Passion to save my friend

In a national bestseller book “Awaken the giant within”, Tony Robbins said “I had a hard time giving credence to a doctor who was counseling patients about health but he, himself, was forty pounds overweight” and came across as a caricature where a fat doctor says “You need more exercise. Go and get me a cheeseburger with onions” to his patient. “Physician, heal thyself.” “It is a good doctor who follows his own prognosis.”

From a dentist view, I suppose many doctors, except for dentists, don’t care about their teeth. I wonder if it can be said for only Japanese medical doctors. My high school era’s friend was one of them. He is a handsome and smart guy who was a surgeon and now is working as an adviser dealing with medical law suits in an insurance company. He lost lower molars when he was late thirties. He came to my clinic for the first time 5 years ago. However, he did’t want an implant, but a removable denture which was not used in the end. Probably, he doubted the reliability of dental implant through some dental law suits. Then, he came once again last year. His chief complaint was smell caused by the fracture of upper front teeth. He wanted another removable denture after extraction of troubled teeth. Several days later, he said “This denture is awful, unbearable, I can’t talk clearly when giving lectures. Carry out implant treatment in the upper front teeth”.

I made Power Point slides explaining it’s necessary to have implants in the lower molars to save the upper front teeth implants and other natural teeth, showing force mechanism. I didn’t use any psychological persuasion skill described in a book “Influence: Science and Practice” by Cialdini, R.B. I just used my passion to save his dental condition. He looked impressed by my explanation and accepted my treatment plan.

He smiled and said, “I’m so happy to be able to enjoy eating” after the treatment. I was also happy to contribute to the quality of his life. Maintenance and periodical check-ups are necessary. However, I haven’t seen him since then, probably, because of the new coronavirus predicament. I must pull myself together and face up to the threat.