Comments on: Dear Other Endodontist In Town.

By: Periapex

Periapex — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:12:50 +0000

I know that he has a microscope in his office. He needs to use it more.

By: question

question — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:50:44 +0000

Terrible RT. I wouldn’t try this one in the first place myself, but it would be very hard to do a worse job. Perhaps he is old and needs glasses. I see now why you feel cynical towards the profession.

By: Periapex

Periapex — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:24:31 +0000

In your comment you’ve hit on tons of issues that I deal with on almost a daily basis. Some of those issues bothered me so much when I first started practising endo that I almost looked for a different line of work.

In the end, I started managing my office differently, implemented strict policies about referring offices and patients. I was able to weed out the problem practices so that they stopped referring to me. My stress level improved drastically. Basically, if I don’t see the bad stuff happening (that I know happens in every business) then I don’t need to turn a blind eye to it (or report it).

It is never worth the time or effort to try to change people unless they ask for you to help them change. It’s a basic principle of the ego I think.

Your last paragraph describes exactly the way we should all work. Do the best we can at everything that we do, all the time. Treat the patient, not your wallet. Know your limitations.

Thanks for your comment!

By: endodontist elsewhere

endodontist elsewhere — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:32:40 +0000

Well, it’s very difficult to put ourselves in the shoes of the other part. But I strongly believe we should. We are all able to make mistakes at some point, and the difference is to recognize them and be responsible or not. I understand this type of sittuations. It’s not the first Doctor nor the last one, who will get in the same situation in your practice.
Around here I have some “colleagues” just about the same. And in this town we are only 5 specialists, but MANY general dentists, have their offices well known as “endodontic professionals”, and the patient
Almost NEVER understant or even care, at the beggining of searching for treatment, if the Doctor is a PostGraduate specialist or not. And I have dealt with cases around here and always shut myself up about it
In front of the patient because I once was a General Dentist myself, and maybe I would never claim myself as a specialist if I weren’t, but I can understand why other urge to pretend they are. I have been mad at this
For so long, I don’t even want to worry anymore. The patients DON’t understand the difference at first, only when there is not much left to do for the tooth, and they had undergone any bad situations, and they have to come to my office
Or other specialists offices, in order to look for some possible solution. I don’t say directly to the patient that the other one screwedd up his/her tooth but try to protect the other Doctor (without talking to him, I know I probably should, but I won’t)
By saying there has been a lack of finishing properly some portion of the root canals o something like that, but because it seems that the Doctor worked a lot and had a hard time due to the conditions of the particular tooth.
Well, I understand the need in your heart to speak out, because I felt the same many times, but I also believe there is a chance for screwed up professionals in every fields, and there will always be around.
Be the best for yourself everyday, do the best, feel the best in your own place, and do it with love. I open my heart to my colleagues and wish them wellness in their jobs, but I can only change my own space and recieve with love and caring, the patients who choose to seek me regardless of what happened before in other places.
You just do your best and worry about your own practice, that’s our contribution to the world, from my own space, what can I do? And do it. Trying to change other people’s acts and understandings isn’t worth the effort.

By: Periapex

Periapex — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:00:41 +0000

The problem is that the average patient has no idea if a professional (lawyer, dentist, accountant) is doing the best job they can. It’s the reason we go to professionals, they have more knowledge/experience than we do. It’s also the reason that ethics is taught to budding professionals.

Unfortunately for too many, greed takes over and the philosophy of the job becomes, “what can I get away with?”.

By: Jules

Jules — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:36:20 +0000

That’s crap work! Amazing how much the general public believes & puts up with, just because they are “Doctors”. The pedestal is not big enough for sheisty, shady and careless individuals… no matter what lever of doctor, dentist, oncologist, profession, ect…

By: Periapex

Periapex — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:39:14 +0000

That’s what I keep telling you.

By: dr. mommy

dr. mommy — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:35:16 +0000

there’s really only two of you in your neck of the woods? i better get my ass back to school ASAP!

By: Periapex

Periapex — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:14:43 +0000

You hit the nail on the head. Thanks!

By: Isha

Isha — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:15:59 +0000

Thanks for bringing this to light. It is really important that though we show mutual respect and understanding for our colleagues, that sometimes we draw a line and make a statement. The issue is not just about competency, but about ethics in a profession. Another good post!