So it was the first Monday of the New Year and one of my most beloved patients, having just learned that my office was closed for the holiday, called me on my cell phone to report a dental mishap. As odd as this may sound, I was thrilled to hear from her and to be speaking  with her. (And no, I’m not some sadistic dentist of the Little Shop of Horrors variety reveling at someone’s dental emergency) as  she was very quick to point out that she was not in distress and could wait until tomorrow to see me. Having known each other since 1984, she knows I would have opened the office to see her if need be.

Bernice called me to make sure I would be in the office this week to see her before she jetted off to Israel to attend a Hadassah conference. I was excited to speak to Bernice because she is a most dynamic, compassionate inspirational individual. To be speaking with her at the onset of the New Year was, well it was… inspirational.

You see, Bernice is 98+ years young with the optimism and “can do” spirit that inspires me to embrace 2012 with vigor and optimism. But there is more to this than being “pumped up” for the adventure of a new year; it’s being reminded that to be fully engaged in life is not to look at the calendar and push the restart button with the arrival of January 1^st.  Rather, it’s to take each day as the gift it is (whether it’s Monday January 2^nd or Thursday October 12^th) and to make it count.

As the saying goes, Carpe Diem – Seize the Day…everyday! And before you know it, 35,770 days will pass by (that’s 98 years) and you will still look forward to tomorrow. That’s what I call living a fulfilling life and that’s the lesson Bernice has taught me by example.

While I have already wished you all a Happy New Year, maybe what I really wish for you is fulfillment of a life fully lived.

Michael

I recall a time when it was considered impolite to ask a woman her age (perhaps it still is), but there does come a time in one’s life that one’s age becomes a source of great pride and accomplishment. Something that was once kept discreetly private is transformed into a medal of honor to be proudly displayed.

My Mom

Last weekend, I flew to California with my family to celebrate my mother’s 80^th birthday. A veritable gala was thrown by her wonderful friends Donna and Irene (24 years and 10 years her junior). Some forty celebrants were there to pay tribute to my mother’s youth, and I do mean youth. Half the people there had no idea that my mother is an octogenarian (that is until they received the invitation).

Many were her bowling pals who have witnessed her prowess in the alley where her average hovers around 150. Some have gone out dancing with her into the wee hours. And all of them know her to be a ball of fire and the life of any party-especially her own.

So with her cover blown, my mother’s birthday was a celebration of life lived with enthusiasm and joy. No mention of decades past, but much anticipation for the days to come. Perhaps the secret to aging gracefully is not to look back and mourn days gone by, but instead to look forward to the future for new experiences that have yet to occur.

Yesterday, I treated three successive patients with the following birthdates:

• 7/25/1920

• 10/22/1920

• 9/20/1916

I’ll do the math for you, two 91 year olds, and one 95 year old. Each had their own “Je ne sais quoi.” Sylvia watched CNBC while in the dental chair to follow her investments. She had been living with chronic back pain for years until she found a doctor earlier this year willing to perform surgery. Now pain-free and with a bounce in her step, she never has an idle moment.

Teresa sadly lost her two sisters this year. For the past 3½ years she was caretaker for one of them. With no children of her own, she suddenly finds herself to be the family matriarch with her five nephews and nieces vying for her attention. A novel experience for her, which she describes with a smile on her face.

And then there’s Mr. Goldmark who survived the Russian front during WWII while fighting in the Hungarian army. He is a veritable speed demon with his two canes. Always on time (even in the snow), he couldn’t get out of the chair fast enough to race home. His wife broke her hip three weeks ago and is still (but not for long) in a wheel chair. He wanted to take her outside to enjoy the beautiful weather. (And yes, he pushes the wheel chair himself).

So my point: Happy Birthday Mom; and to Sylvia, Teresa, Mr. Goldmark, and all of you who are young at heart:

Carpe Diem (SEIZE THE DAY!)

Dr. Michael Sinkin has been practicing dentistry for over two decades. He truly cares about the experience his patients have and takes great pride in making them feel relaxed and comfortable during every visit. Come in for an appointment and experience a different kind of dental practice. You may even receive a healthy dose of Dr. Sinkin’s famous comic relief!
To find out more about Dr. Sinkin, please click here

I would like to share a tale or more precisely a tail that is, in my estimation, a quintessential New York experience that proves to me that the milk of human kindness flows as freely in NYC as does the Hudson River along the western banks of this unique island.

Sunday was a gorgeous sunny summer-like day, which inspired Ann and me to take Willy, our 15-year-old Golden Retriever for a walk in Riverside Park. We had seen the NYC Greenway along the Hudson many times during our daily commute from Westchester and couldn’t wait to hit “our” trail. Willy was excited to see the water and with tail wagging, the three of us began our trek at 99th Street and headed north. There were people and their canine companions galore. Runners, walkers, and cyclists breezing by us as we pranced, then plodded, along our route uptown.

At about 120th Street our pace had slowed markedly, that is until Willy decided he had gone far enough and just plopped down on a patch of grass and wouldn’t budge. A woman cyclist came to a stop to behold our pooped-out pooch. She dismounted from her bike and began to give Willy copious amounts of water from her bottle all the while cooling and caressing him. She offered to put Willy on her bicycle, but somehow I couldn’t picture a 75 lb. dog sitting in her basket. We thanked her for her kindness and decided to rest along the riverbank.

After a while, we decided to head back home—that is Ann and I decided. Willy had other ideas; namely, he wasn’t going anywhere. His 15-year-old arthritic hips had had it. What’s a father to do?

I hoisted Willy upon my shoulder and began the march downtown. UGGH! After ten minutes, I had to stop. People were watching us with amusement and while Willy was content to be coddled and carried, I did not see the humor in our predicament. Some time passed and once again, alley-oop! Willy was on my shoulder and away we went.

This continued on and off for while (a long while), when from out of the blue a couple of roller-bladers came along side us with a stroller and asked us if they could help. They offered us the use of their stroller (I wondered what they were going to do with their child in as much as they were on skates). They were as insistent as I was bewildered. Joyce and Jeremy were Willy’s saviors. Joyce popped off her skates and slaked Willy’s thirst with her water. Jeremy opened the top of the stroller to reveal two tiny pugs (no baby). The baby stroller was in fact a pet stroller and with Jeremy’s help, Willy was hoisted into his red “chariot.” Jeremy and Joyce were a young couple and avid dog lovers and to me they represent all that’s special about New Yorkers. They urged us along and would meet us at 99th Street.

Twenty minutes later, Willy dismounted refreshed and renewed and the wheeled footed Jeremy appeared to reclaim his canine carriage. Refusing any form of gratitude besides a heart-felt thank you, Jeremy disappeared as quickly as he arrived. What a wonderful welcome to New York. Thank you Jeremy and Joyce.

As I write this piece, I am sitting on an airplane homeward bound after a 12 day “sabbatical” from New York and clinical practice.

The first leg of my trip was to San Antonio, Texas where I attended the annual meeting of AADPA (American Academy of Dental Practice Administration). Essentially, this is a four-day conference dedicated to raising the awareness of its members in pursuit of excellence without necessarily talking about the clinical dentistry (though there is always time set aside to discuss emerging technology). Business leaders, psychologists, futurists are among the invited lecturers. There are also a variety of motivational speakers who discuss a wide range of topics designed to inspire introspection and personal growth.

Such topics include the art of listening and healing, the essential qualities of leadership, how to embrace change as a growth experience, how to live a balanced life….

In the past I have heard some truly remarkable people share their insights: Rabbi Harold Kushner (Why Bad Things Happen To Good People and When All You Ever Wanted Isn’t Enough), Steven Covey (Seven Habits of Highly Successful People), John Izzo (Second Innocence: Rediscovering Joy and Wonder), and Mark Hansen and Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup For The Soul). To hear their eloquence, to feel the power of their words, to see an audience of professionals moved to tears, is akin to experiencing an epiphany.

One of the most empowering speakers this year was Chad Hymas who at age 27 tragically broke his neck and was left a quadriplegic. With two small children and a wife, his was a tale of overcoming unimaginable and overwhelming obstacles. His personal triumphs are a testament of sheer determination spurred by the unrelenting tough love of his father. His message: “If I can cope with the challenges I face each and every day (dressing, bathing being an involved husband and father), what’s your excuse?”

Chad has over 100 speaking engagements a year throughout the country and travels alone confined to a wheelchair with limited use of his hands. In fact the day after he spoke to us, he was travelling to Africa to speak before an audience of 10,000. WOW!

So after four days of meetings from 7am-4:30pm, I left San Antonio for Vail, Colorado for six days of skiing with my wife in the beautiful awe-inspiring vistas of the Rocky Mountains. What a wonderful setting to take a time-out and cogitate over what I had just experienced, and to recognize and appreciate how wonderful life truly is.
I count my blessings and am truly thankful.

I return to New York renewed in spirit and rested in mind and body (rubber legs not withstanding!).

Unless your name is Ebenezer, I am sure you anticipate the fun and joy of the holidays to be shared with friends and family. My office is no different. We deck the halls and immerse the office with holiday cheer. Delicious delectables abound and everyone is encouraged to enjoy the Christmas confections that so many of our wonderful patients have prepared: chocolate, cookies, truffles, caramel, etc…(what you never heard of internal marketing?).

As we do every year, we celebrate the holidays (Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanza with an office outing. This year we decided to be a bit more adventurous….to push the envelope…to dare to live a little bit on the edge. No, we didn’t go bungee jumping or sky- diving. We threw caution to the wind and saw, Spiderman.

Now the day we had our outing planned, the New York Times trashed the show and announced that refunds were being given. The day after our pilgrimage to the Foxwoods Theatre, one of the actors portraying Spidey took a serious 20 ft fall into the orchestra pit. Previous showings had mishaps where your friendly neighborhood Spiderman actually fell from the rafters into unsuspecting laps. (Now that’s bringing the audience into the show).

We decided to brave the weather and Julie Taymor’s acrobatics and go on with the show. Not before we had the chance to drown our fears with abundant food and DRINK at Sardi’s!

We had a great time!

The theatre was packed. The first act was exciting with Spiderman and the Green Goblin flying overhead. (Should the need arise, I was ready to catch any falling superhero to protect my dedicated staff). We were all wowed by the modern marvels of Broadway magic. The second act didn’t deliver and will be the focus of the writers before the show finally opens. But all in all, we had a wonderful night.

I’ll be curious to see the show again, once they get their act together (couldn’t resist the line.)

Hope your holiday season was as full of warmth and fun as mine was!

It’s not everyday that one gets a chance to see himself in the newspaper let alone to be highlighted in an article in the Daily News, but such was my experience recently.

As I walked into my office to begin the week, I received a text message from a friend who saw my picture in the paper. I immediately scurried down to the corner newsstand and saw in disbelief (make that awe and excitement) a nearly full-page photo of me with an accompanying article on the first page of the Money section. Damn nice picture if I do say so myself.

I bought 20 copies! (because that’s all that were left.)  That was my 15 minutes of fame and helluva way to start the day!

If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s a link.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

For longer than I can remember, Barbara, our office manager, has been decorating the office to reflect the fun-filled and festive feeling of the holidays. When Halloween approaches, she really gets into the “spirit” of things.

About seven years ago, Barbara suggested that we all dress up in costumes. I immediately rejected the idea; that is until I walked past a Halloween store and saw a Superman costume (adult XXL) hanging in the window.

In a moment of impulse buying, a tradition was born!

So every year since, we dress up for the amusement of our patients and for ourselves. It has become a ” much anticipated” day in the sense that our appointment schedule gets quickly booked. In fact, patients without appointments drop by (often with their children to trick-or-treat and just see what our costumes are).

This year, one of our beloved patients, Mary, actually came to our office dressed as the tooth fairy (she changed in the hall)!

And now, with light-hearted spirit, you know the rest of the story.

Enjoy this year’s pictures.

The other day I was asked to explain why I chose to become a dentist, and if it has been a rewarding career. This was for a newspaper article that hasn’t yet been published, but I thought I would share it anyway. It was fun to put into words how I feel. Hope you enjoy it, too!

Why I am a Dentist

Can you think of a better way to spend every day than to work with fun people and have a plethora of interesting people stop by to visit you, too? Can you think of a better way to spend your life than to have the opportunity to develop many meaningful and often intimate relationships that can span decades? Can you think of a better way to spend your career than to be able to help people look and feel better and then to be rewarded by smiles of joy and gratitude?

Well, I can’t.

And that’s why I love being a dentist…even after nearly 30 years of practice.

Dentistry is a perfect blend of art and science encompassing the knowledge of a doctor, the skills of a surgeon and the creativity of an artist. It is as much an avocation as it is a vocation.

I love what I do and do what I love. So, keeping up with new trends, techniques and cutting-edge technology is as much a joy as it is an obligation. (Avid sports fans have a ritual to scour the newspaper for the previous day’s developments. Golf and skiing enthusiasts search for the latest developments in equipment design.) For me, the technological evolution/revolution is exciting to behold…new tools to enhance treatment outcomes-new toys to play with.

Dentistry for me is a wonderfully rewarding profession and each day is a new adventure. For those seeking a career, my advice is to find something that gives you passion; the rest will just fall into place. I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

Next Halloween, stop by the office and you’ll see the entire staff in costume…just for fun.

I have a long-established tradition at my dental office of celebrating the holidays by treating my staff to dinner and a show. This past Friday, 11 of us dined at Sardi’s and then went on to see the musical revival of Hair on Broadway. The meal was fantastic and the show really rocked. We had a blast!

But what made the evening truly extraordinary was that we all were dressed-up in “1960’s” garb. I have to say that this year I really went whole-hog. I spent three nights preparing my outfit. I felt like I was back in sleep-away camp tie-dyeing T-shirts, bleaching out my jeans and applying all kinds of appliqués to my “ensemble.” Any hesitancy I had about donning a wig and bandana went out the window when I experienced others’ hysterical reaction to my hippie regalia.

Eyes were locked upon me in the subway, at the restaurant and in the theatre. I have to admit, I expected many others attending the show to be dressed-up, too, the way Rocky Horror Picture Show fans do. So you can imagine our surprise when it turned out that we were the only ones in costume!

Everyone who saw my outlandishly attired group either smiled or gawked and some even asked to have their picture taken with us. I’m sure they thought we were part of the show!

Actually, we really did feel like we were part of the show: we sat in the front row and cast members sat on my lap, played with my wig and “made-out” with my staff. During the grand finale, we all went on the stage and danced.

What a great night!

What a wonderful memory!

What a great office we have!

To see more crazy pictures check out my Facebook Fan Page at www.fb.me/MichaelSinkinDDS