Concepts Editorial: How About A Good Cup of Coffee

Editorial:

A group of dental alumni, all well-established in their respective disciplines, many with practices limited to the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) and orofacial pain, recently got together at an alumni meeting at one of the nations leading colleges of dentistry. The conversation, at first, revolved around the endless stress of practice and life itself, but soon  focused on one of their dental school teachers, who had first introduced them to a term called TMJ. They all agreed that his introduction was the stimulus that led to their further education and interest in providing much needed services to patients, who suffer the effects of TMD and/or orofacial pain. Before long, they all agreed they should call this teacher, who by now must be very old and go by to pay their respects. 
And so it happened that a number of them called on the aging professor at his home. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an eclectic assortment of cups: porcelain, glass, crystal–some plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite. Quietly, he told his visitors to help themselves to some fresh coffee. 
The old professor listened to the success of his visitors with great pride, but soon his pride changed to concern as conversations turned to the difficulties, hardships, and general stress of practice because of the great complexity of TM disorders, constant battles with insurance carriers, concern over patents on appliances that are considered by many as public domain, and the general lack of support from dental education to insure a bright future for the practice of temporomandibular dysfunction and orofacial pain. The organizations that each person had found helpful along the way were identified as pathways to lessen these obstructions, while an umbrella service organization received criticism for perceived inactivity by some. Others complained about that organization’s attempts to establish a consensus for patient treatment rather than focusing on treatment outcomes. There was a general agreement that the latter topic extends beyond the scope of an umbrella support organization and may have influenced some individual organizations to reassess their membership in the organization.
The professor had listened patiently to these discussions, but as the room quieted a bit following some spirited talk, he cleared his throat and began to address the small gathering. “You may have noticed that as you poured your coffee all the nicer looking cups were taken first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper ones. While it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves, that may actually be a source of much of your perceived difficulties of practice.”
He continued . . .  “Be assured that the cup itself guarantees no added quality to the coffee. In fact, the cup merely holds your coffee and makes it easier to drink.  What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you instinctively went for what you thought were the best cups. Then, you began eyeing each other’s cups.”
“Now consider this: In your professional life, your practice is the coffee. Organizations to which you subscribe are cups. Cups are tools that help you shape and contain your practice, but the type of cup you have does not truly define the quality of your practice. You do that as you learn how to brew a finer cup of coffee. The condiments that most of you added to your coffee represent enrichments you add to your practice, such as knowledge, skill, and ethical professionalism. The handle to the cup represents support of the umbrella organization to which your membership organization subscribes. The handle is not absolutely necessary, but it makes it a lot easier to drink coffee from your cup. All these individual components blended together add to the enjoyment of your coffee. So take advantage of all the components of a good cup of coffee, including the condiments you add, the cup that holds it, the handle that prevents you from burning your hand, and you will consistently enjoy the sweet taste of success. As you leave here this evening, I would remind you, as I have been reminded, we do not live in a perfect world so be aware that the happiest people do not have the best of everything in this world. They just make the best of everything they have.”
The American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, the Academy of Pain Management, the American College of Prosthodontics, the American Prosthodontic Society, the International Association for Orthodontics, the International College of Cranio-Mandibular Ortho-pedics, the Pennsylvania Craniomandibular Society, the Sacro Occipital Technique Organization, and Tennessee C.R.A.N.I.O are all respected members of the American Alliance of TMD Organizations, which is “An alliance of organizations working together to build a more cohesive future for the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders”.
The Alliance of TMD Organizations is at a crossroad –the President’s Conference on Examination, Diagnosis, and Management of Temporomandibular Disorders in 1982 concluded, “there is insufficient data to permit comparison of different forms of therapy to establish a priority for their use.” The conference of 1982 represented an initial step, but now 36 years later, it contains dated information, much of which has been left in the rubble of new science, technology, and techniques. I strongly urge the Alliance to use their collective influence with the ADA to reconvene a long overdue Conference of Examination, Diagnosis and Management of Temporomandibular Dysfunction and Craniofacial Pain, rather than attempting to pursue diagnosis and treatment guidelines on their own. Having ADA involvement minimizes divisiveness, while adding prestige and objectivity in the eyes of outside agencies.
At a time when some member organizations are reassessing the value of the Alliance, it becomes increasingly important for the Alliance to strongly reconfirm its’ 1995 founding mission statement which states; “On behalf of patients’ well-being the American Alliance of TMD organizations’ mission is to support and protect the right and freedom of clinicians to practice in the field of TMD within the scope of their care, skill, knowledge, judgment, and scientific information.” It was further stated that “ The American Alliance of TMD organizations has been created to represent the broad  interests of professional organizations and their member practitioners, who understand the importance of effective diagnosis and treatment of craniofacial disorders.”
There is much to be gained by individual organizations working through the Alliance of TMD Organizations such as: a much stronger voice with the ADA, the Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, the National Institute of Health, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, the insurance industry, with dental education and in Congress to represent the needs of the temporomandibular craniofacial pain practitioner. Let us remember the American Alliance of TMD Organizations, as the representative of many individual organizations, presents a position of strength and objectivity that goes well beyond the capability of individual organizations that are often perceived as having a vested interest when they speak out on issues. There is strength in numbers. Working together toward common goals, we have mighty impact.
In conclusion, allow this very old professor to add these words which, along with the premise of the above story, come from one of today’s greatest sources of information, the internet:  “Live Simply, Care Deeply and Speak Kindly”.
Now, how about enjoying a good cup of coffee.