Reading is a great virtual escape from the summer heat. The Incisor has compiled a diverse selection of titles to consider – from oral health to practice management and personal growth to pure fiction.
By Susan Richards
Summertime can be busy for dentists as patients try to work appointments into their vacation schedules and back-to-school madness. Finding quality downtime is vital, and perhaps your seasonal respite involves tackling a healthy TBR (to-be-read) stack.
Reading is a terrific getaway–whether the ocean is included with your beach read, a quiet corner in a mountain cabin, or delivered via AirPods on your commute.
Are you trying to figure out what to read? Check out this selection of titles released in recent years covering various topics, including clinical dentistry, oral health, practice management, personal growth, and just-for-fun fiction.
Health and Dentistry
The second edition of The Oral-Systemic Health Connection (A Guide to Patient Care) is edited by Michael Glick, DMD. It provides a comprehensive look at the overwhelming scientific literature on the connection between oral and overall health. This resource helps dentists stay informed as well as further educate their patients.
Similarly, Dr. Steven Lin writes about The Dental Diet: The Surprising Link Between Your Teeth, Real Food, And Life-Changing Natural Health. This book also explores the oral health and wellbeing bond, focusing on nutrition and preventing tooth decay and gum disease.
Even the best practice must be prepared for the unexpected, so Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office* by Stanley F. Malamed, DDS, is a must-read. The eighth edition was released last year and includes updated information on drug-related events, how to assemble an emergency kit for your office, and more.
Practice Management and Success
Personal and professional growth is always a hot topic, regardless of the industry. We like these titles for the success-minded dentist.
In Titans of Dentistry: How the Top Performers Think and Act Differently, authors Dr. Justin Short and Dr. David Maloley interview 39 dental professionals for real-life advice and insights on running an "uncommon practice."
Many dentists give up way too early in the sales process because they don't want to be perceived as pushy or unprofessional. Dr. R. Anthony Matheny explains how to get that "yes" in Pleasant Persistence: Your Key to $ales $uccess,* with a special foreword by Tom Ziglar, son of Zig Ziglar.
There's no question that the pandemic increased the anxiety and challenges in this industry. Dr. Eric Block shares how to overcome burnout and start loving dentistry again in The Stress-Free Dentist. He gets honest with his peers about financial demands, anxiety, addiction, and other struggles.
Regarding financial stress, Dr. Albert "Ace" Goerig offers a thoroughly revised 2023 edition of The Dentist Guide to Creating Personal and Financial Freedom.* He teaches dentists how to get out of debt, invest safely and predictably, and make their practice fun by eliminating office drama.
Fascinating, Fun, or Fictional
Are you looking for something a little different? The Tales Teeth Tell, by biological anthropologist Tanya M. Smith, explores the intriguing stories that teeth tell us about human evolution, development, and behavior.
Health journalist Mary Otto takes an unflinching look inside our country's mouth in her debut book, Teeth: The Story of Beauty, Inequality, and the Struggle for Oral Health in America. Hailed by NPR, the New York Times Book Review, and others, Otto discusses the role teeth play in our society while exposing our ongoing oral health crisis.
Personal growth guru and DOCS Education instructor Karen Salmansohn continues teaching us how to break free from negative thinking in How to be Happy, Dammit.* This bestseller has insights, inspiration, and effective happiness strategies.
Are you looking for fictional escapism with a dental twist? Acclaimed screenwriter and British author Tim Sullivan has written a popular series of novels following the character of Detective Sergeant George Cross. In The Dentist, Cross investigates a senseless murder that leads to a 15-year-old cold case.
In a previous article on fictional dentists, we mentioned Heroes of the Frontier, an adventurous novel by Dave Eggers about a dentist who escapes to Alaska with her children. It's a darkly funny story about surviving loss, family, and the wilderness.
In Conclusion
In the event that you wish for a summer reading list free of dental-related subjects and characters, here are the top reads (so far) for 2023:
Just as there's more than one way to straighten teeth these days, there are also several ways to enjoy literature. Whether you prefer an actual book with pages to turn, well-narrated audio, or the convenience of an eBook, we hope you'll find stories and knowledge to enrich your summer. Remember to use the invaluable resources of the public library or support your local independent bookstore when able.
What's on your summer reading list?
*These DOCS-recommended titles are penned by renowned educators and presenters who have shared their wisdom with our community members.
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Author: Susan Richards is a staff writer at DOCS Education. With over 20 years of experience in local journalism and business marketing, Susan's career includes award-winning feature writing, as well as creating content with context for a wide variety of industries.
