Dr. LD Pankey lived in a very different era. When LD graduated from dental school and started his dental practice, there were no computers, cell phones, or the internet. To further his education, he read journals, attended professional conferences, and studied how people behaved in and outside of dental offices. He soon realized that dentistry could be a career that required a lot of dedication.
Many dentists find the profession challenging due to the technical complexity of their work and the psychological pressures from family, staff, third-party payers, peers, and patients. Due to a series of personal experiences, and his desire to contribute to his profession, LD developed a way of thinking and looking at life. He named his project “Philosophy of Dental Practice.”
As practicing dentists, we rarely think of ourselves as philosophers. However, in one important way, we are. The decisions we make in our daily work and life are based on our beliefs, in other words, our philosophy.
Philosophy is about the relationship between our personal beliefs and our actions. Ultimately, it is our philosophy that gives our lives meaning and purpose. For dentists who understand their beliefs and appreciate their significance, daily work is not just a series of extraneous actions and fragments, but an integral part of their lives.
There is an important distinction between “having” philosophy and “doing” philosophy. “Having” philosophy means having ideas, but it does not necessarily mean those ideas are being put into action. We learn best when we “do” philosophy, which means we live in a state of inquiry based on our own values, knowledge, and goals.
Contemporary British dentist/philosopher Jim Dyce believes that “philosophy can do little more than provoke questions about yourself and your situation.” When the late Dr. LD Pankey decided to dedicate his life to saving teeth, he had to ask himself, “How can I help people keep all their teeth for life?” In 1925, LD did not know the answer or even if there was an answer.
When he decided to never remove another good tooth, he took a huge career and financial risk. He was able to discover and develop many principles that have proven helpful in our understanding of restorative dentistry and patient communication. Philosophy, in its most valuable form, is more concerned with the right questions than the right answers.
How useful the Pankey philosophy is to you depends on your willingness to expose yourself to questions, because this form of inquiry can help you clarify your goals and show you multiple ways to achieve them. Asking questions can open you up to new perspectives and new information about yourself, your patients, and your surroundings.
Just as doubt and uncertainty can be catalysts for change and success, doubt can also lead to crises. In Chinese, the word “crisis” also means “opportunity.” 75 years ago, LD’s first real crisis in his dental career came when he learned that his mother had lost her teeth for no apparent reason. His mother’s pain from having all her teeth removed made him question his understanding of the dental profession.
With the news of his mother’s death came doubt and confusion. He saw clearly the harm that dentistry could cause, but also realized that it was an extraordinary opportunity for dentists who understood “doing their best and doing their best.” In this family crisis, the Pankey philosophy was born.
The Pankey philosophy seems simple at first glance. First, every dentist must define what success means to them. Napoleon Hill said that once you have a clear definition of success, you must believe in it and work hard to achieve it.
The greatest success in dentistry is the gratitude and appreciation of your patients, adequate financial rewards, and a commitment to your family, patients, and practice. This requires you to truly understand yourself, your patients, and your work, and then conscientiously apply your knowledge.
This is not easy. Although many of the principles Dr. Pankey uses have been around for years, how many dentists actually apply them to achieve excellence? Based on his experience working with hundreds of dentists, LD estimates that only 2% of dentists in the United States are true masters, meaning they are able to practice, teach, and write about dentistry.
Another 8% of dentists are proficient in two of these skills, and 36% of dentists are constantly learning excellent dental techniques and striving for mastery. The remaining 54% of dentists are indifferent and have no interest in their work. This is the bad news. The good news is that for those dentists who are truly committed, they have the opportunity to perform excellent dental procedures and be rewarded.
If success isn’t enough to motivate you to pay the price for excellence, consider the personal cost of not doing it well enough. Ask yourself, “Is dentistry killing me?” An article in the North Carolina Dental Journal states that dentists have a higher suicide rate than other occupational groups. This sobering statistic can be attributed to two factors: dental work is often confined to a small office, where dentists go to the same place and deal with the same people day after day and week after week.
Second, even when dentists become very good, their work is more or less the same. The result is feeling unappreciated, stuck, unfulfilled, and wondering, “Is this all there is?” This is not to say that the life of a dentist is “quietly desperate.” However, many dentists have experienced a time when they felt stuck, when it became increasingly difficult to see the true rewards of dental work.
Looking back at our dental school education, most of us were taught to be technically proficient; however, we were not taught how to feel satisfied with our work or to develop a rapport with our patients. Some people enjoy their work and their patients, which comes naturally; while others seem to treat their patients like mechanical repairs to dental equipment.
Dentists attended professional conferences and spent a great deal of time in continuing education in restorative dentistry and implant placement, but were unable to apply their new knowledge and skills because they could not explain to their patients the benefits of their work. This lack of communication deprived them of not only income, but also patients who could enjoy a more comfortable dental experience.
LD began teaching his philosophy to dentists recommended by the Florida Dental Board in Tallahassee. He was the Miami-Dade County Dental Society’s representative to the State Dental Board. He had been developing his philosophy for over 15 years.
In 1947, the Florida Dental Association invited him to teach a course related to ethics at its annual meeting. He had developed a good reputation for his expertise in counseling dentists who were having minor difficulties with their dental licenses.
In his first interviews with these dentists, he learned that most of them were unhappy with the dental profession. Although they did not all share the same concerns, he found that they had some things in common.
He decided to teach his philosophy, which is designed to help dentists face and overcome frustration or boredom, reach new heights in their technical work, improve their communication skills with patients, and gain greater satisfaction through community service and personal happiness. To develop the basic principles of this philosophy, LD asked many of the following questions.
As you read the questions, look at yourself and your situation objectively. Take a moment to write down your answers and see where you do or do not meet the questions. Create some personal goals and write them down so you can measure them later.
1. Are you happy working in dentistry? (Work)
Do you have enough free time? (Fun)
How is your family life? (Love)
Are you at peace? (Worship)
2. Are you living up to your potential?
3. Have you considered your personality?
4. Do you have the respect and cooperation of your employees?
5. Is your office organized?
6. Do you take proactive steps to stay organized?
7. Have you sought outside help to analyze your situation and assess your problems?
8. Do you have enough courage to make the necessary changes?
9. Are you a good citizen?
10. Is the dental industry “killing” you?
11. Do you understand and apply time studies?
12. How is your overall health?
13. Do you get a comprehensive physical exam once a year?
14. How do you feel about yourself and your career?
15. Do you have a positive attitude?
16. Do you have a negative attitude?
17. Do you have clear, well-developed goals?
18. Are your goals written down?
19. Do you have a way to measure your goals?
20. Are these your goals, not someone else’s?
21. Are you willing to work hard to achieve them?
22. Do your goals and objectives fit your situation and personality?
Happiness is not only about reaching your goals, but also about recognizing and adjusting your pace toward them. Always remember that you are in control of your goals. You can change, adjust, modify, or even forget your goals at any time. Bob Dylan wrote, “He who is not busy being born is busy dying.”
Following the success of the first dentists, LD’s clinic began to receive weekly calls from dentists across the country who wanted to learn from him. So in 1952, he decided to share his philosophical knowledge with the dental community in a more formal form at the Pankey Institute in Miami.
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