Many readers will be familiar with the headline of my column this week, because it is a direct reference to one of the most popular spots to visit on Dentaltown.com.
If you're not familiar with the term, "Today's Active Topics" is a page that contains a link to every active conversation for that particular day on our message boards. You can also use the calendar at the top of the page to see what the active topics were on a previous day.
There are two particular things that I think are especially interesting about this page. For one, the vast number of conversations happening on any given day is mind-blowing. On most weekdays, the total number of conversations tops 275! Hundreds of conversations lead to thousands of posts. The amount of visitors exceeds the number of posts as more people visit to read and learn.
Second, there is an incredible variety of topics that provide a true view into the minds of dentists around the world. What is the challenge du jour? Is there a funny story to share or a patient to complain about? You can find it all in Today's Active Topics.
This month I'll share a glimpse into Today's Active Topics by providing you with samples of a few conversations, as well as my own thoughts.
Title: A Dope Does a Startup
Forum: Practice Start-Up
Summary: A 2013 University of Oklahoma graduate is very close to opening a scratch-start dental practice in northwest Arkansas, near Wal-Mart's world headquarters in the fastest-growing town in the state. He shares his floor plan for an eight-operatory practice as well as numerous photos of the build-out. His posts are filled with references to things he learned on Dentaltown, and others begin sharing photos from their new offices.
My thoughts: The enthusiasm around this start-up is contagious. I can come home from my office feeling like I'm on the hamster wheel and this thread gets me excited and reminds me of everything I went through to start my practice. A total of 299 posts in less than a month—very cool! Nearly 7000 views—phenomenal! Don't forget to check out our special feature on practice start-ups, beginning on page 60.
Title: Simple Crown Prep "Flow"
(Knife Edge PFM, Zirconia)
Forum: Fixed Prosthodontics
Summary: A Florida dentist is kind enough to share his crown appointment protocol, minute by minute, showing how he can get everything done in approximately 45 minutes from the time the patient is seated through dismissal. Some have questions about when build-up is indicated and others get into a discussion about margin design.
My thoughts: This is a good example of what Dentaltown.com does best—attracting dental professionals who share their clinical decisions and discuss their merits. Excellent points made about the potential pitfalls of feather edge margins.
Title: Temp Crown Mastery
(Step-by-Step Instructions)
Forum: Restorative Dentistry
Summary: Dr. Aaron Palmer, a dentist in Maine, took the time to document every step of his method for fabricating, delivering and removing temporary crowns. He provided this as something to share with dental assistants who make temporaries (or the dentists who make their own).
My thoughts: Another great example of Dentaltown members' generosity, and in the perfect format to share with our teams and make our dentistry better.
Whether you visit the site on a regular basis, or it's been a while since your last login, I hope you'll find this to be a friendly reminder to jump on and discover something new. There's always something new to learn and you'll always leave the site knowing that you're not alone in this profession.
I welcome your feedback to this article online, or send me an email at tom@dentaltown.com. Or find me on Twitter:@ddsTom.
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