Dr. John Olmsted - Through the Keyhole

Dr. John Olmsted shares his four keys to unlocking the “Keyhole of Life”

What can you tell us about your background?
Love of family and friends, faith in God, excellence in our profession of endodontics, and service to our community and patients are the four essential keys to unlocking the “keyhole of life.” I was born in Iowa City, Iowa. My father, a printer at the Iowa City Press Citizen, and mother, a graduate of the University of Iowa, always stressed to their five children: “Education is the best investment you will ever make!” My older sister and younger brothers all attended and graduated from the University of Iowa.
I earned my DDS in 1975 from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry with OKU (Omicron Kappa Upsilon, National Dental Honor Society) and an MS in endodontics in 1977 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I chose the specialty of endodontics because it offered the challenge of diagnosis (discerning the etiology of facial pain), the ability to continue with the skills of operative dentistry (utilizing high-speed, slow speed, ultrasonics, and biomaterials), the incorporation of my interest in microsurgery, and the understanding that outcomes are most often controlled by clinical expertise.



Who has inspired you?
The operative dentistry faculty and the endodontic faculty at Iowa—Drs. Wally Johnson, Jerry Denehy, Arne Bjorandal, Mo Khowassah, Eddy Skidmore, Bill Powell, Ken Sunshine, Mike Lueke, and Rick Walton; and UNC-Chapel Hill endodontic faculty—Drs. Worth Gregory, graduate program director and the first JOE editor; Joel Leeb, chairperson; Jack Shankle, founding chairperson; and a multitude of dedicated part-time endodontic faculty, all inspired me to ask the questions and seek the answers.

When did you become a specialist and why?
Two of the part-time faculty at UNC Chapel Hill, Dr. H. Wayne Mohorn (the first university-trained endodontist to practice in the state of North Carolina), and Dr. Stuart B. Fountain (the first endodontic graduate program director at UNC), invited me to join them in a group endodontic practice in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1977. We have continued to grow the practice by recruiting and retaining Drs. Denny Torney (Creighton/Iowa/ UNC), Hal Mohorn (UNC/Iowa), Steve Mohorn (UNC/UNC), Kenny Morgan (UNC/Louisville), Matt Baird (UNC/San Antonio), and Will Stanley (UNC/Ohio State). Wayne, Stuart, John, Denny, Hal, Steve, and Kenny are all certified by the American Board of Endodontics with Matt and Will currently working toward certification; this team represents the largest group practice of board-certified endodontists in America.

This group practice has grown to 4 offices with 22 operatories and 40 employees providing excellent endodontic care for patients
in the Piedmont area of North Carolina, and efficient management of orofacial pain for many dentists and their team members. Our group endodontic practice has continued to grow because we never say no. We always say, “Absolutely!” If a dental office needs a patient seen that day, we will always accommodate them, no matter how busy we are...many days working through lunch or staying late. With over half of our staff working in the group endodontic practice for more than 20 years, the 9 endodontists strive to emphasize OSHA safety by insisting everyone start at 8:30 am and complete the day no sooner than 6:00 pm, thereby missing the busy rush-hour traffic (not!). In addition, we have instituted a weight loss program in the office, working through lunch to reduce caloric intake!

What is the most satisfying aspect of your practice?
Patient service, staff development, and sharing knowledge with dentists and other endodontists are perhaps the most satisfying aspects of my practice. More than 90% of our patients are referred by their general dentists or other specialists, with about 10% of these patients benefiting from previous root canal satisfaction and knowing what they may need to address future symptoms. Monthly staff meetings incorporate OSHA/HIPAA training, education on new medications, workshops with hands-on experience with new endodontic techniques and materials, and continual improvement with communication skills. My wife, Frankie, and I frequently travel to speak at state, regional, national, and international dental meetings to share new advancements with endodontic diagnosis and treatment planning, rotary instrumentation, resin-bonded obturation, restoration of the endodontically treated tooth, and post-op medications.

What do you think is unique about your practice?
Our endodontic group practice is unique in that it is a true group practice, with the endodontists seeing each other daily as we all rotate equally between all four offices providing excellent care, continuing education to our referring dentists, and service to our community. We are all like family. Wayne Mohorn has mentored his two sons, Hal and Steve, into endodontics. I am fortunate to work for my three certified dental assistants: Karen (for 35 years), Kathy (for 31 years), and Sherry (for 30 years). We work hard, and we play hard!



How long have you been practicing endodontics, and what systems do you use?
As I begin my 35th year of endodontic practice, I am most excited about the continual advancements with endodontic supplies, instruments, techniques, and materials. I currently utilize all 15 steps of endodontic diagnosis to determine the correct treatment plan. After establishing straight-line access and a most effective glide-path, I have enjoyed the Twisted File (TF™, SybronEndo) since its introduction at the AAE 2008 Vancouver meeting. The 08/25 Twisted File and the 06/30 Twisted File with the cordless Endo-Mate (NSK) are the two NiTi rotary instruments I consider necessary to complete cleaning and shaping of the canal system. After completing canal preparation and irrigation, I begin obturation with the Elements Obturation Unit™ and the cordless system (SybronEndo). I have utilized resin-bonded obturation (RealSeal™, SybronEndo) for the past 11 years since its development by Dr. Martin Trope, who was then Chairperson at UNC Chapel Hill. With the clear understanding that a good coronal seal frequently determines good clinical outcome, I am asked by my referring dentists to prepare post spaces, cement fiber posts, and bond composite resin for a foundation to facilitate their crown preparation.

What are your professional accomplishments?
For the past 35 years, I have been involved in professional dental organizations on local, state, national, and international levels. On the local level, I have served as Past President of the 3rd District, High Point Dental Society, Guilford County Dental Society, Tarheel Endodontic Association, the Southern Endodontic Study Group (200 endodontists in the Southeast), and the Dental Foundation of North Carolina. On the state level, I have served as Vice President of the North Carolina Dental Society, General Chairperson for the North Carolina Dental Society 1987 Annual Session, first held at Myrtle Beach, and Vice President of the North Carolina Services for Dentistry, Inc., the Dental Society’s wholly owned for-profit subsidiary. I have also served as 16th District Regent for the International College of Dentists 2006-2010, coordinating activities in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. It has been exciting to serve the North Carolina Dental Society as liaison to Representative Howard Coble for 18 years and Senator Richard Burr for 6 years, and as the American Dental Association coordinator of Congressional contacts for North Carolina since 2001.

On the national level, serving my fellow endodontists as AAE President with the Annual Session in Philadelphia in 2007 was the highlight of my professional career. Listening and providing leadership for the AAE family of the AAE Board of Directors, the American Board of Endodontics, the AAE Foundation, the College of Diplomates, and the AAE Alliance was most fulfilling. In addition, I had the opportunity to serve as a member of the ADA Council on Annual Sessions and International Programs, planning the ADA Annual Session as Program Chairperson for ADA San Francisco 2003 (49,000 attendees) and as General Chairperson for DA Orlando 2004 (33,000 attendees.) On the international level, I was honored to serve as International President of SCADA (Student Clinicians of the American Dental Association).

I am currently a part-time Clinical Professor in Endodontics at both the University of North Carolina and the University of Iowa. I am certified by the American Board of Endodontics and obtained my Fellowships in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD) in 1984, in the International College of Dentists (FICD) in 1989, in the Pierre Fauchard Academy (FPFA) in 1993, and in the American College of Dentists (FACD) in 1995. It has been very exciting to share advancements with endodontic diagnosis and treatment planning, rotary instrumentation, irrigation, obturation, restoration, and postoperative care with many dentists and endodontists during my 290 workshops and lectures.



What is the future of endodontics and dentistry?
I feel that the future of endodontics continues to be bright. The current challenge of global economics affects all walks of life. If our referring dentists are busy, then we are busy as endodontists. The American Association of Endodontists has produced many resources in the “tool kit” available to all AAE members to help with the current economic challenges. In the Piedmont area of North Carolina, we see the sociological and psychological impact as furniture design and marketing continue in High Point, but manufacturing has shifted to China and Southeast Asia; textile design and marketing continue in Greensboro, but manufacturing has shifted to Mexico and Central America; and cigarette manufacturing in Winston-Salem has shifted to the attorneys.

What are your hobbies, family activities, and community involvement?
I enjoy sharing time with my family backpacking, water and snow skiing, diving, playing tennis, and traveling. My wife, Frankie, a native of Williamsburg, Iowa, owns her own dental lab in Greensboro, NC. We have a 29-year-old son, Matthew, who is a graduate of Duke University, a 4-year participant on the Men’s Varsity Swim Team, a graduate of UNC Dental School and UNC Orthodontics, and he was married in June to Caline McHenry, an All-American women’s lacrosse player at Duke. Our 27-year-old daughter, Courtney, is a graduate of Duke University in Biomedical Engineering, active in the Marching/Pep Band and Duke Ski Team, a graduate of East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, is an instrument-rated pilot, and is now a General Surgery Resident at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic.

Always active in my community, I am Past Chairperson of the Battlefield District of Boy Scouts of America (BSA), and currently serve as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the BSA Old North State Council Foundation. I was a Scoutmaster for several years for Troop 103 (Summerfield United Methodist Church), leading High Adventure Boy Scouts to wilderness canoeing in Minnesota and Canada; back-packing in Philmont, New Mexico; and sailing at BSA Sea Base in the Florida Keys. I am Past Chairperson of the Northwest High School Parent Advisory Board (1994-2002), and was Co-Chairperson of the Advance Campaign to build a $3.5 million Parish Life Center for the St. Paul Church. I have been an active member of the Board of Directors of the Medical Mutual Insurance Company of North Carolina since 1989, and of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Oak Ridge since 2000.

What advice would you give to budding endodontists?
As young new endodontists begin their profession, it is most important to put the patient first. I recommend being available to help patients that same day. If you are the first to gather information and make the diagnosis, if you are the first to initiate the root canal, if you are the first to complete cleaning and shaping and biomechanical canal preparation, if you are the first to obturate the root canal system, and if you are the first to provide a good foundation for coronal coverage, then the probability of retreatments and/or surgical treatment will be reduced with improved healing of periapical tissues. Follow the advice I received—practice evidence-based endodontics; provide compassionate patient care; share your knowledge with the profession of dentistry; and maintain the balance in your life with the four keys: love of family and friends, faith in God, excellence in your profession of endodontics, and a commitment of service to your community.

Top Ten List

1.    Courtney earning her MD and Matthew earning his MS in Orthodontics on 5-6-11
2.    Matthew and Caline’s wedding at Duke Chapel on 6-11-11
3.    Family tented Kenya safari-trip of a lifetime!
4.    Backpacking with Matt at Philmont Scout Ranch
5.    Shark diving with Courtney in Roatan
6.    55-mile/5-day backpacking trip in the Canadian Rockies for our 25th anniversary
7.    Helicopter skiing in the Canadian Purcells
8.    President of AAE 2007, Philadelphia
9.    General Chairperson of ADA 2004, Orlando
10.    Lecturing at four dental schools in China with SybronEndo And THE END…THE APEX!

Bio

John S. Olmsted, DDS, MS, has been active in practice, teaching, lecturing, and professional dental organizations for the past 35 years. He is in a group endodontic practice in Greensboro, NC, with Dr. Dennis L. Torney, Dr. Hal W. Mohorn, Jr., Dr. Steven G. Mohorn, Dr. Ken Morgan, Jr., Dr. Matthew Baird, Dr. Will Stanley, Dr. H. Wayne Mohorn, Sr. (emeritus), and Dr. Stuart B. Fountain (emeritus). John is currently a part-time Clinical Professor in Endodontics at the University of North Carolina and at the University of Iowa. He is certified by the American Board of Endodontics and has obtained his FAGD, FICD, FPFA, and FACD.