Interview Dental Tribune | Mar 31-Apr 6, 2008 How to revolutionize your practice schools. Their exposure or interest in dentistry came from watching us at many conferences over the last 2 years. Dr. Sonia Leziy lectures on the international circuit and is also a world renowned opinion leader for Nobel Biocare. We had a chance to catch up with her during one of her visits to the United States. By Robin Goodman I heard someone refer to you as the “No. 1 dentist lecturing on the international circuit”. How does one earn such an honor? Well, that is a very flattering label, but I am not so certain that it is accurate. I’ve come a long way in a very short time because some people opened up a few doors that gave me wonderful opportunities, and I have been running through those doors eagerly. So although I don’t feel comfortable with the comment that I am the No. 1 dentist lecturing today, I’m certainly working hard at it. What is your background? I am Canadian and went to dental school at McGill University in Montreal. I graduated in 1989, and then practiced dentistry for a few years. Even during dental school I knew that periodontics was where I wanted to be because I enjoyed surgery. I went to graduate school in 1991. I finished my specialization in 1993 and have been in private practice ever since. I practice in Vancouver, British Columbia, in a group practice with two other periodontists and a prosthodontist. What I am doing today is amazingly different than what I was trained to do. A lot of it comes through more education, being inspired by the people you work with and who push you to do everything better. Lecturing has become a whole new focus in my career. How is your work divided up between practicing and lecturing? I have the fortune that I was a very young mom, so my kids are grown up and married. So I’m a workaholic now. I work full time when I am in Vancouver, but I travel a fair amount. My stopping point is usually thirty trips per year, and this includes international travel. I always feel that I am better known in Brazil, Spain or Sweden than I am in my own home town. What is the nature of your work with Nobel Biocare? I’m a global speaker for them, which means I discuss and represent their products. I have had a very good working relationship with the company, both as a clinician and as a speaker. Their products provide me with the high success rates and versatility, the full product spectrum that we need in implant dentistry today. So I speak for them, but I also use the product routinely as the principle implant in my practice. I do a variety of other things for them as well. For example, I have been involved with the Web-based Nobel Knowledge Network. I’m also a member of their global scientific committee, involved in organizing major events like their Vegas conference which is held biannually. Have either of your grown children gone into dentistry? Until recently, I would have said no. Neither expressed interest in KU_DENTAL TRIBUNE 3/18/08 You mentioned two other periodontists in your practice. Dr. Priscilla Walsh and Dr. Andrea Csiszar round out our practice. Priscilla has been with me about 7 years and Andrea has been with me for about 18 months now. Both are really skilled and gifted women. We have a lot of committed and talented support staff around us too. As I commented earlier, we also have a prosthodontist in the practice; and I thought he was okay so I married him. All humor aside, my comment would be that he’s made this career: my son is involved in policing and my daughter was on a marketing track. After my daughter finished her business degree, I was very happy to think she was going into business or law. Recently she and her husband announced that they are both going into dentistry. 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Solutions for Restorative Dentistry Kuraray America, Inc. 600 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 0022 800.879.1676 www.kuraraydental.com 8 Interview How to From Page 7 us better clinicians by making us relook at problems and diagnosis with restorative eyes. As the only male in the office, it’s been really good to temper the office hormones —18 women work in our office! So what is the dynamic like of you two working together and also being married? He is an awesome husband and an incredible support for me emotionally and in my career. It works because we have independent practices within the same location. I think that when one comes out of a graduate program — I’ll use myself 11749 WEM web ad 175x229 4/9/07 Dental Tribune | Mar 31-Apr 6, 2008 as an example here — you tend to be unidimensional, which is what I was when I came out of perio. I was a prescription surgeon. I think it has completely changed how I practice to have a prosthodontist in the office. Working with someone who you care for is great incentive because you always want to try to do better for this person as well. From a self-preservation perspective, I also want to do my best work everyday; it’s far better than going home with an unhappy prosthodontist! What do you think are some of the greatest challenges are in the field today? I think that the biggest challenge in implant dentistry today is that there is at times over-whelming technologic advancement that 09:44 impacts how we plan and how we treat today. The challenges that I am focused on today are working with guided surgery and immediate loading. We’ve had a huge learning curve in this area over the last couple of years. Bringing in technology into implant practices also means that there are significant financial investments for clinicians. If I look at incorporating implant dentistry into practice from the perspective of the general practitioner who is getting involved in implants, adequate education to carry out the treatment and to do it effectively and to the best of one’s ability is important. I think that the issue of education is one of the areas where we are still challenged today. My Page 1 AD Log onto rf or p at ie nt s’ he alt hy sm i les www.WrigleyDentalCare.com rk Wo ing e th e g to Portable oral healthcare advice, online for you and your patients opinion is that students leave their dental programs with a rudimentary base in implantology. Continuing or advanced education is essential in this discipline. What would you say to a general practitioner who is looking to get involved with implants? I would encourage this person because I think that it revolutionizes a practice. It is an essential treatment option to consider in the treatment planning process. It has made dentistry much more interesting to me at least. I would also encourage them to exercise caution in jumping into this without training: when I say that, it does not mean a weekend course and you’re an expert. Instead, finding some kind of mentorship program with knowledgeable clinicians to guide and make the learning process effective and positive. Begin with simple cases and build your skills. Ultimately, this means that knowledge and skills to manage bone and soft tissues are essential. In the case of the surgically inclined clinician, knowledge about occlusal considerations, restorative concepts, and materials are important. So I think mentorship is key to success. Do you think there is room for the general practitioner and the specialist in terms of doing implants? I’m one of several mentors in a study club and we actually teach various elements of implant dentistry and surgical treatment. I really do not think that I am shooting myself in the foot by doing so. I have found that the educated clinician will always understand what his or her limitations are. I have found that they become better referrals because they recognize that there are certain cases where an expert in implantology should be involved in treatment planning and treatment. So I have found that it’s actually a win-win situation, and it has helped me build better referral relationships. To try to be protectionist just does not make sense in today’s age. Contact info WrigleyDentalCare.com gives helpful interactive advice and information developed in consultation with dental professionals, for your patients and you: Patients Professionals • Answers to common dental problems • Downloadable patient education • Step-by-step guides and helpful tips to maintain a healthy mouth • Tips to motivate your patients • Oral health quiz • Scientific evidence from around the world WrigleyDentalCare.com promotes better oral health and an effective oral care routine which includes the benefits of chewing sugarfree gum. Research has now shown conclusively that if chewing is incorporated into the daily oral care routine, (especially after eating and drinking if brushing is not possible) it positively affects oral health. To find out more, log onto www.WrigleyDentalCare.com Chewing Orbit sugarfree gum helps prevent tooth decay by 40%1 Reference 1. Stoke J, Banoczy J, Proskin HM (2001) Effect of after-meal sucrose-free gumchewing on clinical caries. Journal of Dental Research 80(8): 1725-29. Dr. Sonia S. Leziy Certified Specialist in Periodontics and Implant Dentistry Tel.: (604) 983-9836 E-mail: [email protected]