J O U R N A L OF ESTHETIC DENTISTRY

Premises

EDITORS’ NOTE:

This issue’s Premises was authored by former JED editor Dr. Stuart lsler. It honors a dear frrend of the Journal, of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, and of conscientious dentists everywhere.

WAITING FOR GOOSEBUMPS

t’s a lecture room like that in many different dental schools. There are rows of white I formica lab benches secured to a floor that declines toward the small stage at the front of a pie-shaped room. Television monitors are suspended along the white walls from within the interstices of a wooden ceiling lattice-work. The flooring is speckled tweed carpet, and the curtain on the stage is dark blue. The room can hold about 200 people, and unlike a day of normal dental school class, this day all the seats are filled.

The school is Tufts. The weather in Boston on this Thursday in October is as good as it gets- warm, blue skies, and clear air. It’s World Series time, and as expected, the city is quiet. The Yankees and Braves are tied at two games apiece. While driving to the dental school it’s hard for a visitor not to recall the names Ted Williams and Bill Buckner.

We are all huddled in the lecture room to pay homage to a dentist, more specifically, to dedicate a graduate prosthodontic clinic in his name. John DiBaggio, President of Tufts University, tells us that this dentist has been associated with Tufts Dental School for 45 years, and that he is a philanthropist, a leader, and an expert. DiBaggio looks the dentist straight in the eye as he says, “You bring us great honor, Sir.“

Hiroshi Hirayama, Director of Postgraduate Prosthodontics, informs us how difficult fundrais- ing for a project like this can be, “...but the outpouring of respect and love for this effort has been staggering.” A recent student of the dentist, Vincent Mariano, tells the assembled, “...he sets the standard for clinical excellence in the context of ethical behavior.” The event is turning into a lovefest; one can feel the drama in the room when two dozen of the dentist’s employees present him with a golden pin, handmade by his ceramists.

We are told the dentist was graduated magna cum laude from Tufts School of Dental Medicine in 1954. In 1996 he gave their commencement address. He’s a full professor with a successful private practice and an international dental continuing education teaching schedule. He is about to be introduced by Lonnie Nor&, the Dean of the dental school.

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J O U I N A L OF E5THETIC DENTISTUY

Sports still gives us heroes, but fewer and fewer role models. The recent dedication to Ted Williams of the Boston tunnel was as much for the man as for his accomplishments. How many remember that he hit a home run at his last time at bat? Mickey Mantle’s monument in center field at Yankee Stadium says, “...to a great teammate.” Role models-that’s what we all need: real-life ones; those that touch us directly; not just those that entertain us; someone who perpetuates the promises of the future; someone who receives accolades and then commits to do even better.

Two hundred of us have come from all over the world to honor a dentist role model. The time is soon. We sit on the edge of our seats waiting to cheer.

Yes, Lonnie Norris said it all when he introduced the dentist to a booming standing ovation: “Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Lloyd Miller-a friend of mine.” What could be better on a beautiful October day in Boston than watery eyes and goosebumps?

Lloyd M i l k , DMD