Letters to the Publisher

Howard,
Here I am 77 years old, still functioning, and getting a real “kick” from your JOURNAL. After 55 years of practice and 40 of those teaching Practice Administration around the world (in my hey day) I finally learned not to waste even a moment on the Richards of our profession. Let them do their thing and revel in their own self appointed glory. Like you, I believed myself to be anointed with evangelism and devoted to help those who just couldn’t see the light. Way back in the days of PBP they surmised that only 5-10% of the dentists were enlightened. The rest had no idea what they were talking about. Go for it Howard and aim your efforts to the top 5-10% who appreciate those like you. Thanks for your positive comment on Bob Ibsen who is a true visionary.
Justin Lee Altshuler, DMD, FICD
Clinical Professor, Boston University School of Dental Medicine Director,
Dental Services, Spaulding Rehab. Hosp.

Howard,
I want to commend you on your editorial in the last Dental Town. Why is it that dentists want to remain stagnant? Dentists are happy when nothing changes, and the journals feature articles on white fillings and how to raise fees and stop taking insurance! Telling Richard that he is in the ivory tower of academia is the only point that doesn’t ring true. It seems a contradiction of terms to call a dental school academic when the curriculum is so antiquated. The main things that I remember about dental school are the wax ups, plaster, gold foil, and face bows. Even old, retired, dentists remember how ridiculous dental school was, and yet nothing changes! Dentists are happy to be isolated from medicine, and associate any type of insurance as being bad. The isolation in dentistry is a big part of the problem. Dentists need a forum other than the two or three journals (the A.D.A. journals are so politically entrenched that they will not criticize any faction of dentistry for fear of losing members) to discuss the real issues that confront the profession. How often is the fact that only 50% of the population see a dentist mentioned? What about all of the “ complete dentists” that want to put a crown on every tooth to perfect the occlusion based on logic that is not grounded in real science? Thank you Howard for providing the profession with a voice other than the common drown of the good old boys that like things as they are.
David Rosen, DDS

Howard,
Just a note of thanks from another old time wet finger guy in the trenches. Dental Town is without a doubt the most refreshing piece of dental “propaganda” that our esteemed USPS delivers. As I enter my thirty fifth year of practice, I am depending on DentalTown to prevent any twilight year’s burnout. “Illigitum non carborundum”
Shelly Shapiro, DDS

Dear Howard,
Just read your editorial “You Cannot Agree With Two Mutually Exclusive Principles” article in the July issue of DentalTown Magazine. I regret to hear that yet another dentist has trashed your fine publication. It has been such a source of information, motivation and encouragement for me (including Dr. Perkins article-good stuff). I would like to contend one point however. I know it was not the purpose of your article to discuss capital punishment and the fifth commandment but as a “conservative anti-abortion/religious person in favor of capital punishment” I would like to explain why those two views are not mutually exclusive principles. The fifth commandment says “Thou shall not MURDER”, not “Thou shall not kill”. That may seem like splitting hairs but it is significant. The same Moses who presented the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) also presented the law, which says, “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death” (Exodus 21). A contradiction? I think not. Murdering an innocent person and executing a killer for his unlawful behavior are two different events. In fact, by executing murderers, we are promoting the sanctity of life for all potential murder victims. Granted a person dies in either case, but one dies for crimes he committed against society while the other dies innocently having done nothing bad or good. If you believe there is a difference, you can see it is possible to be “anti-abortion” and “pro-capital punishment” without trying to agree with two mutually exclusive principles. Nonetheless, I enjoyed your article. Thank you, Howard, and keep up the good work!
Clay Cannon, DDS

Greetings Clay,
I love your e-mail. It is single-handedly the best argument I have ever heard for being pro-capital punishment. Thanks again for insightful response.
Howard

Howard,
At one of your seminars, you mentioned the use of muratic acid for the treatment of superficial stains on teeth. What are the indications (what type of stain does this work best on) for this and what's the procedure ( concentration, etc.)?
Kurt Laemmer,
Bradford, PA

Greetings Kurt,
I use muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid 10%) to remove those tough stains that at home bleaching doesn't seem to remove. Usually these are brown stains. I find it very fast, effective and thorough. Whatever cannot be removed after first bleaching, and then at home bleaching, I remove with a rough diamond. I then like to fill it in with the very translucent Variolink made by Williams Ivoclar Vivadent. I find that the translucent Variolink allows for the natural color of the tooth to come through. I then finish with the entire series of Soflex discs or the Shofu finishing kit! Either one works great! It's faster and easier than Bill Clinton or Gary Condit without the mess!
I hope this helps!
Howard