Calculated risks add up to greatness

“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.” – William Shakespeare

Each of us has our own idea of greatness. While some want to stand in the spotlight, others want to aim the spotlight. It’s all a matter of perspective and how you choose to see the light. On the news and social media, we see people who have achieved success. Copycats abound — whether it’s wearing the same styles or seeking the same lifestyle. But what really is success? After so many years in the publishing business, I have seen many people, both doctors and nonclinical, achieve success. But the ones who achieve greatness have something in common. They don’t do what everyone else is doing. They find their passion, think outside of the box, and take calculated risks to reach their goals.

One of the most interesting parts of being a publisher is that I get to meet people and read articles by people who take calculated risks. In the dental business, that usually entails devising new techniques or products. Sometimes it seems that everything that could be invented has already been invented. Who would have thought that implants could have a success rate of up to 98% or that sleep-disordered breathing could be treated at a dental practice? Remember when braces were just metal wires, brackets, and bands? Now we can chose from lingual braces, 3D-printed brackets, clear aligners, and many other ways to create perfect smiles in less time than ever before. Endodontics also has come a long way too — lasers, files of different shapes, sizes, and materials, and cleaning and disinfection instrumentation that leads to less pain and positive outcomes. All thanks to dentists, scientists, and nonclinical people who saw a problem that needed not just a solution, but their solution.

In the fall issue, our innovative authors have provided us with interesting and educational content. The CE by Patrick McKeown, “How the family dentist can identify and correct oral breathing for better patient outcomes,” points out the need for simple breathing re-education techniques to avoid the negative effects of mouth breathing. Dr. William Hang discusses the pivotal role that orthodontists can play in the healthcare of very young children with airway issues. Take the CE quiz for each of these articles, and you can get a total of 4 CE credits! Our Cover Story by Béatrice and Diane Robichaud of Panthera spotlights the company’s consistent precision, efficiency, speed, true customization, traceability, and reproducibility that leads to outstanding appliances. Dr. Emad Hussein and colleagues illustrate a case study of orthodontic treatment on a patient with a challenging occlusion that many would have treated with orthognathic surgery.

Whatever profession you chose, and whatever path you take, make sure that you follow your passion. Work hard and build a trusted team to help reach your goals. While your dreams are becoming reality, there are sure to be some nightmares, even during the day. But the things you lose sleep over can bring you satisfaction beyond your wildest dreams. We all have greatness in us. We just have to have the courage to discover it and share it.

To your best success,
Lisa Moler
Founder/Publisher, MedMark Media