By Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD
The Toothboss, www.toothboss.com
At 9 a.m. on January 8, 2025, I’m inviting new patients (and current ones) to my practice to meet the new dentist at my practice, Dr. Jonathan Alihosseini, DMD.
Why it matters
Dr. J (as Jonathan likes to be called) will work Wednesdays, 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. He’s the first dentist besides yours truly to be on staff since I bought the practice more than 30 years ago.
Going deeper
Hiring Jonathan represents a step many of you have been through or are currently engaged in: transitioning to the next phase of life. For me, it’s a big adjustment, the first step of a three- to five-year approach to retirement.
Many of my current patients have been coming to the practice for more than 60 years (when the previous owner was here). So, finding somebody who shares similar values and philosophies as it pertains to dental treatment and patient care is hugely important. Jonathan and I seem very much aligned in that regard and we’re excited about the possibilities having an additional dentist on staff would bring.
Why so long?
People have asked me why three to five years, why not sooner? There’s the obvious about making sure my patients will be in good hands. There’s also our staff. Our office manager, Beverly, started with us in 1999. Similarly, our hygienists have also been here for a number of years.
And then there’s me
Planning for retirement and actually being ready are two separate things. I’m fortunate enough to have the choice. For a number of professions, that’s not always the case. Some of you may have experienced that.
So, as the transition begins, I will have a better feel for things and whether it’s closer to three or five years.
Dental implants: A comparison
One of my longtime patients recently completed the process of getting a dental implant. It took more than a year.
Is that unusual? Yes and no.
A dental implant requires enough bone under the gum to place the implant for which the tooth will be “installed.” This patient did not have enough bone, so a graft had to be placed. The graft needs six to eight months to mature into real bone. And sometimes it takes a second graft to make the site ready for an implant to be placed.
This patient required two grafts, which extended the process. Most of the time, a tooth is removed, and a graft is placed, and the site is ready in eight weeks for the implant to be placed then another three months to allow the bone to “fill in” around the implant before a tooth can be fabricated and placed. Total time from start to finish on a one tooth replacement is normally six months.
That patient was in last week for an appointment and shared how well the implant worked out. He said he often forgets he has an implant – except when flossing and brushing.
In many ways, I hope for a similar smooth transition when it finally is time to put down my probe.
Meet and greet
If you’re in the market for a new dentist, you’re welcome to attend the meet-and-greet with Dr. Jonathan Alihosseini, DMD on January 8. Please contact my office at 781-335-0604.
About the Author: Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD is the owner of The Toothboss, 1121 Main St., South Weymouth. For more information, call 781-335-0604 or visit www.toothboss.com.
