Excerpts from Dr. Haque's new book: "Dental 101"

It's in the publishers' hands, but I can't wait to share this with everyone! This book has taken me over 6 months to complete, and on this blog, I am going to give you all a taste of what is to come.

Introduction to Dental 101:

The 101 Factors You Should Know Before Going to the Dentist

There are many factors to consider when making any decision. Many of you have been in this type of situation: an important evening is coming up, like a loved one’s birthday, anniversary, graduation, or meeting is happening. You have to pick a great restaurant to go to. When deciding on a new restaurant, you will do a little research. You may look at the Zagat ratings, which give a nice description of the restaurant, along with ratings of food, décor, service, and cost. You may ask your friends or family about their experiences at their favorite restaurants. You may look at the restaurant’s website. You may read a review from the local newspaper. You consider a number of factors: the type of food and drinks they serve, the ambiance, the availability, the location, the quality, the reviews, the reputation, and on and on. Whatever the case may be, you think about it before you decide. Going to a restaurant is a fun experience usually, and I hope that when you find the right dentist, you will get that same feeling, especially after you read about the 101 factors listed in this book.

Dentistry is a profession that has been around since at least 7000BC: the first evidence of dental procedures was found in a Neolithic graveyard in western Pakistan.[i] Dentistry has evolved dramatically in the last 20 years, with the emergence of dental implants to replace missing teeth, the popularity of whitening[ii] and porcelain in the new era of esthetic dentistry, and most recently, the introduction of laser dentistry and 3D digital dentistry. In this new age of dentistry, you want to know the following 101 factors to make an informed decision about your oral health and dental care.

Going to the dentist is an extremely important aspect of your health. When choosing your dentist, make sure they are aligned with your hopes and wants. Verify that you are being listened to, respected, and valued.

The goal of this book is to help you to understand the one-hundred-one factors that I believe will be found when you walk into a dentist’s office that deserves to have you as a patient. My office’s goal and my team’s goal is to embody these 101 factors. We are a work in progress, and hope to achieve these factors to the best of our ability every day. Does it always happen? No, but we try our best every day, and when we realize we have not embodies all of the factors, we step back, look introspectively, and get it right.

Dentistry is a science that is constantly evolving with vast advancements and improvements over the last couple of decades. Over time, new factors will emerge, and many of new factors will be written.

You can read this book cover to cover. Good for you if you can! You are well on your way to becoming a dental dork like me!

You can look at chapters that address certain topics and reference them, or look at individual factors. You have full control over how you choose the right dentist for you. In other words, you make the call!

You have just made an important step toward creating the smile of your dreams. By reading this book, you will gain some insight into the importance of oral health and understand what factors to consider when choosing the right dentist for you. There are hundreds of aspects to consider, and this book discusses 101 of them. Thus the name: Dental 101.

Who enjoys going to the dentist? You would be surprised. Once you find the right dentist, the right office with the right attitude and the right fit for you, going to the dentist can be as pleasurable as going to the salon, spa, coffee house, or favorite restaurant.

Some of you may think that going to the dentist is scary, but it no longer needs to be. Sedation and new pain-free techniques have made dentistry extremely gentle and pleasant. You have options, and there are thousands of dentists around the U.S. that will take amazing care of you.

The objective of this book is to help you understand dentistry, to educate you about oral health, to determine what you want to achieve, and to help you find what you are looking for in a dentist.

There are many choices available to people today. With the advent of the internet and Google, finding a dentist is as simple as a search for Dentist followed by your zip code. How do you know you will get what you are looking for? How do you get the service you deserve? How important is it to you to get the quality you deserve? What are you looking for in a dentist?

These topics will be discussed at length. Before we begin, I must warn you: I am male, and I write from the male perspective. Just know that “he or she” and “his or her” in terms of the dentist make things difficult to read and write, so you will see “he” in reference to “the dentist” often. Female dentists are amazing caretakers, a huge asset to dentistry, and quickly making up more and more of the dental landscape. I apologize for the chauvinism.

With that said, let’s start with the foundation: The reasons to go to the dentist.

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[i] Coppa, A., et al. Early Neolithic tradition of dentistry. Nature. 2006 Apr 6:755–756.

[ii] Matis BA, et al. Review of the effectiveness of various tooth whitening systems. Oper Dent. 2009 Mar-Apr;34(2):230-5.

Dr. Umar Haque Invited to Join the Prestigious American Dental Implant Association

Oak Brook, IL April 19, 2009 -- Dr. Umar Haque is a general dentist practicing in Oakbrook Terrace, IL. This month, he was invited to join the American Dental Implant Association (ADIA). The goal of the American Dental Implant Association is to encourage collaboration and communication among the top dental professionals placing dental implants.

Dr. Haque has been placing dental implants for over 7 years and has been requested to become a member of the prestigious American Dental Implant Association.

The organization was founded by Dr. Arun K. Garg, founder of Implant Seminars, the world’s largest dental continuing education company. Dr. Garg created the American Dental Implant Association in response to overwhelming requests for more credentialing and credibility by establishing recognition models.

The American Dental Implant Association aggressively promotes collegiality, friendship, and practice growth. “This is the top forum for an exchange of a vast amount of niche information through annual symposiums of like-minded individuals to receive the latest information in the dental implant field, in a familiar, supportive community. Our main goal is to better serve our affiliate of well-trained clinicians, like Dr. Umar Haque,” said Dr. Garg. There will be an annual symposium from April 23 through April 25 this year at The Miami Implant Update.

The American Dental Implant Association’s Executive Director Fiorella Samaniego said “Each clinician may obtain the fellowship, mastership and diplomat status provided they meet the requirements for continuing education (CE) hours and pass a written examination”. Scheduling for exams is vital, so awards can be given in a timely manner at the ceremonies, the first one being held at the annual symposium in April 24, 2009 in Miami, FL. "Dr. Haque has exhibited excellent patient care in the cases that have been submitted for approval by the Board of the ADIA. His dental implant techniques, bone grafting, and soft tissue management have shown us that he is the type of dentist that the ADIA wants in its fold."

The American Dental Implant Association will also become an embedded feature of the scholarly publishing landscape. Members receive an academic journal on dental implantology and those who demonstrate a genuine interest in establishing credibility through journal publishing and wish to contribute to the upcoming American Dental Implant Association publication are also welcome. Dr. Umar Haque will be contributing to the ADIA Journal regularly, and presenting many of the dental implant cases that he has completed.

“Credentialing and credibility go hand-in-hand,” said Dr. Garg. “We will offer our members myriad of ways to advance themselves and their careers. Dr. Umar Haque has exhibited the kind of dentistry that qualifies admission into the American Dental Implant Association." The ADIA has its next meeting scheduled next week at the Miami Implant Update which runs from April 23-25, 2009. Dr. Umar Haque has been invited to participate and present his most challenging implant case on Friday, April 24, 2009.

Dr. Haque was honored to be invited stating, "It is a privilege to have earned the respect of the finest dental surgeons, implantologists, dentists, and scholars in our field. It’s even more exciting to see the progress and advances that have become available to my patients that were unheard of 10 years ago. It is an amazing service for my patients, and I am looking forward to getting involved with the ADIA.”

Dr. Umar Haque maintains a private dental practice in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois called Oak Brook Smiles. He attended the University of Connecticut and graduated with a D.M.D. (Doctor of Medical Dentistry). He completed a post-graduate residency in hospital-based dentistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and at the University of Chicago. His office tries to recreate a spa-like atmosphere and his services include cosmetic and implant dentistry, sleep apnea treatment, TMJ dysfunction treatment, laser dentistry, fluorescent oral cancer screenings, and digital radiography including a digital CT scanner for exceptional patient care. His office is online on Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, MySpace, and the office website is: http://www.oakbrooksmiles.com/. His office phone number is 630-627-7420.