BruxZir^® Zirconia dentist Dr. Scott Phillippi can tell you a thing or two about the power of perspective. For many years, he was on a different career track. His athleticism had propelled him to play football at Stanford University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics. Postcollege, he worked in real-estate development and traveled to play in golf tournaments.

Then, he was in a serious car accident.

“It was life-threatening, and it kind of changed my approach to life,” Dr. Phillippi said. “I decided that I wanted to do something more to help people.”

He found the answer in dentistry, which he saw as a perfect pairing of mechanics and art. Pursuing this career change also brought an affectionate new nickname for the then-38-year-old dental student: “Grandpa.” The topic of age was another opportunity to gain new perspective.

“During the application process, I had been so worried because of my age,” Dr. Phillippi said. “But then I found out that my age was more of a positive than a negative. My willingness to quit my job at 38 to go to dental school showed other people that I was in it for the right reasons.”

Today, the graduate of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry treats patients in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, just an hour away from his alma mater. In this Q&A, he talks about:

• Why he sold his practice to a dental service organization (DSO) a couple years ago
• His creative partnership with his wife, Tammy, who is a physician’s assistant
• How BruxZir Zirconia fits into his treatment plans for patients
• His thoughts on the new BruxZir Zirconia Shade Guide, which will be released in mid-2021

Kiali Wong Orlowski: After purchasing your dental practice in Dayton in 2010, you partnered with a DSO a couple years ago. What led you to make that business decision?

Dr. Scott Phillippi: My wife, Tammy, and I opened Bel Viso Medspa a few years back, using space here at the dental office. She is a physician’s assistant, and the medical spa is perfectly suited to her expertise and professional interests. She has even joined the clinical faculty of the American Academy of Facial Esthetics. However, back when we opened Bel Viso, she was also the office manager for the dental practice, and the combination of managing the dental side of things and growing the medical spa became too much. She needed to concentrate on Bel Viso full-time.

Fortunately, I sold the dental practice to a great group. The biggest benefit is not having the responsibility of management. Working with a DSO lets me just focus on being a dentist and do what I really like to do.

KO: Patients must appreciate the ease of being able to access dental services and medical spa treatments under one roof.

SP: Without a doubt. We can help patients not just with their smiles but also with their overall facial esthetics. One thing I've noticed — and maybe the COVID-19 pandemic has made this more apparent — is that a lot of times it is tough to stop to take care of ourselves. As a society, we put our health and our wants on the back burner. So, if my wife, our team and I can help people feel happier about themselves and their appearance, that’s a really neat thing. I believe people should feel happy about themselves and how they look.

KO: Why do you prescribe BruxZir Zirconia for patients?

SP: A lot of my patients need or want to have gold restorations replaced, and they all ask about one thing: durability. They want something that is long-lasting and looks like their natural teeth, and BruxZir Zirconia provides that. The BruxZir restorations that I receive from Glidewell look really, really good.

KO: The preparation requirements for BruxZir crowns are conveniently similar to full-cast gold, too.

SP: They are. And I like that. I want to be really conservative with tooth structure. Using BruxZir Zirconia gives me a lot of confidence, especially as I have used it through the years. I know if I do my job and provide a good prep with clear margins, and take a good impression, the BruxZir restoration that I receive is going to fit great. When it’s time to seat the crown, I know I’m going to have the patient out of there in 30 minutes or less.

KO: As a longtime BruxZir doctor, what’s your verdict on BruxZir Esthetic Zirconia?

SP: It looks really natural to me. Personally, I like the look of BruxZir Esthetic Zirconia more than glass ceramics. And I sleep really well at night knowing that my patients’ anterior restorations aren’t going to break, chip or crack.

KO: You are one of the clinicians who provided feedback on the new BruxZir Zirconia Shade Guide, which launches in mid-2021. Having evaluated the prototype, what do you think of the shade guide?

SP: I really like the size and simplicity of the BruxZir Zirconia Shade Guide. I have used other shade guides that are much bigger, and some patients have gotten anxious when they see those large guides come out. However, the BruxZir Zirconia Shade Guide is not so imposing. It’s fantastic that the shade tabs are made of BruxZir Zirconia, and the stump shades on the back of the tabs are just super to have. I have a separate stump shade guide that I always lose. So it’s nice to see the BruxZir Zirconia Shade Guide is an all-in-one setup.

And the design of the shade tabs and the tab holders gives me more peace of mind that each component can be sterilized. I love being able to remove the BruxZir shade tab from the tab holder, so each piece can be sterilized separately. Other shade guides have nooks and crannies.

KO: What inspires you when it comes to dentistry?

SP: I love the people that I work with; we have been working together for a very long time, and everything just clicks with my clinical team. And I appreciate my relationships with patients and helping them achieve the smiles they want. I think it all boils down to being there for the patients. You have to be compassionate. You have to have each patient’s best interest in your heart. Sometimes it just takes a little bit — a small change of some kind — and people can feel a lot better about themselves. That’s what excites me about dentistry.