TJ Bolt, DDS : Principles of the Path

 

T.J. Bolt, DDS

Contributing Writer 

Direction not intention leads to the destination.

There are two paths in dentistry:  Disease Care and Health Care.  These two paths could not be farther apart in their outcomes or what goes on in the journey.  There are three reasons that people lose their teeth.  They are: 

Tooth Decay, Gum Disease, and Bad Bite.  

Going down the disease care path is one that focuses on repair.  The dentist is putting out fires.  Many times he is shingling the house while the house is on fire.  If a patient stays down this path for any length of time by the time that they are in their 50’s and 60’s they find their mouth in a state of disrepair while going to the dentist every 6 months.  Why?  There is no agreement between the dentist and the patient on what the purpose of the relationship is.  There is no plan on where the patient wants to go.  There is usually no understanding of where the patient has been.  There is no focus on the causes of the problems the patient has.  There is no understanding of the cause of disease and what the patient is supposed to be doing when they are not in the office.  This is called a co-dependant relationship and this never leads to long-term health or a successful outcome.  It is reactionary.

Structure influences behavior, but behavior determines the results.

Health Care on the other hand is relationship based.  The doctor and the patient have met for some length of time answering and developing questions that will lead to a successful outcome.  This relationship is called interdependent in that there is agreed upon roles and values.  There is an understanding of why the relationship exists.  The questions that can be answered or at least they are in development are:  Where has the patient been?  Where are they now?  Where does the patient want to go?  How does the patient want to get there?   What role does each of us play in the process?  In other words there is a plan that is created based on the patients goals and objectives.  The patient and the doctor co-develop the plan so it is their plan.  The patient owns the problem, and understands the cause of the disease.  The patient understand that they are the cause of the problem and together with the help of their dental health coach and support team that they have a more certain future.  This is the path that helps create success.  It works every time.  This is creative and the energy is abundant.  There is an endpoint.

The prudent see danger and take refuge.  The simple keep going and suffer for it.  Pr27:12   For more information please visit my website www.drtjbolt.com or call 402-572-8000.