An Interview With Dr. Geoffrey Berg
The fall 2004 Oregon State Denturist Association Conference marked a milestone, when Albany dentist and oral surgeon Dr. Geoffrey Berg provided a presentation on implant denture technology. This was the first time that a dentist licensed and practicing in Oregon had ever presented at an OSDA continuing education event. Based on feedback from those in attendance, his presentation was viewed with interest and enthusiasm.
What follows are excerpts of an interview conducted with Dr. Berg in early February, 2005.
The Oregon Denturist: Tell me about your professional background.
Dr. Berg: I graduated from the Oregon Health Sciences University dental school in 2000. I focused on getting a general dentistry degree with one year of training in the areas of anesthesia and oral surgery. In 2001 I bought my practice in Albany from a dentist who was retiring. My practice is almost evenly divided between general family dentistry and surgery. Two years ago I purchased an office in Lebanon, and for about a year I have done work for a couple of denturists, Todd Young and Ken Holden. For the last six months I have been working a couple of days a month out of their offices in Salem and Eugene.
TOD: When you work in the denturist offices, what kind of services do you provide?
Berg: I most frequently do surgery. Sometimes I’ll cut rest-preps for partials, but it’s mostly placing posts for implants and extractions for immediate dentures.
TOD: Have you worked with denturists other than Todd and Ken?
Berg: I have had referrals from other denturists but I don’t necessarily work with them out of their offices. But I have had others who have referred patients to me.
TOD: Why did you decide you wanted to work with denturists?
Berg: Actually, it happened pretty much by chance. I met Todd Young through a mutual acquaintance. We started talking, and he said that he needed surgery help with some of his Corvallis patients. He started (our professional relationship) by referring a couple of patients to me. It was the type of casework that I enjoyed doing, and I quickly saw that he was reaching a segment of the population that I was not and it could be a positive relationship for me, for him and for his patients.
Soon after our working relationship began I sent a couple of my patients needing immediate dentures to him. I noticed right away that the dentures Todd made for me were a lot better than the ones I was getting from the lab. It was a real eye-opener for me, not only do I not have to deal with (the prosthetic) part of it, but the patient is going to be getting a better standard of care. It was a real easy decision for me to choose to work with him. I think Todd and Ken Holden are very conscientious about oral conditions that they may or may not be able to diagnose, just as I might not be able to diagnose, and they know when something needs to be looked at and evaluated by someone more skilled in pathology.
One of the rewarding things for me working with Todd is that he is extremely skilled and knowledgeable. I love being in his office and having the opportunity to bounce things off of him right at the time.
For example, we recently had an implant case where I placed six implant posts. When I had finished, and while the patient was still sedated, I called Todd in and asked if the post level above the tissue was acceptable. He said that he would like them to be a little deeper. I agreed and sunk them a little deeper. That is the kind of collaboration where the patient benefits the most.
Was the work I had originally done acceptable? Yes it was. But was it the best for the patient, given the preferences of the prosthetic specialist? No it wasn’t. So we were able to make changes mid stream and make a better situation for the patient. That is what is rewarding and enjoyable for me.
And even if you are not in the same office, it is important to have a close relationship where you feel comfortable calling someone on the phone and saying this is the problem I am dealing with, or let’s meet for lunch and let me show you some models and discuss this case. Any time you have a good working relationship it is a good thing.
TOD: You presented at the Fall OSDA Conference in Eugene. Tell me about your experience there.
Berg: I thought
it was a great conference. It seemed to be well attended and the education
level of the people there was pretty good. I was impressed with a lot
of the questions that were asked and some of the experiences that were
shared. I was mostly talking about implants and overdentures and again,
I was impressed by the level of understanding that people had. I had a
good time. I felt that I was well received and I enjoyed myself.
Implants are a real exciting part of dentistry and denturism as well.
We are able to take people from a non-functional state to a highly functional
state, and that’s exciting. I spoke with quite a few people after
the session that had more things they wanted to talk about and there was
definitely an interest expressed by these denturists in expanding the
implant part of their practice.
TOD: What is your general viewpoint on implant denture technology?
Berg: There is a wide range of responses to implant dentures among both denturists and dentists. There are some old-guard dentists who would rather cut down two healthy teeth and do a bridge than put in an implant and crown.
Implants are no longer experimental, no longer something out of the ordinary. They have become the standard of care. And we are getting better insurance reimbursement now than we were just three years ago. Things are improving but insurance companies still have a ways to go. California is one state where if patients receive a bridge without being informed that an implant is an option, it is deemed to be less than an appropriate level of care and a practitioner is liable for their actions.
TOD: What messages or advice do you have for denturists who are looking to improve or increase their working relationships with the dentists in their community?
Berg: One thing that is extremely important to me is professionalism. You can’t overstate how the way you dress, the way the office looks and the way you market yourself can make a big difference in how you are perceived by the dentists in your community. I have been in denturists offices where I think that I could just as well be in an auto shop. And I have gone into others where you can’t tell the difference between that office and a dental office. I think there may be some people who might not like me for saying this, but I think that if you want to be accepted by a dentist you need to act like a dentist. Raise your level of professionalism and carry yourself as a professional. Make your office look professional and up to the standards that have been set, and I think you will be treated as such.
I think there are a lot of parallels in the history of the development dentistry and denturism as professions. If you go back 50 to 60 years, there was a very strong enmity between dentistry and the medical field, and part of that had to do with the way that dentists, looked, dressed, acted and practiced. And today, you look at doctors and dentists as professionals and there is really little difference. You go into a medical or a dental office, and it is basically the same. If you meet a physician and a dentist they look the same, talk the same they dress the same.
A lot of denturists are successful in their professionalism, and I think that is helping them to be better accepted. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to wear the white shirt and tie. There are many ways to dress and look professional. But a big part of it has to do with your skill in dealing with people on a professional level.
Another piece of advice would be to take every opportunity to make yourself known. I know some dental specialist that are very solitary personalities by nature, and they don’t want to join associations or get out and meet other dentists, and it is hard for them to receive referrals and be accepted in the community. But if you as a denturist make yourself known, and if dentists know you and understand your skills and your professionalism they will like you and trust you.
The bottom line is that a dentist is not going to send patients to someone they don’t know or trust. You have to get to know each other as people first and earn that trust, and then the next level of the relationship can come about. Anytime you refer a patient out, whether it is to a denturist, another dentist that referral reflects back on you.
TOD: What message would you have for dentists who want to improve their relationships with denturists?
Berg: I think that first and foremost, my message to dentists is that they should get to know denturists - what they are doing and how they are doing it, and learn to trust them by getting to know them.
TOD: Any final thoughts or comments?
Berg: Learn about what’s out there. For me it’s been very rewarding working with denturists and like I said before, I think the standard of care for my patients has been raised, my professional enjoyment has increased and it’s been a very good situation for me.