The Tale of the Three Paths: A Parable for Dentists and Dental Leaders
In the area of Oldtown, beside a steady river and a row of old stone buildings, stood a well-known dental practice called The House of Healthy Smiles.
There, worked Dr Solomon, a thoughtful clinician with salt and pepper hair and a manner as calm as a morning meditation. People said that he could recognise someone needed to be listened to and had a story to tell, simply by looking at their eyes. Patients sought him out as their dentist and others wanted to work for him.
Over the years, Dr Solomon noticed three different ways his patients journeyed to his door.
The Three Ways Patients Came
- The Steady Watchers
The first were people like Gill a local graphic designer who booked routine check-ups without fail, even when everything felt fine.
She believed her health was like her design work: small refinements made early prevented bigger problems later. For her, prevention was better than cure.
She remained loyal to the practice year after year.
Because Dr Solomon knew her well, her care was simple, and her dentistry was easy.
Trouble seldom had the chance to take root.
- The Timely Attenders
The second were people like Ravi, who ran a café in the village. He didn’t come regularly, but when a chip, twinge, or niggle appeared, he made an appointment promptly.
His outlook was shaped by the old saying, a stitch in time saves nine.
He arrived early enough to keep life simple.
His trust in Dr Solomon was solid. He knew that addressing issues early saved time, money, and stress.
Because the practice already knew him, his needs were straightforward.
- The Hopeful Evaders
The final group behaved differently, like Lena, who ran a busy dog-walking service. She noticed when something felt wrong, but she preferred to ignore it.
When pain came, she took painkillers, avoided hot drinks, and learned to chew on one side.
She told herself it would pass.
But small problems rarely shrink when left alone.
One Friday evening, the pain erupted, her face swelled, Lena arrived at the practice pale and shaking.
Dr Solomon relieved her suffering: draining the abscess, opening the tooth, placing medicine to calm the storm.
For a short time, she felt safe.
But once her pain settled, she slipped back to her old ways. She drifted from dentist to dentist, never returning to the same one twice.
Each time the pain returned, she blamed Dr Solomon, never realising the problem was rooted in her choice not to return for the treatment he suggested.
She lived her life riding the emergency dental merry-go-round, seeking relief rather than resolution.
A Conversation Beside the Wisteria Arch
One May afternoon, Dr Solomon stood beneath the wisteria archway outside his practice. He was joined by his coach, Purple Jane, whose wisdom was known among dental folk from far and wide.
Together they watched swallows fly in looping circles overhead.
“Jane,” Dr Solomon said, “I have learnt to recognise the three ways my patients come to me. and I wonder whether principals and practice owners are the same for you? I am sure I have seen patterns among my colleagues and I cannot help thinking they mirror my patients, tell me the patterns you have seen.”
Purple Jane smiled.
“There are definitely patterns. . . “
The Three Kinds of Principals and Practice Owners
- Serena the Navigator
“There are those like Serena,
She regularly reviews the health of her practice. She uses tools such as the Brilliant Practice Evaluation and The Perfect Journey. She speaks with me often, we organise regular quarterly team days, Serena listens to her team and invests in their training.”
“She lives by prevention. Because she looks ahead, she corrects her course with small adjustments. There are seldom problems, and if they arise, they are resolved quickly. Her practice sails smoothly.”
- Aiden the Fire Watcher
“The second type of principal is like Aiden,. He does not invest in constant care, yet he notices when something begins to burn.”
“He calls me when smoke appears before the flames take hold. Together we get things under control, and Aiden returns to previous status quo. He resolves the difficulty for now, and because he does not check his foundations, new sparks soon appear.”
“His practice stays afloat, despite usually being off course. There will always another ember to extinguish
- Gale the Storm Chaser
“And then,” Jane sighed, “there is Gale.”
“He lurches from crisis to crisis.
One month his team leave, claiming the manager is too rigid.
The next month, he cannot pay his tax, accusing his associates of not earning enough.
Then his appointment book lies empty, and he says the practice down the road is stealing his patients.”
“He only calls me in when he is already drowning. Once the immediate storm settles, he disengages and does not see the process through to the end. He is resistant to recognising what all around him can see, his difficulties are woven together, they all grow from a common root, Gale’s leadership style Because Gale treats the symptoms alone, peace never lasts.”
“His life is exhausting. His practice is forever restless.”
Soloman nodded slowly.
“You speak truth. Patients and principals are not so different. Some maintain their health regularly, some tend to it when it pulls on them, and others wait until there is fear and chaos.”
“The question now,” she said, looking towards the valley, “What kind of principal does each dentist want for their practice?”
Some wait for crises.
Some respond to early signs.
Some prevent the storm from forming.
The path you follow determines how smooth your journey becomes.
You may wish to ask yourself
What kind of principal are you today?
What kind would you like to become?
If you wish for life of plain sailing, avoiding being of course or caught in the storm, consider:
- How much time are you investing
• How much money are you willing to allocate
• How much relationship and conversation are you cultivating
For these are the currencies of calm seas.
Those who invest early and wisely often find their practices become like well-tended ships, gliding quietly across still water.
Those who wait for storms must learn to swim.
The House of Healthy Smiles still stands in Oldtown.
Dr Solomon still practises; the wisteria archway is always beautiful with abundant blooms and a fragrant scent in May.
Purple Jane still walks beside him, reminding all who focus on prevention, whether in mouths or in management, is the surest path to peace.
