Dentist Brain Candy

In the last couple of weeks, I’ve seen multiple cases of dental implant failure, all of which were entirely preventable. So, what’s behind these failures? What can we do to identify and treat implant failures? And prevent similar problems moving forward? On this episode of Dentist Brian Candy, I share several cases of implant failure that have come through my office recently, explaining how dental labs are compromising the health of patients in the interest of price savings. I discuss why It's problematic to use non-authentic components in dental implants and challenge restorative dentists to insist that laboratories use authentic parts. Listen in for insight on identifying open contacts and occlusal overload and learn to address these issues before they lead to catastrophic bone loss and implant failure in the patients you serve. Key Takeaways The many cases of implant failure I’m seeing that were entirely preventable How dental labs are compromising the health of patients in the interest of price savings Wh

‘There is no such thing as a good memory or a bad memory. There's only a trained memory and an untrained memory.’ —Jim Kwik The brain acts like a muscle: If you don’t use it, you lose it. But the rote memorization most of us were taught is not the best way to learn and remember information for the long term. So, what can we do to unlimit our memories? And how does having a trained memory serve us as dental professionals? On this episode of Dentist Brian Candy, I discuss chapter 13 of Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster and Unlock Your Exceptional Life, sharing Jim Kwik’s strategies for making presentations without notes and remembering names. I also cover an article from the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery around online reviews, exploring why Yelp and Healthgrades ratings don’t necessarily correlate with clinical quality and what you can do to earn high online ratings and positive reviews. Listen in for insight on using visualization, association and emotion to improve your memory a

On this episode of Dentist Brain Candy, we continue our discussion of the book, Limitless by Jim Kwik. Today I'm discussing Part IV: Limitless Methods. Chapter 11 of the book is devoted to the discussion of focus. We all have so many things competing for our attention; it can cause anxiety and, worse yet, loss of focus, leaving us scattered and in a place where we accomplish less. I walk you through Dr. Andrew Weil's method for breathing to recenter yourself. Then we'll look at your to-do list, and how you might use some anti-procrastination tools to complete a task you’ve been putting off so you can move into a more productive flow. We'll also talk about Chapter 12, which is about studying. Jim Kwik teaches that the most successful people are lifelong learners. Listen in as I walk you through seven of Jim's simple habits to unlimit your studies, including how you can use Baroque music for better concentration when memorizing facts or for reading retention.   I also cover two thought-provoking articles from t

On this episode of Dentist Brain Candy, I cover two thought-provoking articles from the October 2021 edition of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The first one, by Jeffrey C. Posnick, DMD, MD, discusses in depth the milestone contributions of notable surgeons and orthodontist pioneers in orthognathic surgery (OGS). This article discusses the history of innovative care solutions for treating jaw deformities and how they’ve led to new treatment options, including the impact of technology in dramatically reducing the barriers to treatment. I also discuss an article by Jordan S. Elmowitz, DMD  et al. that shares the findings from a study of the current pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods of postoperative pain control following oral and maxillofacial surgery. The study included surgery patients undergoing the extraction of third molars and the use and effectiveness of rescue analgesics. Listen in to learn about my treatment plan to reduce narcotic prescriptions while making my patients m

To do our best work as oral surgeons, it's important to keep our brains functioning at an optimal level. But what actionable steps can we take to improve our brain health? On this episode of Dentist Brian Candy, I discuss chapters 8, 9 and 10 of Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster and Unlock Your Exceptional Life, sharing Jim Kwik's top ten strategies for energizing your brain. I explain what superfoods we need for optimal cognitive ability, how exercise enhances brain function and why it's crucial to get quality sleep. Listen in for insight on the concept of Kaizen (how small steps lead to big change) and learn how to get into a state of flow—the key to peak performance. Key Takeaways What superfoods and nutrients we need for optimal cognitive ability The direct correlation between exercise and brain function How to eliminate the automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) that limit you The role a clean environment and positive peer group play in improving the way we think How continuous learning an

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve seen society adapt to virtual settings for nearly everything.  Of course, there will always be a debate on if virtual environments are better or worse for working, socializing, or even grocery shopping, but how does a virtual society interview medical students? Better yet, how can medical students truly vet the programs they’re applying for without seeing them in person? On this episode of Dentist Brain Candy, I discuss a few more interesting studies from the February 2022 edition of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. First, a study written by Kai Codner explores the way that Covid-19 has introduced virtual interviews for new surgical residents and the pros and cons of both virtual and in-person interview programs.  The second article, written by Catherine Haviland, expands on this same topic and finds that virtual externship programs may have more benefits than an in-person internship program.  Listen in as I continue sharing a few chapters of t

Are you struggling with news overload Information about topics like COVID, politics, and war flood our feeds and inboxes, but not everything that is being communicated to us is the truth. That is why being able to think for ourselves is such a critical skill.  So, how can we get better at detecting “BS”? On this episode of Dentist Brain Candy, I cover two thought-provoking articles from the February 2022 edition of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The first one by Jeffrey C. Posnick, DMD, MD looks at what is needed to separate fact from fiction in this age of information overload. I think you will find this article both timely and helpful. I also discuss an article by Cameron Lee et al. that shares the findings from a study on the relationship between serum albumin and adverse outcomes in patients undergoing operative repair of maxillofacial fractures.    I also continue our discussion of the book, Limitless by Jim Kwik. Today I’m discussing Chapter 6: “The 7 Lies of Learning.” In this chapter,

It’s been proven that both positive and negative thinking have effects on our mental, emotional, and physical health. It can be hard to be the cheerleaders in our own lives, but it’s true that positive emotions broaden our attention and thinking, seed human flourishing, and trigger upward spirals towards greater well-being. The book Limitless by Jim Kwik is all about “limiting beliefs” and how they might be holding us back from achieving our biggest dreams.  On this episode of Dentist Brain Candy, I dive into the Limitless book and discuss the article Robotic Assisted Drilling Systems and Prosthetically-Driven Implant Rehabilitation: The Present and Future? Robotic assisted drilling systems (RADS) are cutting-edge and very interesting. I share my thoughts on how they could create breakthroughs in dental surgery and also cause potential complications.  I also cover a 2021 study on if platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) prevents hemorrhagic complications after dental extractions on anticoagulated patients. Listen in to

On this episode of Dentist Brain Candy, I cover two articles from the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery on the treatment of osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). The first one delves into a new treatment option for medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw while the second one explores the risk factors involved in recurrence and treatment outcomes.  Plus, I also share what I’ve found to be helpful for patients who present with dizziness when taking Pentoxifylline. I also share a useful article from the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery about inflammatory complications from the management of mandible fractures and if there is a difference in occurrence based on whether the procedure was performed in an outpatient vs. inpatient setting.And finally, the last article I discuss delves into the outcome of weekend vs. weekday treatment in odontogenic infection severity. Listen, as I also continue our discussion of the book, Limitless by Jim Kwik and a closer look at how multitasking stunts growth.  Key T

I love my work as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and have no plans to retire anytime soon.  But there’s something freeing about having the option to go into work on Monday—or not. And that’s why I’m an advocate for building wealth with cashflowing real estate.  So, what does it look like to invest in a multifamily deal? How do experienced operators like my friend Chris Salazar add value to a property and earn significant returns for investors?  Chris is Founder and CEO of Archstone Capital Partners, and he’s back on Dentist Brain Candy to break down an investment we did together, a 52-unit multifamily property in Davenport, Iowa. Chris explains how he found and negotiated the deal on The Row at 35th, describing why the community was a good fit for his value-add program and how renovating the units is attracting his target tenants. Chris walks us through the projected returns for investors in The Row, discussing how his team will have created $1M in equity in the deal once it’s stabilized. Listen in to unde

Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery is highly effective in curing moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). But how does that surgery impact a patient’s facial profile? Are we inadvertently beating people with an ugly stick in the name of better breathing? On this episode of Dentist Brain Candy, I cover two thought-provoking articles from recent editions of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, sharing the findings from a study on the impact of MMA surgery for OSA on facial profile esthetics. I also discuss a paper identifying the trends in work relative value units (or RVUs) among oral and maxillofacial surgeons participating in Medicare from 2013 to 2017. Listen in to understand why I find the RVU system so frustrating and learn why the free market is a far better way of determining reimbursement rates for a given dental procedure. Key Takeaways How the physician fee schedule based on relative value units or RVUs came to be Why I find the RVU system incredibly frustrating and offens

As dentists and oral surgeons, we’re dependent on our hands to make money. And if something prevents us from working, we lose that income—and the security that goes with it. That’s why I’m working with Chris Salazar to invest in real estate and create an additional income stream separate from my oral surgery practice. Chris is the Founder and CEO of Archstone Capital Partners, a vertically integrated real estate investment firm headquartered in Dallas. Chris and his team focus on value-add multifamily properties in the Midwest and Texas, and Archstone currently operates a portfolio of 500 doors. On this episode of Dentist Brain Candy, Chris joins me to discuss the advantages of investing in multifamily over single family properties and describe how his value-add deals make a positive impact on the community. Chris walks us through the tax benefits of investing in multifamily and explains why he likes deals in a tertiary market like the Quad Cities. Listen in to understand how Chris’ conservative underwriting

In 2018, Joe DiMeo fell asleep at the wheel. In the resulting accident, he suffered third-degree burns over 80% of his body. He was left without eyelids, ears and fingertips. But in August of 2021, a team at NYU Langone Health performed a face and double hand transplant on Joe. Was the procedure successful? How has his life changed since the surgery? On this episode of Dentist Brain Candy, I share two journal articles that piqued my interest this week, beginning with the recent Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery feature on trigeminal neuralgia that describes the symptoms of this long-term facial pain disorder as well as its treatment options. I go on to discuss the world’s first successful face and double hand transplant surgery, explaining what’s involved in the patient selection process, why 22-year-old Joe DiMeo was a good candidate for the procedure and how he’s doing now. Listen in for insight into what was involved in the 23-hour face and hand transplant and learn about Dr. Eduardo Rodriguez, the

With oral operations, negative outcomes are bound to arise from time to time. Though, when we take the time to continue to stay informed of possible hazards and complications, we can better avoid these possible outcomes. On this episode of Dentist Brain Candy, I share three interesting articles from the the Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, including my experience and judgment regarding each topic. I explain what cognitive and negative bias is and how to avoid it, my experience with frailty and oral surgeries, and my personal insight on penicillin and allergy evaluations. Listen in for insight on cognitive bias hazards after operative complications, how to minimize frailty preoperatively through prehabilitation and whether or not penicillin allergy is a risk factor for surgical site infection. Key Takeaways What cognitive and negative cognitive bias is Positive responses that a surgeon can take regarding a cognitive bias hazard Cognitive bias tendencies that can occur Complications to avoid after a

This week we discuss some pretty interesting articles from the Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery the first one discussing the Akinosi nerve block technique versus the inferior alveolar nerve block technique for beginners to see whether there's an ease in learning and decrease complication rates for beginners.   I didn't ask us the use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein for use in grafting of the  Alveolar cleft. I then proceeded on to discuss where there's a correlation between an impacted mandibular third molar, the type of impaction and mandible fractures and then the type of mandible fractures and believe me when I tell you there is. You're going to have to listen to this episode to find out what that correlation is.

This week in Dental news to abuse will start off by discussing how  dental offices can win back lost patience as well we'll talk about a new retraction paste that's made out of a combination of 15% aluminum chloride and kaolin Clay will also discuss  a new product available called Moisyn they can help patients with xerostomia or dry mouth. I will also talk about an implant post-operative care system and a handheld intraoral x-ray system and a new water line filter guaranteed to keep your water lines clean and bacteria free.

This week we go over weight loss with jaw fractures and whether or not doing a closed reduction or an open reduction makes a difference in this weight loss. The average patient with a mandibular fracture loses approximately 5% of their body weight but if it made it to the ICU they lose up to 9% of their body weight. We also will discuss obstructive sleep apnea and whether there's an increased incidence of obstructive sleep apnea with a mandibular setback surgery using a vertical ramus osteotomy. We will also discuss the use of dental implants to facilitate jaw surgery in a complex restorative case in an edentulous maxilla.

This week I discussed the latest release and new materials and implant and abutment surface from Nobel Biocare. This includes Xeal and TiUltra.

This week we are going to talk about enhancing your dental teams communication as well as using salivary diagnostics for your dental practice to assist in bacterial identification for Paragon it is as well as caries risk assessment and oral cancer screening. We'll also talk about how you can borrow Ritz-Carlton and their famous Empire for outstanding customer service to up your game in serving your patience.

This week in Dental news to Abuse I discuss changes with coding occlusal night guards and how to bill them and make sure you get reimbursed for these little critters. In addition, I discuss the ins and outs of emailing patient dental records and making sure you protect Patient Healthcare information or PHI. I also discuss six patient retention strategies and how to use social media to find your next hire.