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. 

​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.

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?

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...

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.

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.  
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