Content Dam Diq Online Articles 2016 09 16sept1bcsimmons Ednotet

Dentistry

Doing dentistry the wrong (but right!) way

Aug. 31, 2016

Breakthrough Clinical’s Editorial Director Stacey L. Simmons, DDS, says, “A patient came into my office last week and the first words out of his mouth were, “I should be dead right now …” Find out the details about her patient, what she did and why, and how this ties in with this month’s articles in the newsletter.

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

This article first appeared in the newsletter, DE's Breakthrough Clinical with Stacey Simmons, DDS. Subscribe here.

A patient came into my office last week and the first words out of his mouth were, “I should be dead right now …”

(Pause.)

After recovering from that introduction, it turns out that this 71-year-old gentleman was diagnosed with and has been treated for tonsillar cancer that had spread almost to his entire head-and-neck area. The cancer was supposedly gone in 2012 with radiation and chemotherapy, but as karma would have it, it returned with a vengeance (see photo), and the prognosis is not good. Despite this, his chief complaint was just that he wanted to chew his food better. That’s it. So in order to help him achieve this goal, I’m going to go against all the rules of dentistry to get him to a state that at least improves his status quo.

You see, this patient has a full upper denture, broken carious teeth on the lower, and he is not a candidate for extractions due to the high risk for osteoradionecrosis. He also opens only two inches, which makes restorative work nearly impossible. What would you do?

Let’s look at that last question from another perspective. What would you do if you were having a difficult time getting the insurance companies to pay for the implant work that you did? Being clinically proficient is one thing, but you have to know how to use those clinical skills to make your bottom line work for you. Read the article by John A. Hodges, DDS, FICOI, this month; it will be an eye-opener.

Want to know four secrets about how to perform successful endodontic treatment? Endodontist Allan S. Deutsch, DMD, FACD, tells us what general practitioners can do to improve root canal success rates.

Just when you think you’ve got all the radiopacities figured out, there’s one that throws you for a loop. We’ve not seen this lesion in Breakthrough Clinical before, so be sure to take a look at the new pathology case and tell me what you think.

Cheers!

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

This article first appeared in the newsletter, DE's Breakthrough Clinical with Stacey Simmons, DDS. Subscribe here.

LAST MONTH . . . Braces and shoes, me and you

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