Here in St. Louis, Missouri, summer is already upon us, with temperatures in the 90s for the last 10 days. We have had two record-breaking highs with lots of humidity to make us feel even hotter. I am not sure what happened to our spring. We went from temperatures in the 60s in May to hot, hot, hot weather in June.
Hope you are staying cool wherever you are! Be sure to look in on your older neighbors and friends to be sure they are in good shape.
A new organization was officially formed at the beginning of this year. The inaugural meeting was held at the end of June, and I was the keynote speaker. The name of this new organization is the American Academy for Oral Systemic Health (AAOSH).
I believe in the connection between oral health and the overall health of the body. Dr. Christian Kammer is the president of AAOSH. He believes in the importance of bringing the dental and medical communities together to raise awareness of oral-systemic health issues and to fight periodontal disease as a way to improve systemic health.
The American Academy for Oral Systemic Health is an organization of health-care leaders and health professionals dedicated to the relationship of oral health and whole body health. Its vision is to improve interdisciplinary health care and collaboration, and the health of people everywhere by changing public and professional awareness of the mouth-body health links.
AAOSH provides support to health professionals and the public by providing a higher quality and standard for health-care service and public awareness of the health connections linking the mouth with the body. AAOSH is passionate in its vision to educate medical and dental professionals about the mouth-body connections. The orgganization hopes to help bridge the gaps within the medical disciplines and professions — using current and emerging science and modern information technology — to support the rapid and accurate exchange of available knowledge.
Not only will this benefit all health professionals, but millions of people worldwide will benefit and live healthier, longer, and happier lives. I invite you to join us by visiting www.aaosh.org for more information.
I have noticed in the last few years that customer service in the big stores is slowly but surely disappearing. Our Walmart does not even have a welcoming greeter. Gone are the days of smiling people, and there seems to be many more “policies” that you never knew about until you try to return something. What has happened to common decency? When was the last time you helped someone in need? Have you ever assisted a person in a wheelchair struggling to enter a grocery store? How about helping a person who is having difficulty loading groceries into the car?
Has this attitude carried over into our dental offices? In the June issue, I called your attention to the McKinney Dentist article. The attitude in this office is to answer YES to everything ... and then figure out how to do it. When a treatment is needed and the patient is willing, they do it now! These two attitudes have made this practice a very high producer. This would be a great time to look at the attitudes that exist in your office and do some team training if you have a problem.
The year is half over! Have you revisited your practice vision lately? Are your goals written down and posted so you see them every morning before you start to work? Are you meeting your goals? Do you need to make some changes or get recharged? There is nothing stronger than goals that are written down to motivate and guide you in the direction that you have chosen. Goals that are only in your mind don’t count! They need to be written down to really make a difference in your life!
Be sure to read the continuing-education piece titled “Enhancing the Esthetic Outcome of Implant Restorations with Socket Preservation” that is included in this magazine. You’ll earn two CE credits with the course. Other CE courses can be found at www.IneedCE.com.
Kevin Henry, my managing editor at DE, is doing a tremendous job on our website, located at www.dentistryiq.com. Kevin and his editors in the Dental Division of PennWell® pull together unpublished articles on new subjects every month into an e-supplement that is delivered through e-newsletters such as DE’s “Expert Tips & Tricks.” This month, the e-supplement will focus on sleeping disorders and the role the dental team plays. Be watching for it!
Joe Blaes, DDS, Editor — email: [email protected]
Toll-free phone number: (866) 274-4500
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