Choose faith over fear

I’m sitting at my computer on a beautiful day, writing my winter message, and Billy Joel’s song, “Keeping the Faith” started playing. It started me thinking of the past and the future and how sometimes, it seems easier to stay “lost in let’s remember” than move forward and face an often scary unknown.

One of my most meaningful mantras is “faith over fear.” It is so easy to keep to the same schedule, keep the same business protocols, and the same way of doing things, in a safe comfort zone. MedMark publications are meant to help you break out of that habit. We want you to not only read about the expanding opportunities for every aspect of your practice, but also to have the foresight to bring these innovations into your practice for your patients and your own success.

After almost 2 decades of dental publishing, I have seen many advancements revolutionize dental specialties. I remember when dentists were wary of finding a new use for their darkroom space and welcoming digital imaging into the practice. Now, not only X-rays, but a myriad of digital technologies connect every aspect of the practice, from X-rays, to practice management, to marketing, and connecting with patients. Even AI has found its way to the dental office. AI is constantly evolving, so all of you brave “early adopters” should be excited about the prospects on that topic!

No matter your specialty, innovations have transformed the way dental professionals practice — choices for clear aligner materials and 3D printing for orthodontists, new implant technologies for implant-focused dentists, and files and equipment to clean the root canal space for longer-lasting endodontic results. I have a personal involvement in many important breakthroughs affecting and saving the lives of those who suffer from sleep-breathing disorders. We have been honored all these years to bring new concepts and insights to our pages to bring you all of the latest clinical and business options.

In our Winter issue, here are some articles that will help you to fulfill your ambitious and enlightened goals. Our Cover Story details the Full-Arch Growth Conference at the Closing Institute’s Symposium, a transformative event with celebrity speakers who will discuss how to cultivate your practices’ potential, bring out the best in your team, and help you to close high value implant cases. One CE, by Dr. Dan Holtzclaw, outlines the PATZI protocol that uses immediate loading and remote anchorage concepts developed over the past 35+ years that can accommodate nearly any situation in the atrophic maxillae. Our second CE, by Dr. David Wong, considers how to achieve long-term success for implants without sacrificing esthetics. In our case report, Drs. Ilham Gammas and Haroutioun Kotchinian show how restorative and implant dentists can work together for predictable surgical and restorative results.

We can do the research, but you have to take the leap of faith. Billy Joel’s song has the right idea about honoring the past but propelling ourselves into the future:

“You can get just so much from a good thing
You can linger too long in your dreams
Say goodbye to the oldies but goodies
‘Cause the good ole days weren’t always good
And tomorrow ain’t as bad as it seems.”

Don’t linger too long while others take initiative. Choose faith over fear to flourish personally and professionally!

To your best success,

Lisa Moler