. Claims with the Department of Labor and Industries 2. Dental malpractice claims The Department of Labor and Industries pays for dental treatment related to any injury in the employee’s place of employment. In other words, if anyone is injured while working for their employer, L and I will cover any dental related expenses in full. To become a provider for L and I, start with this web address: https://lni.wa.gov/. Dental claims are usually reimbursed for fees above what most insurances cover. However, you should be aware of the following nuances: There is a WAC (296-20-110) which expressly prohibits coverage for any non-injury related teeth or TMJ injury. Sometimes, dentists (most often from corporate clinics) try to submit claims to include other teeth not injured with the teeth that were injured. In fact, unfortunately, many claims are submitted for teeth injured when there were no injuries to teeth at all. As a dentist and a reviewer for L and I, you may imagine that it is quite easy for me to determine the true cause of a dental problem by looking at the ‘pre’ and ‘post’ injury records. Some dentists assume that another dentist will not be reviewing these claims, but it is the opposite: a dentist almost always is the one reviewing these L and I dental injury claims. Your most secure guarantee for coverage is to ensure there was no pre-existing (pre-injury) damage or pre-existing condition related to the claimed teeth AND to only submit a treatment plan for the damaged teeth, not for any others. Many patients who make claims and have never seen a dentist, may see this as an opportunity to get as much free dental work as possible. The dentist needs to be up front in explaining to the patient which teeth would be seen as injured in a recent claim. If any dentists question becoming an L and I provider or if anyone ever has a question pertaining to their L and I claim, you are welcome to call or email me for a consult; there is no fee for that, and my contact info is below. Your best record for documenting the injury is always an intra oral photo. In this day and age, I am always amazed how many dentists still do not use intra oral photos to document dental problems. All I can say about this is that the newer cameras are so cheap and easy to use, there is no reason not to use them. I often decline coverage for cracked teeth because the dentist only provided an x-ray, and I cannot see any cracks on most of these x-rays unless it is a fractured root. Overall, x-rays are inferior to intra oral photos for many claims sent to any insurance company as well as to L and I. I have never had a claim denied by any insurance when submitting photos from my practice. I have had claims denied when only submitting x-rays, as we all have. Malpractice claims are usually quite different, as you may imagine. They most commonly occur when one dentist disparages another dentist if some dentistry has failed for any reason. There is often a strong incentive for the disparaging dentist since they stand to gain a lot financially if redoing dentistry for a patient. Please remember that the ADA Code of Ethics strictly prohibits disparagement of another dentist. That means that whenever you see any kind of failed or poor-quality dentistry, you should feel obligated to fix it, but please don’t ever assume the previous dentist did something wrong or convey that to the patient. I have worked for many malpractice cases in which disparagement of another dentist occurred, and 100% of the time, whenever the judge or arbitrator is aware of this, they favor the defendant/dentist, sometimes by quite a lot. I always document this for the judge or arbitrator whenever I see it in the records. Since the topic of malpractice claims is more involved for discussion, it will not be discussed further here. We can address this in another future article which can explain how best to avoid malpractice in your office. Kal Klass DDS, Member of Peer Review Committee klassdds@gmail.com

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Teddy Bears and Teeth Teddy Bear Adventures has been happening at KidsQuest Children’s Museum for years. It’s a special clinic that happens all throughout the museum to give children a chance to bring their favorite stuffed animal to visit with medical professionals and give their stuffie a check-up, learn about vaccines, and in extreme cases, take their favorite friend for a cast or stitches. However, for the first time ever, there was a new element to this special clinic: dentists! At the “Tooth Check” booth of this year’s Teddy Bear Adventures, kids were able to identify and feel the teeth on animal skull molds that would most closely resemble those of their stuffed animal in the real world. There were five options for them to choose from: a black bear (most popular), deer (very similar to unicorns), an arctic fox, a jack rabbit, and a coyote. On the other side of the booth, children were able to practice their brushing and flossing on a GIANT set of teeth that kept getting spinach stuck between them! The giant toothbrush in particular was a big favorite, and it was actually surprising to see just how determined some of these kids were to brush out every single “yuck” from this mouth. A huge thank you goes out to Drs. Alexis David and Audrey Mikkelson for volunteering at this event, checking Carrots the Bunny and all the friends that came along throughout the day for dental “ouchies”, and teaching each kid that came bouncing up how to do their best work to get the “sugar bugs” out of their teeth. The importance of a program like this cannot be overstated, even if it does not seem immediately obvious. These kids got to play with their dentists and doctors, they got to see that these adults who might be scary in their bright sterile offices, are just as ready to have some fun. Children scrubbing like mad at a giant set of teeth is impossible not to smile at, but also provides an opening to the discussion of “Do you brush your teeth like that at home? Remember to get all the way in the back!” while they giggle at their own antics and brush an invisible tongue. Opportunities like these, to bring dental health into a different setting, can make all the difference in breaking down social barriers and emphasizing the importance of this care to both the children and guardians who are dutifully following along behind their small charges.

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MEMBER FEATURE: Dr. Christopher Brown Eight-year-old Christopher Brown was going to be a professional tennis player. As the youngest of three boys, he had been pulled into doing the same sport as his two brothers…but this had a unique benefit. He was able to receive the most training and was soon playing tennis a couple of hours every day and traveling to tournaments around the country on the weekends. He even played at Duke University and the Future Tournaments after graduation (the minor leagues of professional tennis) but it was at some point in college that he realized that he didn’t want to make this his career path. So…what were the alternatives? Right around the time of this realization, our now Dr. Brown had an older brother in medical school who nudged him to at least look into dentistry. He was taking basic science classes in college at the time but hadn’t truly considered the sciences overall as an option. But the more he researched dentistry, the more it became appealing. Ultimately, Dr. Brown went on to receive his dental degree from the University of Maryland, graduating magna cum laude and being recognized for his academic achievements in oral surgery and anatomy. He then went on to complete a surgical internship at the University of Maryland, including working at the MD Shock Trauma Center. His interest in the surgical aspects of dentistry finally led him to the University of Washington to complete his Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery training. Turns out, the Pacific Northwest made quite an impression and Dr. Brown decided to stay here, opening his practice ‘Sammamish Oral Surgery’ not long after completing his training. One of the biggest surprises that has popped up when it comes to running your own practice: the amount of administrative work that goes into the simplest day-to-day things. No one talks about it in dental school, but the administrative challenges are ever a work in progress. Whenever he’s not running his busy practice, Dr. Brown loves spending time with his family and enjoying the outdoor opportunities that are so plentiful in the Pacific Northwest! He has a beautiful wife and two young daughters who he absolutely adores, and finds hilarious. Watching them explore and taking them outside whenever possible (to do just about anything you can imagine) is an ongoing treat. Hopefully, they will be able to take their adventures to Hawaii soon! Also, as the girls get older, Dr. Brown is looking forward to teaching and practicing with them in whatever sports they decide to pursue.

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The Attorney Who Gives You The Power To Succeed

Since 1968

We are pleased to announce...

Ann J. Durham

Emily B. Li, D.M.D.

ATTORNEY AT LAW

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Gums By Al Munk DDS Reprinted from a previous issue with permission.

It’s really a shame that teeth had to come with gums. They would otherwise be such a nice little package. Just thirty-two pearly columns waiting for inlays and root canals. And think of the access we would have for root caries. We could throw away retraction cord and all the hemostatic nostrums so carefully collected over the decades. All that talk of coral pink and stippling could be dropped from the lexicon. Who really knew what flap curet­tage was anyway. But alas, for most people, I’m afraid the gums are here to stay. Out here in Ballard, they’re pronounced with the long vowel sound—gooms. As in “Hey doc, I think there’s a pus-pocket coming out of my goom.” This would be a typical opening statement by any one of hundreds of my patients. I would then write in my chart regarding their chief complaint as I was so dutifully trained, p.pocket, gooms, unknown ori­gin. I’m unsure of the origin of this particular aberra­tion in pronunciation as I seldom hear anyone say for example, “Could I have a piece of the Juicy Fruit goom?” For some reason the medical reference brings out the creative side of people as they explain to me that both their gooms and piles are acting up. I then ask them to make up their mind which ailment they would like serviced before I adjust the chair. Ah, the miracle of formocresol. When I was a freshman in dental school, the perio department in its infinite wisdom decided to teach us first-hand just what gingivitis was. This was, of course, long before the word was bandied about on TV and radio as it is today. “Listerine fights the germs that cause gingivitis” we are so often reminded. Yesterday I had a 96 year-old woman ask me if she had a problem with gingivitis. Of course I explained that the dreaded curse would likely claim her last six teeth sometime in the next thirty years. She laughed and pulled me close with one bony hand and kissed me on the cheek. This sort of thing happens all the time in my office. Anyway, the perio department’s plan was for the entire freshman class to put away the brush and floss for a month and see what kind of grunge would grow on the dentition in the meantime. Along the way, we were supposed to exam­ine each other for signs of oral plague, materia alba etc. My love life, which ordinarily was never something to write home about, suffered greatly during this period of self-imposed oral slothitude. There were one or two in the class who only brushed their teeth on the Solstice anyway so for them, this ex­periment was not a problem.

EXPOSURES

I suspect if a similar program was imposed on the student body of today, the University would find itself in court until the next millennium. In those days student abuse was not only allowed, but encouraged. Take for example, the perio clinic. We were required to sit in the perio clinic on beautiful spring afternoons with our patients for three or four hours on the off chance that some ancient dinosaur perio instruc­tor in a white jacket would stop by and initial our treat­ment plans. The odds of this actually happening were slim to none. In the meantime, gums were rotting before our very eyes and most patients would die before having their perio treatment completed. Another useful exercise was the typodont scaling pro­gram. Some genius decided dental school was not already expensive enough so they called for each student to spend $300 for a typodont that had removable gums so you could paint artificial calculus on the roots and then scrape it off. Mind you, this represented 100 hours in the sawmill at $3 per hour for yours truly. Though it’s been almost thirty years, I may still apply for a refund on this one. Modern periodontists have finally recognized the futility of curing the incurable and have gone on to bigger and better things. The implant revolution has finally satisfied their urge to drill that we all had instilled in us early on. The drills are really big but go much too slow for my liking. Once you’ve revved to 300,000 rpm, it’s hard to go back to the arm. That’s all for now from Ballard.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or official policy of the Seattle-King County Dental Society.

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