Page 73 - Dental Practice August 2022

73-Edit-Q8:87-Edit.qxd 8/20/2022 1:14 PM Page 1

>>

MIND OVER MATTER... CHILL OVER CHATTER

After several months of dodging, recently I Occasionally we do stumble upon some-
tested positive for the much feared Covid thing more substantive. Interestingly, I dis-
infection. Since ongoing infection is a much covered there is so much education available
milder version of the dreaded Corona Virus, on social media for a contemporary dental
I had minimal symptoms that too for a cou- clinician. I stumbled upon several groups on
ple of days, but as the protocol demanded I Facebook where professional colleagues
had to be isolated for about ten days. were sharing their work and inviting critical
DR. SUSHANT UMRE Surrounded by four walls, sitting alone opinions. Also more skilled, proactively
and secluded I discovered isolation wasn’t as forthcoming and sharing their expertise, to
bad as I had feared, as long as I had data on help their less experienced colleagues.
my phone. To give due credit to the tech- I also realized that we are indeed blessed
nology, it gives the means to live with our to be practicing a very visual surgical sci-
own company for extended periods. The ence. This visualization is not restricted to
ability to spend time while being immersed cosmetic aspect of dentistry, we can visually
in something we find interesting translates see dental disease and elucidate it to our
into being able to navigate passages of bore- patients on a screen with help of an intrao-
dom that otherwise sat heavily in our lives. ral camera. For that matter a handheld mir-
But soon I figured I was addicted to my ror is good enough for our patients to
phone. appreciate what is bothering them and what
I thought to myself, is it a bad habit this is required to be done. It's easy to examine
constant addiction to our phone? This and demonstrate the extent of disease on the
mindless compulsion to keep skulking even radiographs.
when there is nothing one is specifically Digital scanners have further enhanced
looking for? Can we call it to a dopamine this visual experience for us and our
hit? patients. Margins of our preparations can be
I agree families today, live in physical appreciated on a large screen by both us and
proximity and emotional detachment our technicians, so little is left for guess
because each individual is lost in their time- work.
lines. Our brains are unable to focus for any In my decades of private practice, I have
length of time on any one thing. Our read- always believed that we as surgeons practice
ing habit is being replaced by this urge to a unique surgical science where our patients
browse and to jump into someplace else. We must comprehend their treatment plan
are on the constant display and the algo- completely. So often we need multiple
rithm driven world learns to build mirrors appointments to get one procedure accom-
around us; We see nothing but a reflection plished. Think of our patients, who are
of our needs and opinions wherever we almost always anxious and need to be reas-
might go. One must acknowledge that there sured as to why they are going through a
is something deeply satisfying about all acts ‘torture’ in multiple visits.
of dawdling. The nod by the patient for our treatment
Actually it is fun to be wandering, to stray planning is paramount. All tenets of con-
and loiter without purpose, being lead only vincing and communication powers have to
by what takes our fancy. What's not to like be drawn out by us.
about this? Why must life always be pur- Experience, Expertise and Examination
poseful? Why must our interests be led by form the crucial troika which would tilt the
what is important and meaningful only? patients head towards the head rest on the
Especially since it’s not even our fault, tech- chair to allow the recommended treatment.
nology makes us do it. It is designed to give Knowledge and technology will be the for-
us little hits of reward that we cannot do midable vector of our directed arrow
without. towards the target of successful practice.

Dental Practice // July-August 2022 // Vol 18 No 4 73