Although residency training can be comprehensive in many ways, it is vital to find what works for you as a surgeon once you are in practice. Today’s guest, Dr. David Salomon, has done just that, tweaking his anesthesia technique over time to administer it efficiently, in the least resource-heavy way possible. As a prestigious doctor working in Connecticut, David runs a successful private practice. In this episode, David talks about why he has mostly stopped using fentanyl and the results he has seen from making this change. While David has been open to changing his anesthesia technique, he also recognizes that it is not possible to have a one-size-fits-all plan for every patient. He talks about developing your intuition to understand what a patient needs. We also learn more about David’s grafting technique, some of the tweaks he is currently making, and the outcomes so far. We then turn our attention to the practice side of things, where David talks about some of the daily difficulties he faces, the role his assistants play and how he handles their training, and the importance of communicating and managing expectations. Not only is David an excellent surgeon technically, but the care and empathy he extends to his patients really sets him apart. To hear more from this inspiring doctor, be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Some of the small things David has changed in his practice that have had a big impact.
• David’s grafting technique and how it has evolved over time.
• Two things David has noticed about nylon sutures compared with chromic and vicryl sutures.
• The differences between mineralized and demineralized bone grafts.
• Techniques David is implementing from Bone Augmentation in Implant Dentistry.
• Why David does not do that many immediate implants.
• What David has seen with how some patients get inflamed after a bone graft.
• How David manages patients’ pain and how he guides them through it. 
• David’s typical sedation protocol and his approach to optimizing the process.
• How David handles children and adults who are afraid of needles.
• The most challenging things that come up in David’s daily practice.
• Why David usually does not sedate children and what he does instead.
• David’s interest in music, the band he was in for years, and playing songs during surgery.
• How David has trained his assistants and his emphasis on self-sufficiency.
• Why David prefers to grab his own tools and do the sutures himself.
• Benefits of waiting until the end of a procedure to do the sutures.
• The role an office manager can play in managing assistants and dealing with issues.
• Keeping lines of communication open and how this counteracts drama with staff.
• The importance of being a good listener and making patients feel heard and understood.
• Communicating potential risks in a more human way and how David tackles this.
• How an empathetic approach can help with even the most difficult patient.
• The question David asks to break the ice when he meets clients for a consult.
• David's positive experience of residency and the feeling of camaraderie he misses.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. David Salomon

Bone Augmentation in Implant Dentistry

Pickles Pub

Dr. Grant Stucki