One on One with Pinhas Adar

Georgia's own Pinhas Adar MDT, CDT, and AACD accredited member recently sat down with GDLA’s Future Committee Chairman and Editor Keith Miolen CDT to discuss questions many have wondered! In the first of this three-part candid interview, Pinhas tells GDLA members of his humble beginnings as a student in an Israeli school, his first lab job with Baruch Indig, his time served in the Israeli Army and his residency with Willi Geller. Pinhas also discusses the way his opportunities have come about along with how striving to excel and teach have become his passion.

As the CEO of Adar International Inc and Adar Dental Network Inc, a Master Technician, a Certified Technician and the only AACD Accredited technician in the state of Georgia, Pinhas gives great advice on how to separate your lab from others, altering our technical mentality to a business mindset, how incorporating digital technology has affected him and he answers the age-old question of how he is able to achieve thousands of dollars for the restorations he provides his clients...the patient! First and foremost he elaborates on how remaining positive and setting goals in all aspects of his life has brought he and his wife Debby fulfillment both professionally, personally and in business. Pinhas’s work and accomplishments have made him a staple in the forefront of our industry internationally. GDLA is delighted to share his insight and expertise on the state of our industry and its future to our members.

Through our dental careers, many of us have seen Pinhas featured at various dental meetings as a lecturer, we have also seen and read the multitude of articles which have been published demonstrating his layering techniques with porcelain and various case documentation. We know of his technical background related to the strong credentials he brings to our industry such as the founder of Success Academy and the CEO of Adar International, his consulting company which allows technicians as well as clinicians to mentor and grow under his wisdom. We know about Pinhas the technician but I was very interested in finding out things in his life that we do not know! Things such as how his lab career began, his early years as a developing technician and how he eventually made his way here to the United States. I wanted to know of his influences besides mentors and friends in the laboratory industry, why he continues to develop and learn despite the fact his “niche” has been established and his success has been achieved! Meanwhile finding out the personal questions that we all wanted answering such as what he charges for a restoration, how he markets his business strategy to doctors, how he utilizes technology in his laboratory and his advise which others can follow to help achieve success. In sitting down with him, I found myself loaded with question after question to ask but immediately realized this would be an unusual interview. It only took one question to realize what separates Pinhas from others in his position as key opinion leaders in our industry. His openness to share and provide information which will help others, while telling his own story placed me at ease. Therefore, I listened rather than asking for details.

TELL GDLA MEMBERS OF HOW YOU STARTED IN OUR INDUSTRY?

I was born in the Georgian part of what used to be called the Soviet Union and immigrated to Israel at age 9. At the age of 14, I tested to enter my school's lab technology program in Tel Aviv. When I took the test I seemed to have a natural ability, to reproduce the objects which I was given to mimic. Looking back, it is now humorous... I was asked to retake the exam because the instructor thought I “traced” the picture which I was asked to draw. After re-drawing the picture, the instructor- tor asked if I would sculpt an object. . After the sculpting phase of the test, I was accepted into the program and did well.! I didn’t look at the training as a “big deal” or have an “I can’t do that” state of mind, I simply “recreated” teeth.

After being in the program for a short while and learning various technical procedures I began to immerse myself in learning ceramics as an apprentice at the laboratory that I was assigned to by the school, the laboratory was Shenhav and owned by Baruch Indig, my first mentor that impacted my laboratory skill development as well as my personal life. This referral eventually led to my first job.

While employed with Baruch I was sent to Switzerland to take several courses

with Willi Geller, who would later allow me to do a residency with him.

Even though ceramics were not taught in our school's curriculum at that time. It was- n’t long before I was asked to teach ceramics to my fellow students. 19 Upon graduations, I was offered a position from Will Geller in Zurich, Switzer- land but I had to deny due to my obligation as an Israeli citizen to enlist into our government military for 3 years. So he told me that the offer was still open after my service.

While serving in the Israeli Army I was chosen to be in the tank division, but because of the skillset that I had developed while in school I was moved to the hospital in the dental division and I was fortunate enough to be able to help soldiers not only with dental needs but also for those who had suffered harmful facial and other physical injuries. I created and developed esthetic, prosthetic devices for them.

While serving in the Army, I immediately sought out friends and lab owners and began doing piece-work for 10 dollars a unit, in hopes of developing further through repetition and building speed. Before long I was producing over 50 units a night while subcontracting. The mindset of producing that many units were achieved by having the thinking of an elite athlete. I considered it a sport. In today’s standards – maybe I would be considered a human CAD CAM machine...

I held onto my dream of traveling back to Europe and working with Willi Geller. Therefore, when my military obligation was complete, I sought out that opportunity. Unfortunately, political walls kept me from working in Switzerland so I ventured to Germany and accepted employment as a ceramics manager and trainer at a 50 person laboratory within a small village.

WHEN PRODUCING THAT MANY UNITS DO YOU FEEL QUALITY STANDARDS ARE COMPROMISED?

My philosophy is “ if you know where you are going then naturally you get there faster”! In other words, I personally believe that a technician who has mastered his craft with skill and knowledge should be very productive. There is a misconception that in order to be “good” one must be slow, I disagree! For instance, If I am using a three powder build-up technique or a ten powder build-up technique to create a restoration, there is no difference between the two techniques to me because the hand movements are the same as long as you know where to place the powders. It is only the col- or of the ceramics that is being applied that changes.

AFTER WORKING IN GERMANY YOU EVENTUALLY MADE YOUR WAY TO THE UNITED STATES, HOW DID THIS MOVE COME ABOUT?

I was living in Europe doing my apprenticeship with Willi, traveling with him to

courses and being his assistant and then began traveling and working for various labs 20

and friends as a trainer after leaving the large lab in Germany. While at a meeting in Germany with Willi Geller, I was introduced by Willi to Dr. Celenza and Dr. Gold- stein. The timing was perfect because each doctor was looking for a technician to bring in the house to their practices. Dr. Goldstein invited me to see his lecture and after seeing his lecture, he asked me what I thought about it and I felt that I could raise the quality level of the work he had presented so I told him, “I can help you.”

This was a major turning point in my life because I had so much to take in and think about! It was over 30 years ago I was at the top of my field in Israel, making a good living and well respected by my peers. I had an opportunity in Israel and was offered me a partnership position that would have paid $10,000 a month. Not bad for a young 22-year-old technician! I was told, by friends, family members and colleagues that I should not go to the US and that it is better to be a big fish in a small pond than to be a small fish in a big pond. I HAD to turn this offer down because my vision of myself and what I wanted and what I was going to create, my dream was to be able to control my OWN destiny. I knew that as tempting as it was to be offered $10,000 a month – 30 years ago – that I could not live my dream if I accepted. The true test is to be true to yourself and your dreams because we are all challenged with distractions that can take us off our paths. They come in the forms of money, security, relationships, and many others. Regret is the highest cost that you can ever pay. If you don’t have an agenda for your life, then you will become somebody else’s agenda.

To strive for greatness you must never settle and be comfortable because you can always be better than your best.

So my new journey began. I came to the U.S. and started traveling on the unknown path that had never been traveled before. It was based on my imagination of whom I had to become. Was it easy for me? No. It was not. Particularly when you don’t even know the language. English is not my first language or my second. I only knew a few words. I came with one suitcase and $300 in my pocket, not knowing anybody, no friends, no family, nobody that would “have my back”. I realized that this was truly an advantage for me because I was not given the advantage of being comfortable and being a slacker, not going that extra mile. I had to be all in – I had to go all out.

In the course of my career, I have determined that major decisions related to “change” seldom evolve for many technicians. It is more comfortable to stay within one's comfort zone if they are doing well financially and professionally, which I

was. Never the less, I took the position with Dr. Goldstein in Atlanta for a salary of $35,000 a year, which was a major pay cut for me. I knew it would be a good opportunity to document cases for articles and lectures until I could pursue my dream of becoming an actor....to be continued

The 2014 Spring Meeting was a huge success! Our panel discussion was hosted by our President Mr. Bill Thomas, CDT . The panel consisted of Ricki Braswell, CEO of the Pankey Institute, Terry McQuisten of New Image Dental Lab, Mary Borg, CEO of Safelink and David Yoak of Grimes Insurance