NMDA Dental Directory 2021-22

4 Have you ever thought about how hard it is to “do” dentistry? I’m not just talking about the distal of an upper molar, a second auxiliary canal, a friable tissue graft, or a full bony impaction. I’m talking about the stuff you could do with your eyes closed. The way you have to assimilate your knowledge of physiology, anatomy, materials, physics, and everything else to do the most routine of treatments while convincing patients there is nothing to it. The truth is, there is nothing routine about it. That makes you one of the elite people in the world that can do it while making it look easy. Many of you know that I’m a baseball fan and a Chicago Cubs fan in particular. One of my favorite players is a pitcher named Kyle Hendricks. He is nicknamed “The Professor,” partly because he has a degree from an Ivy League school but mostly because he exudes a studiousness to his game that few others can match. While you can’t play in the major leagues without some physical gifts, “The Professor” doesn’t have “the stuff” that gets most pitchers to the big leagues or get recognized. What makes him elite is his knowledge about hitters and his ability to execute with precision on a consistent basis. He makes it look easy. They make television shows about doctors and lawyers that don’t make those professions look easy at all, and while they are more fiction than fact, they do color the public’s perception of medicine and the law. I’m not expecting to see any series about dentists because, honestly, we make it look pretty boring. We spend our lives trying to avoid the drama that makes good television. In a word, we make it look easy. It’s easy to start feeling unappreciated. When the authorities started labelling businesses as “essential” during the pandemic, it felt like dentists barely made the cut. That didn’t feel very good, but in many ways, it was a tribute to how easy you make it look. It’s hard for us to command the attention of policymakers when we just don’t seem that interesting. That’s what makes our Association so important for our success. When we felt nearly forgotten, the ADA and NMDA made connections and argued our case to make sure that care would resume, and dentists keep working. This directory is literally full of people that appreciate what you do. They understand the great things you can accomplish and which no one else will see. They know how important you are and appreciate the knowledge and ability to execute consistently that it takes to be elite. It is always going to be a struggle getting the appropriate appreciation of third-party payers and lawmakers because we make it look too easy, but it is worth the effort because ultimately it benefits our patients and profession. So, keep making what you do look easy. We’ll be here to make sure you get the attention you deserve. Tom Schripsema, DDS NMDA Executive Director Making It Look Easy