In the city that never sleeps there sure are a lot of busy people. Work, social commitments, and family obligations fill up the calendar for most of us. There just doesn’t seem to be enough time to take care of some of the things that really need taking care of – like going to the dentist.   

We all experience it: you have something that needs to be done for yourself and you’re about to take care of it but a pressing issue comes up – usually involving doing something for a customer, a patient, or a family member – and boom! – you totally forget to take care of it. This is especially true when it involves something you’d rather not do, like going to the dentist!

The old expression, “If you want to get something done, give it to a busy person” may apply in some circumstances, but dentistry seems to be the exception to the rule. The fact remains that certain things remain in your personal province of responsibility. Sure, you can assign the task of making you an appointment to someone else, your spouse or your assistant, but you still need to actually keep the appointment and show up! Every day we have at least one or two patients who call to reschedule due to “unavoidable” and “pressing” conflicts.

Saying, “I’ll call you as soon as I know my schedule” does not qualify as rescheduling!

Thank goodness my very adept office manager Sandra, can engineer the schedule as a conductor leads an orchestra.

And, I can’t tell you how many times someone comes in and is shocked to find out how much time has passed since their last dental visit. Bleeding gums or temperature sensitivity can be a signal that it’s time to schedule that overly deferred dental appointment. (Got that? Call now for your appointment!)

As many of you are aware of from my posts during the past year, I have been immersed in a whirlwind of activity that has kept me fully engaged with the tasks at hand. Between my practice expanding to include implant dentistry, the welcome addition of Dr. Blair’s former patients (he retired last June), my teaching responsibilities in NYU’s Implant Program, and the planning and implementation of my nearly completed office modernization and renovation, busy is an understatement.

And, did I mention my daughter Ashley got married in September? Yes, my cup runneth over – with champagne. And just like many of you, some things were relegated to that euphemistic back burner. Including my own dental care.

The old adage, “Him that makes shoes goes barefoot himself” applies to me. I’ve been so busy taking care of everyone and everything else that I dropped the ball on my own dental needs. I fell into the “too busy” quagmire and forgot about taking care of  – me!

So, during one of my recent “forced vacations” when I had to close the office for construction, I had no excuse to not take care of my own teeth. In the span of one week, I binged on dentistry. Only this time it was me reclining in the big chair: 

• On a Monday, I had three teeth prepared for crowns. 
• On Tuesday, I had root canal treatment on another tooth. 
• On Wednesday, I began the process of having two porcelain veneers on my front teeth. (When you’re finished enjoying this post, you can find out why I needed veneers in the first place!)
• The next Monday I had a dental prophylaxis (cleaning).
• Then Wednesday I had my veneers completed. 

Now, you probably don’t need as much dentistry as I did, but I can tell you that it feels fantastic to be back on track.

Some of you may remember this funny commercial:

It IS a great feeling when your teeth feel good!

(BTW Pearl Drops was taken off the market – too abrasive).

For busy people like us, time is a limited resource. It gets away from you when you’re immersed in your busyness. So do as I say AND as I just did: Take the time and make the time to take care of your dental health. In the long run, the teeth you save may be your own – not to mention the time you’ll save by preventing dental problems that could require even more time to actually treat (kind of like mine!) 

This all reminds me of an old tune by Bachman Turner Overdrive:

“You get up every morning from your alarm clock’s warning

Take the 8:15 into the city.

There’s a whistle up above and people pushin’, people shovin’

And the girls who try to look pretty

And if your train’s on time you can get to work by nine

And start your slavin’ job to get your pay………..

And I’ll be taking care of business (every day)

I’ll be taking care of business (every way)

I’ve been taking care of business (it’s all mine)

Taking care of business and working overtime……”

Now pick up the phone and say, “Call Dr. Sinkin” (212-685-3040).