I enter the treatment room, happy to see Nancy, a patient I haven’t seen in quite a while. “Welcome back,” I greet her, “We’ve missed you!” Nancy tells me that she’s had a rough year. Her mom passed away after a difficult battle with breast cancer, and Nancy has been grieving and having trouble getting…
Now You’ve Said A Mouthful
Sexually Transmitted…CANCER?
Every dentist has his or her own way of examining a patient, so when a new patient comes to my office, I expect them to ask questions. Renee was a college student, home for winter break, who hadn’t seen the dentist in a while. After spending some time getting to know her, I proceeded to…
Would You Talk to Your Dentist About Your Health?
Categories: Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental, health, holistic care, Human Interest, mouth body connection, Rockland County
I once had a new patient come in for an emergency visit. Bob was dressed in a well-cut suit, his hair styled perfectly. It was obvious that he worked out regularly. Even his fingernails were neatly trimmed and buffed. Then Bob opened his mouth to show me the reason for his visit, and I did…
A Warrior’s Journey of Return
I’ve known Howard Goldin for about 25 years. When I met him, he was Spring Valley’s Chief of Police, and he helped my kids do a science fair project on “the science of crime”. After he retired, he and his friend Ed Frank started sharing their experiences as combat
History and Home Decor
“You have to be open to different things if you want your life to evolve,” Ilana says, and her story is a perfect example of that. As owner of Ilana Perles Designs and co-owner of George and Perles Estate Sale Services, Ilana demonstrates versatility and talent. In the interest of full disclosure, I’ll tell you…
Music on Memory Lane
“It feels like a new beginning!” Sheri grins, showing off her terrific smile. She’s not talking about her dental work – she’s referring to her new occupation. Sheri and her husband, video DJ Jeff Sherer, bring fun to senior centers and nursing homes. Jeff serves as the DJ and Sheri is the dancer. Together, they…
Retro Rockland Reminiscing
One topic that frequently comes up when chatting with patients is how Rockland County has changed over the years. “Life in Rockland today is a whole different ball game,” Gene Jackson says. And he should know. Gene was born in Suffern Hospital in 1943 and has lived in Rockland ever since. He grew up…
Marketing, Marathons and Motherhood
Tanya finds a free moment to talk to me as she’s putting the finishing touches on a speech she’ll be delivering to a group of interns next week on how to be successful in marketing. “I’m trying to be careful and not sound like I’m full of myself, but they want me to talk about…
Coaching for Wellness
“With all the technology we have today, people actually get disconnected,” Suzanne explains. “It’s a blessing and a curse. I’m using technology to reverse that.” I’ve known Suzanne for about twenty-five years. She’s a high-energy mother of three who teaches full time. When she was doing her doctorate, she taught me the differences between auditory,…
Paint and Punchlines
“I’m new to stand up, so I haven’t completely decided which direction to take with my material,” Vivian tells me as I scroll through pictures of her children and grandchildren on her phone. I’ve known Vivian for close to twenty years, watched her five amazing kids grow up in my practice, and I can tell…
