squarely in the dentist’s realm. I am also ab- solutely clear about following the ADA TMD parameters of care and the Hippocratic oath of “First, do no harm”. However, it continues to amaze me that how many of these ‘medi- cal’ conditions have been resolved when that jaw/neck mal-alignment is corrected through a meticulous application of Physiologic Neu- romuscular dental principles. It is exciting to be able to do only what I

love to do, only for people I like to work for, only with people who I like to work with, and yet, make a good living. It is also rewarding to have opportunities to publish and lecture in many parts of the world and teach hands-on courses so that other dentists may also be inspired to pursue similar fulfilling, purpose- driven practices.

What motivated you to decide on a career in dentistry … what was your career path? Even as a very young child, I dreamed of being a surgeon. Once my father died suddenly, my mother decided that I should pursue a career in the Indian Administrative Service. These were the officers to whom my father reported. As I finished my degree in physics, I rebelled and decided that I did not want to be a government official. So my brother who was in U.S. by then encouraged me to come here. Once I got my degree in radiol- ogy technology, which was a path to attain permanent resident status, I came back to my interest in surgery and medical school. One of the radiologists with whom I worked at Truman Medical Center is the one that en- couraged me to consider dentistry, because he went to dental school before switching to medicine. My initial goal was to be an oral surgeon,

putting faces and jaws back together as I saw done at this level-one trauma center. But when I found out private practice surgeons don’t often get to do that, I decided to be a general dentist that was good in all areas, including third molar surgeries, second molar endodontics, aesthetics and func- tional orthodontics. I took several hundred hours of CE every year to pursue that goal. After building a very busy and profitable practice with eight staff members over the next decade or so, my interest in TMD treat- ment became my focus. This was the most challenging, and yet, most fulfilling part

of my practice. That led to my decision to transform my practice into a niche, full-time TMD practice, which now has just two team members. I enjoy treating patients not only from Kansas City area but from throughout the U.S. and, even, overseas.

Did you have an ‘a ha’ moment in dental school? What was it? One of my favorite professors at UMKC was Dr. Chet Siegel, a periodontist. When we were learning local anesthesia, he advised us that the patients don’t know how good your preparations or margins were, but they do know if you hurt them or if you are painless. So take your time to learn to give painless injections. We did. I still remember that when I am giving injec- tions or when doing any other treatment. It is a continual reminder to be empathetic of the patients’ experiences.

What was your favorite class in dental school? Anatomy. Dr. Bernard Butterworth made it a fascinating subject. It was not just another class to help me pass the boards. I really thought that the human body and its function were really cool. Interestingly, in my current TMD practice, I am utilizing a good understanding of the anatomy of the muscles, nerves, spine and TM joints, as well as pain referral patterns, in diagnosing and treating my patients every day.

What do you enjoy and least most about be- ing a dentist? What I enjoy the most is not only resolving the problems with which the TMD/CCMD patients present, but how that has a ripple effect of improving the lives of all those around them—the children, the spouses or parents. I used to enjoy the least dealing with “insurance”, “staff issues” and “difficult” patients. I put these within quotation marks for a

reason. I realized that it is not really insur- ance like an auto insurance that would pay to have a new car if mine is totaled, but rather a benefit plan that the patient has like a rebate coupon to be sent in to get some money back after a purchase. I realized that I don’t need staff, but rather team members who cheerfully work together towards a common goal. I realized that I can’t be or need to be everyone’s dentist. I only need to treat those who value our services and time and cheer- fully pay a fair fee for our services. With these

realizations being put to practice, I no longer have these ‘least’ issues.

What is the best advice anyone has ever given you about your career? Diagnose as though dentistry were free. Never ‘recommend’ any treatment. Educate patients on all the options, including “no treatment” and their consequences. It is always the patient’s deci- sion to choose the treatment option that best suits his/her life.

How do you keep your staff motivated and energized? Everyone wants to do meaningful work. Good pay and benefits are important. But doing good work that makes a difference in people’s lives is even more important be- cause that leads to fulfillment. We start every day with reciting our vision. We share in the expressions of appreciation or gratitude from our patients as a team.

What event in your career has been the most humbling, yet is something you’re willing to share because of the lesson you learned or the impression it made? Going in front of the dental board to defend a complaint. Early in my career I was working with a consult- ing company to build my practice. Per their advice, I sent out $1 examination coupons even though I felt uneasy with that concept. I still did a complete examination for every one including hard/soft tissue examination, full-mouth periodontal probing, occlusal examination, etc. Many patients liked my thoroughness and became regular patients. One patient’s husband filed a board

complaint because we did a panoramic radiograph, with her approval, for which she was charged. He claimed that it was ‘bait and switch’. I was humiliated. I appeared before the board to show that I provided a very thorough examination for her $1 and recom- mended a panoramic radiograph to rule out other pathology. It was done only after she was given the fee and we received her ap- proval. The board members noted that it was no cursory look, as they expected to be for a $1, but a very thorough examination. They decided that it was no ‘bait and switch’, and I was not disciplined. I learned that people don’t value something for nothing or almost nothing. I also learned that people are often skeptical in those instances and expect that there is a catch.

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