At Keating Dental Lab, we believe that a dentist’s continuing education is crucial. We’re thrilled to introduce Dr. Jack Ringer, who will be working with us this upcoming year to share educational content. Throughout his career, Dr. Ringer has not only built his own practice, but has also worked with multiple educational organizations, making him the ideal dentist to work with.
This week on Dental Up, we wanted to introduce a good friend of ours who will be educating on practicing better dentistry. Dr. Jack Ringer not only has a practice in Anaheim Hills, but he’s also passionate about educating dentists and addressing patients’ wants, not just needs. Dentistry as a field is always changing, and dentists are realizing their need for continuing education, beyond what is required.
At Keating, we want to create superior products for your patients while also giving you a chance to expand your knowledge base to begin practicing better dentistry. This means the growth of digital dentistry, cosmetic procedures, and other institutions that can help us grow.
Dr. Ringer’s Start in Dentistry
Dr. Ringer was born in South Africa, but came to the U.S. with his family as a child. He grew up in Boston and then San Diego, and was attending UC San Diego as a freshman when his parents moved back. He soon received word that he was accepted into dental school in South Africa, giving him a trajectory he wasn’t expecting.
He moved back to the states once he graduated, completed his boards, then moved to Orange County to begin practicing. When Dr. Ringer began, dentistry was completely different and there were fewer treatment options available.
He soon opened up his own practice, and upon attending the California Dental Associate in Anaheim in the early 1980s, realized his passion for fixing a patient’s want, not just their need. This led to learning from some of the best cosmetic dentists in Los Angeles. It was certainly a different industry then, because practices were not as tied to insurance companies.
Dr. Ringer’s Passion for Education
After finishing a course on contemporary aesthetic dentistry, UCLA’s Restorative Department offered Dr. Ringer a faculty spot. He accepted, and soon realized how much he enjoys teaching. He moved on to teach with companies like 3M and Ultradent while building his reputation in the aesthetic dentistry industry.
After this, Dr. Ringer decided to begin working with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the AACD, the industry’s organization for contemporary aesthetic dentistry. There’s no board specialty for cosmetic dentistry, which means a standard was desperately needed.
Their accreditation process is the only legitimate one available that gives those inside and outside of the dental industry a frame of reference. While it’s not a complicated process to become certified, not many are taking the time.
This is a definite consideration if your practice is primarily cosmetic dentistry. In the next few years, it will become more widely known, making it an ideal choice for cosmetic dentists that want to stand out.
And because Dr. Ringer wasn’t satisfied yet and is an incredibly motivating friend, he next served on the American Board of Cosmetic Dentistry. He soon transitioned into Vice-President, then President, and enjoyed having the experience of being a part of that organization.
Dr. Ringer gets his energy from those who want to educate and give back, which is why we’re so thrilled to have him working with us. You see the good in people when they do it because they want to give without anything in return, and that’s who Jack Ringer is.
Stand Out by Focusing on Quality Dentistry
While there are some dentists that want to spend a good deal of their time on the lecture circuit and they seek that out (which is great and education is important), there are often those who would not have chosen to stand out, but they do.
So why are dentists like Dr. Ringer standing out? By practicing quality dentistry and serving others.
About a decade ago Dr. Ringer, with the help of a friend, began the Orange County Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, an affiliate of the AACD. Through this affiliate chapter, Dr. Ringer began working with Give Back a Smile, which offers restorative dentistry for survivors of domestic abuse. This isn’t cheap work, but Dr. Ringer and other cosmetic dentists are donating their services to be able to offer women a new smile and better dental health.
Why a Quality Smile Matters
There was recently a study done that gauged the most important physical trait that people consider when “rating” another’s level of attractiveness. One of the highest ranking factors? The mouth and smile.
While this can be considered superficial, especially after what we just discussed, it’s important to help people feel confident.
One of Dr. Ringer’s favorite parts about dentistry is giving patients a chance to look and feel their best. And because we’re a lab, we’re going to point out another key piece: finding a lab that can take the whole case and create the right kind of dental restoration. Sending in images, quality scans, and using the expertise of the lab technicians can create a beautiful result for the patient.
What New Dentists Need to Know
Dental schools largely teach about function, and emphasize the theories. This is important as a foundation, but once students graduate, they need to maximize their continuing education credits by focusing on what they may not have spent time on in dental school.
This means aesthetic design and cosmetic treatment planning. Little tricks like working front to back and Dr. Frank Spear’s Facially Generated Treatment Planning can help new dentists develop and in turn help them better serve their patients. This continued learning is what Dr. Ringer is passionate about, and how he spends his time in education.
It’s also important to remember that there’s a person behind every case. This means that skills like empathy are crucial, as well as remembering to talk with them not at them. By helping new dentists learn a wide range of additional skills, they can develop into strong practitioners that help their communities.
We hope you enjoyed this first episode with Dr. Jack Ringer! Whether it’s the growth of cosmetic and digital dentistry or how we as dental professionals can get more involved in our communities, Dr. Ringer is a great resource and we’re thrilled to have him on our team for 2017.
Keep an eye out for more episodes with Dr. Ringer; we’re looking forward to sharing more educational content with you.
