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Office Visit: The Practice that Perseverance Built by Arselia Gales, Assistant Editor

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As a dentist, you spend most of your time at your practice. It's understandable that you might not get many opportunities to see what it's like in another doctor's office. That's why we bring you an "office visit" six times a year. It's a chance for you to meet with your peers, see their practices and hear their stories. This month we caught up with Dr. Michael Zuroff, an endodontist in the Detroit metropolitan area whose practice has years of family history. There's no mistaking that dentistry runs in his veins. Here's his story.



What was the path you took to becoming a dentist? What drove you into dentistry?
Dr. Zuroff: I was fortunate to grow up around dentistry. My father was an endodontist and started Endodontics P.C. in 1973. The practice grew over the years, and partnerships evolved that endured for more than 35 years. As a child I spent time around the office and benefited from the positive influence of my father and his partners. My father loved the practice of dentistry. He enjoyed all aspects of it, from the patient and staff interaction to the clinical endodontics. That positive energy was contagious and led me to the obvious choice of dentistry as a profession.

Regarding your practice, how is it laid out? What's the workflow like?
Dr. Zuroff: Our practice has four locations, which are served by seven endodontists. The support staff is composed of 37 dedicated people. Many staff members have been with our practice for more than 25 years. Since we are an endodontic practice, there are emergency patients every day. Our typical schedule involves both non-surgical and surgical endodontics. We also perform all phases of implant surgery and offer IV sedation for all of our procedures. While it's true that we have a busy practice, there is an emphasis on delivering an exceptional experience for every patient.

What is your practice philosophy?
Dr. Zuroff: We believe that providing clinical excellence through the use of highly technical equipment and compassionate care will always put the patient first.

What do you do to help set the practice apart from others?
Dr. Zuroff: Many endodontists limit their practice to endodontic procedures. Like most, we are a microscope-based practice. Offering implant surgery and IV sedation sets us apart. I believe that these aspects of dentistry have made me a better endodontist. I can approach diagnosis and treatment planning without a bias for endodontics vs. implants. It's been amazing to see this part of the practice grow. I now see referral slips that ask me to determine if the patient is best served with endodontics or implants.

It is very rewarding to be involved in the overall treatment plan. Many patients are fearful of the dentist, and specifically the prospect of endodontic therapy or implant surgery. Offering IV sedation has benefited so many patients. It is extremely rewarding to be able to help our patients make it through a daunting experience and to be a part in improving their health. I believe that quality care is imperative, but that is only a portion of creating an exceptional patient experience. Empathy and compassion go a long way.



Tell me about your partners.
Dr. Zuroff: I am fortunate to have six wonderful partners: Dr. Ronald Michaelson, Dr. Ronald Shoha, Dr. Daron Yarjanian, Dr. Jeremy Michaelson, Dr. Gianni Decarolis and Dr. Daniel Gilliland. The best compliment that I can give is that I would feel comfortable with any of them caring for my family or myself. We have been practicing together for so long, we consider each other family.

What are your favorite marketing techniques? How do you get the word out about your practice? Dr. Zuroff: We have a staff member dedicated to practice relations. The best marketing is a positive patient experience. Often patients return to the restorative dentist and thank him or her for referring to our practice. We have seminars with continuing education credit for our referring doctors. Monthly raffles and office visits help our practice stay relevant.

What do you think is the biggest problem dentists face today?
Dr. Zuroff: I have had the opportunity to teach in the local dental school and to interview many young dentists. The cost of dental school is astronomical. This has created a burden for the new dentist. The need to produce in order to cover overhead is stressful and, I believe, has had a negative effect on the field.



What are your patient and technique philosophies?
Dr. Zuroff: I treat patients the way I want to be treated: quality care in a safe and comfortable environment. In terms of nonsurgical endodontics, I prefer to complete my cases in a single visit. Cases that are too infected or involve complex treatment are an exception. I am a proponent of conservative shapes and dentin preservation. I lean toward retreatment before surgical endodontics, but will certainly do a surgical procedure if retreatment is not feasible. Immediate implants are a wonderful service in the correct case.

Since many of the cases I treat are infected and involve bone loss, most cases involve a graft. I do not believe in sacrificing the long-term success for a short-term gain. In terms of sedation, I prefer to include the patient in deciding the correct approach and depth of sedation. In some cases that may be oral sedation with nitrous oxide, while others may involve deep IV sedation.

What is the greatest advancement of change you have seen during your tenure as a dentist?
Dr. Zuroff: The ability to clean and shape canals has improved dramatically. The introduction of the micro-CT has allowed us to appreciate the complexity of root-canal anatomy. Advancements in metallurgy and file design, and improved irrigants have made a major impact in the way we deliver our care.

Regenerative therapy is also an exciting advancement in the endodontic field. I believe the surface has just been scratched in the regeneration arena. Perhaps it won't be long until dental implants will be replaced by the regeneration of teeth. Amazing!



Looking ahead, how would you like to see dentistry operate as a profession in the next five to 10 years?
Dr. Zuroff: Our profession needs to educate the public on the relationship of oral health to systemic disease. While this relationship has been clearly established, there is still research to be done. We have the opportunity to be involved in the overall well-being of our patients. We also need to educate ourselves. Since we are a procedure-driven profession, it will require a shift in our approach to patient care.

What is your favorite procedure?
Dr. Zuroff: I don't have a favorite procedure. All of the procedures can be rewarding and all of them can be extremely challenging. There are multiple contributing factors on any given day. I am certain that any experienced practitioner can relate. When it goes well, they are all my favorite!

Describe the most successful or rewarding experience in your professional life.
Dr. Zuroff: I have been fortunate to be able to provide a large amount of free care for patients who are financially challenged. In 2009, I started a free dental clinic for qualified patients. We have close to 70 volunteer dentists, hygienists and staff members who dedicate themselves to this project.

Becoming a diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics has been rewarding. Having reached the pinnacle of the profession is a testament to years of hard work and study. It is also a humbling experience because it is a reminder that we are never done growing and learning.



Dentaltown Magazine
September 2025
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