Practice Perspectives

By Daniel Miller, DDS Grand Rapids WMDDS E ditor

The new year kicked off with the presentation of the Silent Bell Award to Dr. Deb Peters. It was a great time to interact with my WMDDS colleagues as well as friends from across the MDA. Rachel, Jeff, and I even had a mini Bulletin meeting while in attendance (see photo). I encourage you to attend future Silent Bells and congratulate Deb the next time you see her. When interacting with other dentists, it becomes clear that while all dentists do similar things, the way they go about them in their practice is very different. Everyone has a different perspective on practice.

Not every practice is a single doctor private practice. However, often times that is viewed as the best way to practice dentistry. When I first moved to West Michigan to work with a DSO, I was hesitant to tell others where I worked. I was hesitant because of the comments that were made whenever I told someone. I have been told that I am not a real dentist if I am not in a private practice. I have even been told that the quality of my work must be poor simply because of my practice structure. While some MDA members made these comments, I am lucky enough to have a strong network within the MDA that supports me and colleagues like me. However, sadly these comments are prevalent, and I have heard similar stories from colleagues. If an individual does not have a support network, one comment like this is enough to turn them away from organized dentistry. As colleagues, we should build each other up and not tear each other down. This is why I am launching a new series in the Bulletin called “Practice Perspectives.”

The goal of the series is to help WMDDS members better understand the diversity of our profession. It is my hope that reading this series helps expand how you view the field of dentistry. This feature kicks off with an inspiring article from Dr. Deborah Brown. The journey she describes is a prime example of how dentistry can change both the patient and provider. If you believe you know someone who has a unique perspective, please email me at wmddsbulletin@gmail.com.

Keep smiling,

Daniel Miller, DDS WMDDS Bulletin Editor

Dr. Susan Maples, DDS, MSBA, is a passionate health educator. who leads a successful, total health, insurance-independent dental practice in Holt, Michigan. She brings preventive and restorative dental expertise, a passion for mouth-body total health, a master’s degree in business/marketing, and 35+ years of experience in private practice. Susan currently serves as president of the American Academy of Oral & Systemic Health. She is the creator and founder of Total Health Academy, a complete online solution for dental teams to integrate all aspects of Total Health Dentistry, and developer of the Hands-On Learning Lab™ and SelfScreen.net. She is the author of BlabberMouth! 77 Secrets Only Your Mouth Can Tell You To Live a Healthier, Happier, Sexier Life. Susan recently released a new book titled, Brave Parent! Raising Healthy, Happy Kids (Against All Odds) in Today’s World.

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