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Pierce County Dental Society is a component society for current members of the American Dental Association and Washington State Dental Association.

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December President's Message -
Dr. Tina Olsson

Dear Members,

Happy New Year!

My kids and I have been sharing our favorite music with each other recently. We’re trying to figure out what’s special about the bands we love the most. One idea we have is that the best bands mix different styles. Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles—are great because they have several different people write. It’s fun to guess whether Christine McVie or Stevie Nicks is singing, or which Beatle wrote a particular song. The variety makes the music cooler.

When Dr. Lisa Elias recently joined our practice, she asked how I preferred her to interact with referring offices. She assumed I might want things done “my way.” I hoped that she would expand our practice capacity by bringing her own personality and ideas. I said, don’t do it like me, I’ve already got that covered. Some people in the community enjoy my style…and some don’t.

Dr. Elias brought new ideas that strengthened our protocols, and she earned relationships with referring offices that are uniquely hers. Our practice is better because she does things differently than the rest of us. In our practice of five doctors, one uses a lot of calcium hydroxide, and another doesn’t use it at all. Some love root end surgery others prioritize two step orthograde retreatment. The important thing to note is that everyone is doing it “the right way”. When one colleague does something differently than another, it doesn’t imply that one of them is right or wrong. Instead, there is a “sum is greater than the parts” effect.

The dental care in Pierce County is similar. I have practiced in other states and countries and in different practice models. The dental community here is better. Much better. I suggest one of the reasons is the diversity of providers and practice styles available to patients. There are options for patient preferences which makes way for patient agency. If we were all doing the exact same thing, we would be treating the dentist’s chief complaint and not the patient’s chief complaint. Variety wouldn’t matter if we didn’t work together. We communicate about larger treatment plans and patients are given a warm hand off between offices keeping continuity in treatment planning. Pierce County Dental allows for the greater sum.

My family and I are moving out of state before my Presidency is termed. Dr. Lamberton has agreed to take on a longer than usual term. She will bring her own ideas and energy to our society, which will certainly continue to improve sum.

Thank you for the privilege of working with you all and for the opportunity to serve while I’ve been with you.

Wishing you all a joyful New Year.

Tina Olsson, DMD
President, Pierce County Dental Society

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