A Center For Dental Excellence
  • Home
  • Services
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Appointment Request

Dr. Vu's journal

Difference of Opinions

10/15/2022

Comments

 
Everyone has opinions.You can state yours but remember to let others state theirs too. More importantly, opinions are not necessarily facts.  So don't get into arguments with others for differences of opinions.  Lately, I've been listening to a lot of different opinions.

Case 1: Following OSHA guidelines in regards to disposing sharp objects is not an opinion but facts. It doesn't matter how long you've been practicing it incorrectly.  You're wrong.

Case 2: Telling a patient fixing occlusion cannot be done. That is an opinion, not facts. Just because one person cannot do it, it doesn't mean another person cannot as well.  When you don't know, you don't know.  You cannot treat if the diagnosis is incorrect or you don't know how to diagnose properly.  That may be "your fact" because of your limitations but your facts can be rebutted. Someone else may be able to do it.  Finding the right doctor is key.

Case 3: If you think going to an HMO office will give you the same service as going to PPO or out-of-network office, you are entitled to your opinion.  But the majority of people who have worked in those offices will disagree with you. It's like buying name brands. The LV or cheap purse will store the same things.  It is a matter of importance to you: esthetics and confidence. My patient tells me she spent $15K on a purse because it makes her feel powerful. I didn't disagree. I don't know that feeling because my power comes from being able to explain things better to people who disagree with me. But to her, that confidence allow her to talk to others more comfortably.
 
Each of these cases tested my patience as the first two were from my own colleagues. Dentistry borrowed a joke from another industry: 3 dentists can give you 5 different opinions regarding treatment. We can all have different views of the same problem. We just need to remember not to judge another without understanding their point of view. 
Comments

A Day of Hope

8/15/2022

Comments

 
​This weekend, I volunteered for the Convoy of Hope, an organization that travels around the country to give communities a day of hope. They provide free medical, dental, vision exam and treatment. During the event, participants receive free groceries, shoes, job resources, help with resume writing, breast cancer consultation, food (Chick-Fil-A sandwiches, chips, cookies, fruits), drinks, entertainment, games, new backpacks filled with school supplies, and so much more.  It is a wonderful service to help local families with food shortage and students with school supplies.  Everyone was welcomed.  Each child received a free pair of new shoes while each families received 2 bags of groceries.  Those who signed up for dental service received free exams, x-rays, cleanings, fillings and extractions.  The lines were long but we had over 20 dentists, 4 hygienists, 12 dental assistants, and 30 young community volunteers to help move things along.  Our own assistant, Khrysha came to help.  The pre-dental and dental students came out in force as well.  I was so proud to see a lot of the same faces that volunteered years earlier.
I met my partner at 8 am as we both headed to the same chair for triage.  She had the loupe light to do the exam so she said, "I will be your light”.  Somehow between the two of us with our limited Spanish, we were able to examine about 80 patients in 5 hours, comprende? When she realized I was managing the flow of the clinic, she said she was partnered up with the wrong person because she was working too hard. Then she said she had such a wonderful time and felt so good about giving back to the community. Everyone there was eager to help and willing to step up.  There was a warm fuzzy feeling felt by all.
By the end of the day, we were all exhausted but still jovial. Our good deed for the weekend was done. Patients walked out of the clinic with less pain and a grateful heart for the services received. We gave every leftover item we had to those who were there to receive. This organization, along with all the donors, sponsors, and volunteers changed thousands of families’ lives in just one day. I wish there were more of these events to lessen the burdens of our neighbors more often. But any amount of kindness will do.  A huge thank you to all the people who helped made this event a big success.  Your involvement changed lives.
Comments

A Travesty

6/24/2022

Comments

 
Today the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.  6 individuals were able to change the lives of millions.  The court stated every life has a right to decide for itself.  But a woman cannot decide for herself when it comes to reproduction.  I understand their value placed on life.  But what is life if it is a result of rape or incest?  Or even an accident on birth control pills?  How will the baby be supported if the mother is not mature enough to take care of it or no one wants it?  Today society is about individualism, not community.  If you hate the idea of wearing a mask during a pandemic because your health is at risk from lack of oxygen, how can you celebrate this supreme court decision about taking away a woman's right to her body and life?  This will not end abortion, just safe ones in those righteous states.
Why bring forth a baby into a world that will discriminate against it if it is part of the LGBTQ+ community?  Or even a minority with racism, misogyny, and even uncovered healthcare benefits?  Healthcare insurance companies won't cover the "pre-existing" conditions.  If one does value life from the moment of conception, then one should ensure its life is given equal rights with resources for basic living.  One should also value the life of the currently living.
Our community seems to have been torn, ripped at the heart of "love thy neighbor".  We've become immune to mass shooting, police brutality, bad leaders, and entertainment opinions as facts.   The country is even divided on the  insurrection of  Jan. 6 because there are people who want to hold onto their power in government.  I mean, having a pension and lifelong health benefit is dang attractive, not to mention under the table perks, for serving one term.  You can make things up and people would believe you.  Millions would believe your lies.  
It's ironic that the people who are celebrating today's verdict are the same people who don't want to pay taxes to social programs.  How does one small portion of the population gets to dictate how the majority live?  Isn't our voting system based on the majority rules?  But money talks and has lot of influence.  Think Delta Dental insurance company.  Their reps cheat their own clients out of a proper payment/reimbursement.   You have to check item by item each time you get a check from them.  It's unreal and pathetic.  But they get away with it because they are huge.
If you study the history to Planned Parenthood, it was the republican way to ensure poor people don't populate their communities.  They wanted to control low-income birth rate, regardless of color.  Then the Democrats took on this calling and made it theirs to give support to women, regardless of class.  But Democrats in the majority seems to be futile right now.  Their lack of action to hold public leaders accountable for bad behavior allows more people to behave badly.  Let's not forget this day that has set us back 50 years.   What is the SCOTUS going to take away next?  Same-sex marriage?   This should tell you no one should have their job guaranteed for life.  If you don't perform your duty well, you need to be fired or disciplined especially if you are there to serve the people of the land.  This mentality is dangerous to a changing world.  We need to move forward, not backwards.  Our founding fathers could not have possibility thought of every single scenarios for the future.   That is why they included the 9th amendment in the Bill of Rights.  What happened to that?
Picture
Image from the Handmaid's Tales, where fertile women are forced to have sex with their masters as that is what God want.  Only the chosen few can run the world in the name of God during daylight.   But when nighttime comes, they celebrate with his fallen angel behind closed doors.  In this series, women can't even read in public, even if it's the woman who help formed this society.  Depressing...
Comments

Tragedy at school

5/26/2022

Comments

 
Yesterday elementary school kids & teachers were shot and killed by a madman. He only just turned 18 y.o. days before. So he too, was a child with all the red flags flashing but no one paid attention.
I dropped off my daughter at school this morning. As she shut the door to my car, I almost yelled out, "Don't get shot" but I stopped myself. I didn't even realize I was thinking it and how it was disturbing me subconsciously. But how can I not? My child goes to school. I dropped her off and there's a possibility of not seeing her again in a few hours. That is so scary to me. No parents should have to bury their child, even if the child is 60 y.o. I remember seeing my patient care for her 60 y.o. daughter at 86 years young herself.  That giving tenderness from a parent never goes away.  NEVER.
So I share the excruciating pain those parents and family members have to go through this week. As a parent who almost lost her own child, I understand the devastation. I remember telling my husband that if our daughter doesn't make it out of the hospital, I won't be able to either. I believe I would literally die from a heart break. I lost 10 pounds the week she spent in the hospital. I can't begin to image life without her. My daughter was sick. These kids just went to school. The teachers went to work. Vote the politicians who are against restricter background check before purchasing a gun out of office. Show them they work for us, not the gun lobbyists. This is reckless legislation influenced by people with too much money.
​As a society, we have this hatred for the ultra rich.  But we keep voting for their people to stay in office.  Why?   You can't say guns are not evil, people are, and continue to pray for families of victims.  Guns are objects.  Evil people who can get their hands on them easily will do evil deeds.  What is wrong with making it harder for people to buy guns, especially those that can kill tens of people within seconds?  Why did the store sell the guns to the 18 y.o.?  Two of them even.  It is maddening.   
Ironic how these legislators who are against background check are the same ones voting to ban abortions due to the value of human life at conception.  What happened to their value of human life after birth?

Comments

Healthcare PRoviders

4/4/2022

Comments

 
A while back, I worked on my cousin who is a physician.  He had an infected tooth for almost a year now.  I lectured him about ignoring intermittent oral pain.  Then I realized as someone who is on the upper echelon at the hospital, he didn't have time to address his own pain.  He was taking care of patients, peers, administrative issues, and families.   He takes his family members to their doctor appointments but ignores his own, until it cannot be ignored any longer.
My cousin is a good guy.  He cares with is big heart on his big arm.  So this made me want to take care of him even more.  A lot of times we forget that doctors, or anyone who takes care of others, ignore their own needs for care, any kind of care.  As a society, we put importance in caring for others.  Often time, caregivers don't include ourselves in that box.  I'm so happy to see that there are still people who whole-heartedly give themselves to their profession and not complain because it's "part of the job".  Given all that is going on and the deterioration of community, let this remind you that there are pockets of hope within society that still want to help each other.  Not everything is left or right, political, religious, or even colorful.  It's simple, black and white: help thy neighbors.

Picture
His tooth was fractured all this time, infection came and went for almost a year.  I knew it wasn't just a simple extraction and bone graft.  I opened the area up and found a huge ball of granulomatous tissue and hole in bone.  So please remember not to yell at your providers.  They are working hard to care for others.  
​
Comments
<<Previous
Forward>>

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    February 2011
    December 2010
    September 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    November 2008
    August 2008
    June 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    January 2008
    November 2007
    October 2007
    September 2007
    August 2007
    July 2007
    January 2007
    October 2006
    September 2006
    August 2006
    June 2006
    April 2006
    March 2006
    January 2006
    December 2005
    November 2005
    October 2005
    September 2005
    August 2005
    July 2005
    June 2005
    May 2005
    April 2005

    RSS Feed

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
A CENTER FOR DENTAL EXCELLENCE
Copyright 2023
  • Home
  • Services
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Appointment Request