Dentistry

Sometimes you can't put a price tag on dentistry

May 31, 2017

Dr. Stacey Simmons, editorial director of Breakthrough Clinical, says: "People often ask me why I went into dentistry and what I like about it. One of my favorite responses is: because I like to pay it forward. Meet John, a US Marine Corps veteran whose biggest battle in life wasn’t fought on the fields in Vietnam; it was his oral health after having cancer."

Stacey L. Simmons, DDS, Editorial Director of DE's Breakthrough Clinical e-newsletter

Dr. Stacey Simmons says: "People often ask me why I went into dentistry and what I like about it. One of my favorite responses is: because I like to pay it forward. Meet John, a US Marine Corps veteran whose biggest battle in life wasn’t fought on the fields in Vietnam; it was his oral health after having cancer."

Editor's note: This article first appeared in DE's Breakthrough Clinical with Stacey Simmons, DDS. Find out more about it and subscribe here.

People often ask me why I went into dentistry and what I like about it. There are always the standard answers: to make a living; it’s medicine; etc. But one of my favorite responses is: because I like to pay it forward.

Meet John, a US Marine Corps veteran whose biggest battle in life wasn’t fought on the fields in Vietnam; it was his oral health after having cancer. After going over his situation in its entirety, I had the opportunity to work with a team of fantastic individuals who were able to grant John a double-arch All-On-4 procedure from start to finish at absolutely no cost to him as a thank-you for his service to our country. John is one of many people who represents our country well.

With Memorial Day just behind us and the 4th of July right around the corner, it’s hard not to think about those in the past, present, and future who made and continue to make it possible for you and I to do what we do.

One of the most popular topics for the DentistryIQ readers is internal and external resorption. I have written on internal resorption and also on how to differentiate between the two. This month, I offer a case report on a classic external resorptionsituation that is sure to interest you.

Patients frequently present with functional issues, and sometimes the answers to their dilemmas are not as black and white as they may seem. Do we really understand the whys behind our patients' chief complaints? The article written by Dr. Neeraj Khanna will help you diagnose these parafunctional problems, as well as give tips on how to treat them effectively.

A child presents for a checkup with a large lesion just inside his lip. The photo says it all, and Dr. Conway Jensen is on top of what he would do to treat it. What would you do?

Happy summer, all! Have fun, be safe, and stay motivated!

Stacey L. Simmons, DDS
Editorial Director, DE’s Breakthrough Clinical with Stacey Simmons, DDS

Editor's note: This article first appeared in DE's Breakthrough Clinical with Stacey Simmons, DDS. Find out more about it and subscribe here.

LAST MONTH . . . That recent dental work you had completed needs to be redone, and, yes, I can do it without getting you numb!

For more articles about clinical dentistry, click here.

Stacey L. Simmons, DDS, is in private practice in Hamilton, Montana. She is a graduate of Marquette University School of Dentistry. Dr. Simmons is a guest lecturer at the University of Montana in the Anatomy and Physiology Department. She is the editorial director of PennWell’s clinical dental specialties newsletter, DE’s Breakthrough Clinical with Stacey Simmons, DDS, and a contributing author for DentistryIQ, Perio-Implant Advisory, and Dental Economics. Dr. Simmons can be reached at [email protected].

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About the Author

Stacey L. Simmons, DDS | Editorial Director of DE's Breakthrough Clinical e-newsletter

Dr. Stacey Simmons grew up in Hamilton, Montana. She did part of her undergraduate work at Purdue University and then received her bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology from the University of Utah. After applying to both medical and dental school, she decided that dentistry was her career of choice. She received her DDS degree from Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2004. In private practice, she focuses her care on prosthodontics and cosmetic dentistry. She is a guest lecturer in the Anatomy and Physiology Department at the University of Montana. Outside the office, she trains for triathlons and spends time with her family. You may contact Dr. Simmons by email at [email protected].

In 2015, Dr. Simmons became the editorial director of DE's Breakthrough Clinical with Stacey Simmons, DDS, an e-newsletter focused on breaking through plateaus in clinical practice. Subscription information may be found here.

Updated May 4, 2016