Professional Courtesy: TV Shows for Dentists by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD

by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, Editorial Director, Dentaltown Magazine

A disappointment for me as a practicing dentist is the lack of great dental role models on television. Let’s face it, there have been tons of shows that feature entertaining lawyers, brilliant physicians and brave public servants, but no dentists. Sure, Bryan Cranston was super as Dr. Tim Whatley on Seinfeld, but that wasn’t enough. While we wait for Hollywood to create a show that features a heroic dentist, I offer the following list of current TV shows that can provide some parallels to the practice of dentistry, or at the very least, provide an escape.

Flipping Out
This reality show, currently in season 8, can be found on the Bravo Network. The dentist in this show is represented by the lead cast member, Jeff Lewis, an obsessive-compulsive designer who has remodeled hundreds of homes for the rich and famous. His tantrums are epic and his eye for detail and impatience for incompetence is something most dentists could love. I suspect you will find his manner of dealing with employee issues something you can relate to very easily. Additional cast members include his longtime executive assistant, Jenni, as well as his wisecracking housekeeper, Zoila, either of whom may remind you of your own staff.

The Profit
This CNBC show features Marcus Lemonis, a man with humble beginnings who made his fortune in the RV industry. His success in business led him to the starring role on this prime-time reality series, during which he invests his money in struggling businesses and helps them turn around. His personal mantra includes the three P’s of business success: people, process and product. In spite of the fact that he does not help dental practices in financial trouble, his common-sense approach would be helpful to anyone willing to pay attention. If you ever had a doubt about your ability to succeed in business, check out some of the people featured on this show—it should give you a boost of confidence.

Blue Collar Millionaires
This is another terrific show from CNBC. Each week it features the stories of three people who made their fortunes focusing on a blue-collar job. Past episodes have included a roofer, a bus driver, worm farmers, a convenience-store owner and a tree specialist. The show provides insight and proves that there is money to be made doing the things that other people don’t want to do. Reminds me of a comment often heard from patients: "Why would anybody want to look at teeth all day?" This is also a great show to watch if you have had it with dentistry and you are looking for something new.

Silicon Valley
If you have HBO, then you may have already watched the first two seasons of this terrific comedy from the brilliant mind of Mike Judge. This satire takes you into the world of technology by chronicling the development of a software startup and its battle with a large Internet company called Hooli. Let’s face it, dentists are nerds at their core and this show is a tribute to the top of the nerd food chain—computer geeks. This show will not improve your practice but it will certainly provide a great escape after a long week.

I hope you have enjoyed this brief glimpse into my DVR. Please share your favorite shows in the comments section associated with this article online. I’m on Twitter @ddsTom or email at tom@dentaltown.com.