Written by Duane Tinker (aka the Toothcop)
Back in the days of my Toothcoppin', I found myself in trouble for helping dentists. Yes, you read that right! One day, I had to sit down with my boss and explain why I was answering dentists' questions about dental board rules and things. You see, I was working as an investigator, and I was told that I couldn't provide legal advice. I was utterly perplexed. How could sharing my life experiences be considered legal advice? To this day, I’m still baffled.
Two burning questions troubled me during that time:
- If the agency didn't provide dentists with information on how to comply with its rules, how could they expect dentists to meet their expectations?
- How did sharing my knowledge and experiences translate into offering legal advice?
Then, one day in early 2011, God spoke to me very clearly. He told me that He had a plan for me. Without hesitation, in late March, I handed in my resignation to the Dental Board. This on the very same day my wife received a pink slip from her principal—her educational program had been cut for the following school year. Essentially, she was let go with a notice. We had five mouths to feed, a mortgage to pay, and two car payments looming over us. And here I was, leaving behind the security of a government job.
However, I've never felt more at peace with any decision in my life. I had unwavering faith that by sharing my knowledge and experiences with dentists, I could make a positive impact on their lives. In return, they would make a difference in mine. As it turns out, my faith was well-placed, and everything has fallen into place beautifully.
Since April 2011, I've had the privilege of working with hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of dentists on matters of compliance and risk management. I've earned a solid reputation within the dental community and have forged connections with hundreds of fans with whom I frequently converse. I've touched more lives than I ever dreamed possible, and I'm just scratching the surface.
Now, you might be wondering, "What does this have to do with me?" Well, it's quite simple. You need my help. The not-so-simple part is you may not realize you need my help (and that’s okay for now).