January - LVI Visions

“There is no question
that whenever dentists
“bash” each other in public,
it lowers the image of the
dentist doing it and the
image of our profession
in general.”
simplest and most obvious truth if it would be such as would oblige them to
admit the falsity of conclusion which they have delighted in explaining to colleagues,
which they have proudly taught to other, and which they have woven,
thread, into the fabric of their lives.”
Q: It appears that within Dentistry, significant change is
often met with ridicule and bitterness. Why is that?
Dr. Jackson: This is not unique to dentistry. I might add to my answer above
that Galileo wouldn’t allow his book to be published until after his death, for
fear of being burned at the stake. At least it’s not that bad in dentistry today.
Dr. Reed: It’s the nature of man! I recall Thomas Jefferson saying “When a significant
event brings change, it is first met with ridicule, then vitriolic bitterness...and
then after negotiation, finally acceptance.”
Q: In your opinion, how do public bashings affect the
general public’s view about dentistry and dentists?
Dr. Jackson: There is no question that whenever dentists “bash” each other in
public, it lowers the image of the dentist doing it and the image of our profession
in general. You only have to look at how the public views politicians who
do this all the time.
It’s not ethical and it’s the ethics and maturity of the individual making personal
attacks on another professional that is brought into question. Also it damages dentistry
as a profession because the public begins to wonder if this is typical behavior.
Our profession is based on trust and this gets jeopardized when we behave badly.
Dr. Reed: The dentist, in all the famous movie scenes, is cast as the village idiot.
When this message arrives, it diminishes our professional image. Fortunately,
public bashing is not the leading headline of the day to the general public.
Q: Why are people down on things they are not up on?
Dr. Jackson: There can be a lot of reasons. By definition, a new idea threatens
the natural order. For some, the amount they are down on any new idea often
depends on how much they have invested in the status quo. By the way, this is
a form of self-protection and to an extent, normal. For others, it’s a matter of
change. A new idea can bring change and change can be difficult. It is challenging,
risky, takes a lot of effort, and can be chaotic.
Dr. Reed: As early as 1551, a fellow by the name of Machiavelli commented
on this phenomenon. “There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous
to conduct, more uncertain in its success than to take the lead in intro-
64 LVI VISIONS • JANUARY • FEBRUARY • MARCH • APRIL 2008