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Health Goals

04 Feb

Last month we discussed long range planning. There are seven areas of life that need consideration for long range planning. They are: Spiritual, Family, Career, Self Improvement, Health, Social, and Financial.

This month we will focus on health goals. When someone enters the practice for the first time, we set up an initial interview. After learning something about the patient from a personal standpoint, we focus on any immediate concerns. Then we move into the health history of the patient making sure that there are no contraindications for dental treatment including routine cleanings. If that is satisfactory, I ask the patient if given a choice between disease and health, which one they would pick. They always laugh or snicker a little bit like I’m asking a silly question. Then they always reply, “Health of course.” I respond by then asking what health means to them. Each patient has a different concept of what health is. Once we find out what health means to them, I always follow up with asking what they are willing to do to stay healthy or if not as healthy as they want to be, what they are willing to do to get healthy. Finally we discuss what role that I can play to help them get where they want to be. It is after a careful examination then, called co-discovery, where the patient and I learn together the state of health that they are in, records are collected, and then after any follow up questions we plan a future appointment.

The patient returns at a subsequent appointment and the findings are discussed. It is at this time that a partnership is formed and the goal setting process is conducted. You see if there are no goals set, there is nothing to measure. If you don’t know where you are going, how do you know when you get there? Based on the patient’s goals, in partnership we create a Master Plan. Health is a function of participation. Equal sharing of responsibility is discussed. Through this discussion the relationship grows and a trust is created. Without this interaction, the patient really has no idea of their responsibility. You can’t rely on a health care facilitator to do it all. If this is done correctly, the dentist and team become dental health coaches in a health centered practice. Remember that only 3% of the population has written goals and 97% do not. It is only those 3% that out perform the masses because their goals are written down. Health goals need to be written and if you want to be successful hiring a good dental health coach is the difference between breaking out of the disease cycle or continually spinning around in it for the rest of your life. For more information please see my website at www.drtjbolt.com or call ne at 402-572-8000.

 
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Posted in Motivational/Philosophy, Preventative Dental Care

 

Long Range Planning

14 Jan

Last month I talked about the power of goals setting. This month I would like to talk about planning not one or two years out, but the power that comes from planning 10 years out.

There are three reasons why this is powerful. Here are the benefits. First by putting your vision of what you want to create 10 years out on paper, the subconscious mind embraces it and brings the vision to reality. Maxwell Maltz the author of Psychocybernetics calls this a servomechanism. Secondly people who set goals are more likely to reach them. Lastly it establishes sophisticated milestones that act like a crowd of well wishers that cheer every time that we go past one of them.
By putting this plan 10 years out, it really brings about the plan to us quicker by as much as three years. It is important for us to realize that when we do not put the planning process out 10 years and move it closer to current reality we run into obstacles. By setting a ten year plan it is far enough out that there are no obstacles and we can be completely creative. In other words it frees up our mind to think ideally. By doing this it is like looking at things from hindsight in advance. Think of an occurrence that you have had years ago with the obstacles that were before you. When you look back on things the obstacles don’t look that big. So project 10 years and get it firmly grounded and we can practice hindsight in advance.

One important aspect of projecting 10 years out and the reason for having a clear purpose is illustrated by this example. A person with no real purpose plans their 10 year plan at age 55. Because the 55 year old was planning on retiring at age 65 his 10 year plan was focusing on retirement not what he would do when he retires. There are many people with similar stories and here is a sad statistic. The death rate between age 66-67 is very high. This is like planning to die. The 10 year plan really needs to be well grounded in a life purpose. Long range planning takes commitment. There will be no commitment without a clear purpose.

There are seven areas of life that need consideration for long range planning. They are:
Spiritual, Family, Career, Self Improvement, Health, Social, and Financial. All these areas are important but the first three are placed in order for importance. The others can be taken as one sees fit except for the last which is financial. The financial goals are designed to bring about the other six and can only be computed after the other six are fully defined.

Now knowing all the seven areas to set goals it looks like we have a lot of planning to do. Good luck and because I am a dentist of course helping you with your health goals is an area of my prime interest, so we have laid the ground work and next month I will focus in on the ways that we work with our patients to become successful on their health goals. For more information on this and other topics go to my website at www.drtjbolt.com

 
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Posted in Motivational/Philosophy, Principles of the Path, Uncategorized

 

Goal Setting in 2012

13 Dec

In a health Centered Practice goal setting is a huge part of helping people take control of their own health and breaking out of the disease cycle. I thought it would be good to write about the goal setting process as I know many of you probably have started to undertake the New Year’s Resolutions for 2012 and are now about a month out. To make sure these resolutions turn into attainable goals make sure of the following:

The acronym S.M.A.R.T. may be a helpful reminder of things that are needed to make sure the goals are achieved in what ever you do. “S” stands for specific. When you have a dream of accomplishing something, make sure that the goals that you set are specific and crystal clear. An example of this concept is this time of year many say that they want to lose weight. The question is, how much and why. Incorporate this into your goal and your chances for accomplishing this goal will increase.
“M” means that the goal must be measureable. Having this feedback is critical to know where you are and where you want to go. It also serves to help you know when you get there. “A” stands for attainable. Is the goal that you set able to be attained? “R” is for realistic. The goal in order to be attained must be realistic. Lastly the “T” stands for time. There must be a specific time when you plan to attain a goal.

Knowing these things when you set goals will help you to accomplish a great deal in 2012. People who set goals are always successful. They plan, and work the plan. I always say to my patients that if you have a plan you will succeed. To have no plan is to plan to fail. We have the patients set both short and long term goals. We also give them feedback on how well they are doing in accomplishing those goals with measurable objective information. That way they know whether they are moving closer to or farther way from their health.

Good luck on setting and accomplishing your goals in 2012. If you would like more information about how to take control of your health in 2012 or if you are healthy how to make sure that you stay that way, please call me at 572-8000 or contact me through my website at www.drtjbolt.com

 
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Posted in Motivational/Philosophy, Principles of the Path

 

After Menopause Women Should See Their Dentist More Often

17 Oct

I found this bit of information in the Parade Magazine insert from the Omaha World Herald Sunday Edition, Stay Healthy. It stated that a new study from Case Western Reserve University found that women in the age group of menopause are at greater risk for periodontal disease than those who are not. In this case it was recommended that there is a greater need for frequent professional cleanings (up to four a year)-to remove the hard plaque (tartar) that can trigger gum disease and weaken the jaw bones.

 
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Posted in Mouth-Body Connection

 

On Values: Values Becoming or True Values

17 Sep

We do a lot working with people who say they want to be healthy. They would espouse this to the world but their actions would determine otherwise. In Sid Simons work on values he addresses the issue of values or values becoming. In order to be a value they only are a value if they pass this criterion:

They must be chosen freely. They must be chosen from alternatives. In determining if it really is a value or not they must be reflected upon. Once they are reflected and decided that they really mean something to that person, they become prized and cherished. At that time they become part of that person’s standard operating procedure and so they then become publically affirmed. Most importantly then to be a value in order to be a true value must be acted upon.

It is important to think on these things because it is through the adoption of these core values that helps you conduct your life in either a positive or negative way. It is your choice.

For more information on these kinds of ideas please see my website at www.drtjbolt.com

 
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Posted in Principles of the Path

 

A Health Centered Approach

11 Sep

If you are a person who likes to be healthy, are you? Do you believe that health is a function of participation? Does health happen by accident or intention? If you are someone that wants to be healthy you can have something to do with it. In fact it is a must. Did you know that 87% of all chronic diseases are from lifestyle? That’s right, self inflicted.

I can tell you that every single person that I have ever posed the question, “If I gave you a choice of which you would like to be: diseased or healthy, what would you choose?” They choose health ever time, and yet they have no strategy or idea of how to get there. Most leave it to fate or luck. If you wanted to be healthy would you want to work with a doctor who was a disease manager, or a doctor who was a health coach? Would it be one who focuses on disease or one who focuses on health? I would bet that you would want to have a health coach. If so, read on.

There has to be a structure in the doctor’s office that he/she implements to allow you to become part of the process. Remember that a coach is someone who helps the patient discover their problems and what they want to become. The coach helps the patient solve those problems as long as they are motivated. It is about not telling them what to do or doing it for them, but working with them to help them take control of their own health instead of leaving it to fate or luck. There has to be a system. Here it is:

In order for you to take control it will be important for you to have time to discuss your wants and needs. This is planned for in the new patients experience called and Interview. It is at this point that the relationship begins; getting to know what you want, and also getting to know the doctor’s philosophy of care. The framework of the examination that is created through Co- Discovery is: Through the interview and the structured examination this framework is derived, and questions are uncovered reaching a successful outcome through Co-Diagnosis. That’s right. You are involved. You are in control.
PURPOSE: Starting with “WHY”
GOALS:
ACTION PLAN:
KEEPING TRACK OF WHAT’S RIGHT:

This is the structure for helping you break out of the disease cycle. Remember that there are just two paths that you can take. A path that just manages disease or a path that helps you to health. You have a choice. Choose wisely.

Remember that the direction, not intention leads to the destination.

For more information please see my website at www.drtjbolt.com or call 402-572-8000.

 
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Posted in Uncategorized

 

Vision and Priorities Offer Hope

19 Aug

So many times I have the opportunity to help really sick people. These are people who are not foreign to dental care. They have been going to the dentist for many years but are feeling desperate. They have nothing to show for their efforts. The reason may be that they have been having repair dentistry done for many years and because of that they are finding themselves in a state of disrepair.

“ Most people I find don’t lead their lives, they accept their lives.” John Kotter

Complete dentistry on the other hand is less expensive and is more stable. Steven Covey in his book, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, states in one habit Begin with the End in Mind. We must first create a vision of what health looks like. Then we must do an examination and determine current reality. From a careful interview the patient must have some idea of what values that they bring to the office. Knowing the concerns, and values, and an idea of what health looks like, along with the current situation, priorities can be established. It is at this point that the patient discusses possibilities, learning about the disease cycle, their role in breaking that cycle, and what priorities that they have, and a plan is co-developed.

With this plan, short and long term goals are established and with those priorities a patient starts to feel in control. Dental Disease can be reversed and long term health can be established if that vision is created as to what health looks like, priorities established and a patient takes part in their role to break that cycle. Knowing what the cause is and creating this strategy, the dentist does his/her part and the patient does their part.

A partnership is created. If there is no partnership their can be no healthy situation for this vision to come about.

I can’t tell you now many people come to my office thinking that they are in a good to excellent state of health only to find out that they are in an active disease state. This happens because of the style of dentistry that has been performed. If there is no comprehensive examination (what is going on), no comprehensive diagnosis (why it is going on), and no comprehensive treatment plan (how to improve the situation), the dentist is just performing repair dentistry. If this goes on long enough, just repairing body parts, the patient at the age of 50-70 will be in a state of disrepair. Not looking at the whole system and understanding causes of problems will just keep getting more of the same, until the system just can’t take it anymore. If you would like more information about comprehensive dental care, please feel free to call my office at 402-572-8000, or visit my web site at www.drtjbolt.com and click on the link of the Pankey Institute.

 
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Posted in Motivational/Philosophy

 

The Power of Enthusiasm

16 Jul

One of my mentors Napoleon Hill (Think and Grow Rich) did research for Andrew Carnegie. He studied common traits of some of the most successful people of his day in the later 20th Century. Some examples of the people he studied were Thomas Edison, Theodore Roosevelt, and Henry Ford just to name a few.

Enthusiasm is a very powerful and magnetic quality. I know that an enthusiastic doctor that carries into the sick room with him this energy, has more to do with bringing about a cure for his patient, than all the medicine that he can prescribe. I want to share a resent example of this with you. My son recently had Tommy John surgery for a torn UCL in his elbow. The surgeons Drs. Thompson and Brown after meeting them, because of their enthusiasm and their positive mental attitude brought great trust and comfort to not only my son, but also my wife and I. I do believe that this scary experience and the stress level that accompanies it, was decreased greatly because of the ability that these doctors had, and the confidence and enthusiasm that they carried with them. Even though our meeting with them prior to surgery was brief, they were masterful at expressing this confidence which made a huge difference in the outcome and recovery of my son.

Enthusiasm is a necessary quality to aid in a positive mental attitude. It has long been known by doctors that a positive mental attitude is high on the list of influences that gives one sound health. Disease germs cannot live in the blood stream of those whose mind is always positive.

Enthusiasm is a very important quality when someone is seeking out the help of another. Having a positive mental attitude and being around those who can help support this can be a real game changer. Check this out when you are in need of help with your next project. Also look for this quality when you are selecting someone to aid you in staying healthy. For more information on this topic or many others lie it, check out my website at www.drtjbolt.com or my blog found on the site. You can contact me directly at 402-572-8000

 
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Posted in Motivational/Philosophy

 

Caution: Don’t Take Our Liberites For Granted

04 Jul

This July as we remember the men who sacrificed everything for our freedom let us fast forward to the happenings of today to reflect if we are taking their efforts for granted. Let’s take a close look at the 56 who signed the Declaration that could be viewed as a death sentence.

Here are some important facts: Of the 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence nine died of their wounds or hardships during the war. Five were captured and imprisoned suffering at the brutal hands of the British. Some lost their wives, sons, or entire families. One lost 13 children. Twelve signers had their homes completely burned. Seventeen lost everything they owned. Not one went back on their pledged word or defected.

During this past year many would feel that our elected officials are taking this for granted as they continue to pass laws that escalate our national debt and take our liberties from us. We pray that they on this Independence Day reflect on their past colleagues who were willing to pay the ultimate price. We pray that they have a clear vision in respect to directing this Country to those liberties that our Founders were willing to put in writing that are ageless and time tested. It is what defines us and what has made us strong. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

 
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Posted in Principles of the Path

 

What Will Your Quality of Life Be In Your Last 30 Years?

03 Jul

People are living longer today than ever before. How long are you planning to live? Have you ever thought about that before? Remember when George Burns said, “If I would have known I was going to live that long I would have taken better care of myself.” Makes sense doesn’t it. So maybe we should plan just in case we live a long time. Let’s take a look at how through history the life expectancy has increased.

In 1334 BC the average life expectancy was 25 years. 3000 years later in 1400 AC it increased to 30. 400 years later in 1800 AC it improved to 37. Not much of an increase over that large time span. It increased to 47 years by 1900 AC. In 100 years it really improved to 77 years by 2000 AC. 70 is now the new 50 if you take care of yourself.

In creating your health goals for the long-term, isn’t it important to know how long you are planning to live. What do you want your life to look like as you age? Do you want your teeth to determine what you eat or do you want to decide what foods you want to eat? Think on these things.

 
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Posted in Preventative Dental Care

 
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