In Dr. Loren Grossman’s practice: Science and art meet to create ‘beautiful things’
Loren Grossman, D.M.D., has the warm and cheerful manner many patients appreciate in their dentist. Through 30 years of practice, that outgoing nature has secured a vibrant solo practice for Dr. Grossman, who says he does everything himself — from children’s fillings to complex dental implants and tooth whitening for his adult patients.
“I am very hands-on,” Dr. Grossman says. “I do all my own work and I work with a few trusted labs that fabricate the cosmetic work we do.”
Dr. Grossman has seen many advances in his field since he first received his D.M.D. (doctor of dental medicine) from Temple University in 1983. “There have been unbelievable changes,” he says. “From silver fillings to the white we use today, to the Zoom system we use for tooth whitening.”
Zoom is a chairside whitening system that many television viewers may have seen on ABC’s “Extreme Makeover.” Dr. Grossman says the complete procedure takes less than an hour. Zoom uses a light-activated whitening gel that, when used with a special lamp, increases the effectiveness of the bleaching, giving an average improvement of up to eight shades.
Dr. Grossman noted that when the recession first hit, his practice saw a decrease in “higher end” cosmetic dentistry procedures. “The economy effects what people choose,” he says. “However, lately it’s come back,” and “smile makeovers” are back in vogue.
Another big dental advance Dr. Grossman has noted over the course of his career is the improvements in dental implants. Implants have many advantages over dentures, but perhaps the greatest one is that patients with implants actually have their own teeth. Today’s implants are accomplished by placing “cylinders” in the patient’s jawbone and then putting ceramic “teeth” in those holders. As complex as it sounds, Dr. Grossman says patients make a speedy recovery and leave the office with a new set of teeth.
Through the fillings and the bleachings and the extractions there’s one common denominator Dr. Grossman says he loves best and that’s interactions with people. “The people are the best part,” he says. “I treat my patients the way I would want to be treated. I try to make sure all their needs are met. I like to call my patients after they’ve had an extraction just to make sure they are OK. I decided a long time ago not to focus on the finances. I never wanted to be pushed into being a businessman. I just figure that if I focus on being a good clinician, success will follow. And it has.”
Dr. Grossman comes from a family of successful clinicians. His eldest brother, Monte Grossman is an Emergency Room physician in Philadelphia; brother Ira grossman is a Luzerne County urologist; and brother Richard is also a local dentist. “We had wonderful parents. They guided us. They were very even-handed,” he says. “My dad was so proud to have graduated from The University of Scranton, so he made sure we were all educated. He wanted us to go into the professions and to be our own men.”
His parents also made sure all of their sons played an instrument and Dr. Grossman can play both piano and saxophone.
It was perhaps this blend of art and science in his early education that made Dr. Grossman choose dentistry as his profession. “I’ve always been interested in the arts,” he says. “I like the creative aspect and in my work I am creating something every day. From studying anatomy and then shaping and contouring (a patient’s smile), I am combining science with art and creating beautiful things.”