The Dalin Exchange I Jeffrey B.

Dalin, DDS, FACD, FAGD, FICO

r. arvey
" i e"

Into e practIce 0
For more fin this topi c. g-n to www.dentaleconomic.li.cOIll
;lIld .,earch using the followinl.{ key words: tlmlal diz't'ryiuIlJ. Dr:

Ilarn:v Ht'juWlrlm, "Un/ul/let'/; (b,wiIIlNe (tll/SfS, Dr. ](1)' /)"/;u.
01: Dolin: I think tbi,. intmJicw will be of great !lse to many
of OlW Dental Economics readen MOllY people feel like they
are stuck in a nlt with tbe;,' day-to-doy lives. But according to
Dr. Hm-vey Weil1g011:en, the'!"e are many ways to become re-
m,,gized. I hove ImbWlI Hat1Jey since our days at tbe Jndiona
Univenity Sebool of Dentist/y. Hnt-vey, will yOlt give our readers
some ideas of haw to return exciteme'llt to the;,' p1"llctice lives? To
begin, how Cfl11ne'W materials find tecbniques help?
Dr. Weingar ten: All of us in
dentistry face the same fears
and challenges in addressing
new materials and techniques.
We have <l "comfort" zone with
the materials we are using and
procedures we are doing at any
one point in time. Good or bad,
these procedures are "ours," and
we have a tendency to preserve
Dr. Harvey Weingarten and defend them. We need to
step outside of that comfort zone to try newer materials
and techniques.
\ Ve need to do this with sowld scientific data, reputable
sales representatives, and dependable companies that will
stand behind their products. We are in this for the long
haul. Materials or procedures that make big promises and
don't deliver or backfire in our faces should be remem-
bered as we move forward.
Information is power. We need to do our homework and
then proceed. Not each and every material or technique is
going to work out as we had hoped. But if we never try, we
will never know the outcome.
Consider impression materials for a moment. Tfwe used
those original materials from dental school, we would
never want to continue to do indirect restorative work.
Newer materials and procedures should do the follow-
ing: Make the procedure easier on patients and ourselves,
make the procedure more efficient, and most importantly,
deliver a better product.
0" Dalill: I know YOlt are a p"opomnr of eqllipmmt
and techllologies. J remember bearing YOII 1'lh't about
October 2010 I www.dentaleconomics.com
something simple that we take for g1Ymted: tbe Midwest ATC
Stylus bigh-speed halldpiece, I",d how improvements ill this area
can make Ollr lives bette/:
Dr. Weing-arten: I've practiced more than 31 years, and have
seen many generations and changes in hand pieces. 'Vhen T
first started practicing, handpieces were as big as a large ci-
gar. Subtle improvements such as a latch-and-push button
release in the chuck bave helped. Larger changes in design
have been fiber optics, quick release, and swivel capability.
Mniaturization and ergonomic changes have also had a
tremendous impact on contemporary hand pieces. Add into
the equation increased torque without the stalling prob-
lems of old, and you have assembled the requirements of
today's state-of-the-art handpiece.
I have found this total package in the Midwest Stylus
ATC handpiece. This handpiece has taken me to the next
level of making my life in dentistry easier. The ergonomic
balance, pure brighmess of the internal light, water spray,
and most importantly, torque without stalling has made
this my "go-to" handpiece. Much less eye and wrist fatigue,
efficiency of my time, and smoothness of cut have made
this my latest discovery.
0" Dnlin: Yo" bove a tb"iving practice il1 Soutb BOld, Ind. , but
have also kept bwy (Wing a variety of activities sucb as teacbing,
se1IJi1lg os a NERB exominer, being a 1Ilember of tbe Indiana
State Board of Dmtistry, insunmce cOtlmlting, p,;so" del1tistly,
co"ve1lt dentiStly, ami lecturing on ethics. Yo" bave found a 11Iul-
titude of Olltlets, nil witbi" (Iemist/y. Wcmld YOlt talk about tlltSe
oreas so 0111' renders can see that we havt man)' "dental diver-
sions" at oar jinge11:ips?
Dr. Initially, my "dental diversions" were out of
survival. When I started my practice ,.oth my schoolmate and
business partner, Dr. VVilliam Gitlin, interest rates were ap-
proaching 20%, and we were in the economic slumps of tl,e
early '80s. I began teaching at a local dental hygiene school,
and working part-time at a regional prison to pay the rent.
Suddenly, I realized how much these activities added to
the diversity of my dental life. Spending time ,.oth students
keeps me sharp. at the regional prison allowed me
to hone some skil ls without the pressure of a time schedule
in my day. This has led to many additional dental diversions.
One of the most interesting, yet one that 1 do infre-
quently, is participating with the Special Crimes Forensic
Unit of my local police force. Through the years, we have
worked together to identify deteriorated corpses. I used to
kid my patients that Oll Fridays they could find me in one