So This Is Why It's Awesome Being A Dentist

So even if the revered Kolbe Index gives me a score of 8 out of a possible 10 for instinctive risk taking, I am definitely not a classic risk taker. When it comes to taking chances, I’ll just give it up to window washers, rock climbers, and potluck cuisine enthusiasts.

When I get daring, it’s mostly due to my poor understanding of the consequences…and THAT’S how you open a dental practice with absolutely no patients and zero knowledge of stuff like payroll tax and worker’s comp insurance.

Multiple respected mentors have advised me to do what I fear because that’s most likely what I ought to be doing for my own good (unless it means wearing my Giants’ cap to Dodger Stadium.) The thought of walking into a restaurant without a date used to make me uncomfortable. Going to a Pasadena Chamber breakfast and speaking or being on a non-profit board used to scare the crap outa me. But no more; and I have a story that will illustrate why.

About 15-years ago, I chose to break out of Temple City once in a while and take my act on the road to the big city; in this case, Pasadena. I started eating there, going to the gym there, marketing there…and yesterday, I actually moved to the Rose City for keeps on parade day.

One fateful Pasadena Chamber morning I made eye contact with the Director of Development of Pasadena’s Haven House, the first shelter for victims of domestic violence to be founded in the U.S. I wound up touring the place and by the time we hit the Teen Art section, I would have begged to be a board member (turned out, half of my co-workers had been on the receiving end of the destructive generational behavior Haven House dealt with on a daily basis.)

A few years later, the board of directors welcomed a newcomer. Susan was an H/R Vice President at Disney and she was super-smart, hard-working, and committed; she soon became our president (and later would almost single-handedly save the historic organization in the wake of the U.S. economic collapse of 2008.)

Susan eventually became a patient and a little while later referred her assistant, Jessica.

Jessica was a sweetheart; she carried the kind of positive energy that just had to put a smile on your face. Jessica was bright, funny, and (as we would learn) had a beautiful caring and generous heart (during her care, Jessica chose to spend some of her time-off from Disney being part of a medical mission to the Philippines.) If there was one thing about Jessica that showed the slightest hint of posturing, it was her smile. She was 27-years old, had gaps she didn’t like and it was time to do something about it.

Jessica was congenitally missing two upper lateral incisors; the result was five large gaps between the six upper front teeth. Long story short: we provided Invisalign care, closed three of the spaces, and replaced the two naturally missing teeth with beautifully restored implants. Jessica was an amazing patient; not only was she compliant, she was an awesome source of energy for us all on arrival for her 7:30AM appointments.

Jessica’s care, including the implant restorations, took slightly more than 2-years. A few months before the finishing touches were applied, Jessica shared she was a trained vocalist. A month or two later, on completing Jessica’s care, I couldn’t have been prouder of the result (splashed it all over social media.) I wondered how Jessica’s new smile would impact her singing. I really had no idea.

A month or so went by when a Disney package arrived. Inside, I found a note and some Disney goodies. The note described someone who couldn’t stop smiling; someone who would soon be living her dream. Jessica shared she’d left Disney and would soon begin a 6-month engagement as a torch singer, singing jazz and blues at the Grand Hyatt…in Hong Kong. Talk about fearless. Talk about seizing the Day.

These days, I get to follow Jessica’s successes on Facebook; couldn’t be prouder.

And I realize Jessica probably would have eventually found a dentist who would have accomplished a similar transformative result. But if I hadn’t overcome some of my own fears, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity and privilege of serving Jessica and sharing this story.

It’s a new year. Maybe it’s time to take a chance. You just might find the same inspiration that’s been looking for you.

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