Not many people can say their dentist saved their life, but Lake Orion resident Ken Sinkler can.
During a routine check-up with Dr. Paul Ferri, D.D.S. at the North Oakland Dental Group in Oxford two years ago, the dentist became concerned when he saw Sinkler’s X-ray.
Ferri saw some sort of blockage on the right side of Sinkler’s head where his carotid artery is located.
Sharing his concern, the dentist told his patient to take the X-ray to his cardiologist, which Sinkler just so happened to have an appointment with that same week.
Sure enough, Sinkler’s cardiologist scheduled emergency surgery at Harper Hospital in Detroit to have a stent placed in his carotid artery.
But while he was on the table during surgery, Sinkler unfortunately had a heart attack and stroke.
‘The Lord had me at the right place at the right time,? Sinkler said. ‘I’m praising God and Dr. Ferri for that.?
Sinkler, 77, has made a full recovery since then and is in good health.
He credits his strong faith in the Lord and the great care of Dr. Ferri to saving his life.
‘If the Lord hadn’t worked things in sequence, I might not be talking to you right now,? Sinkler said. ‘I’m deeply grateful to Dr. Ferri.?
Humbly, Ferri insists he was just doing his job and that Sinkler took his advice, which is something patients tend not to do.
‘A lot of patients will just put (the X-ray) in the glove box of their car and that’s it,? he said, noting that Sinkler didn’t have to get X-rays done that day but decided to anyway.
According to the American Dental Association, certain diseases can be diagnosed or prevented by regular visits to the dentist, such as oral cancer.
To thank the dentist for ‘going above and beyond,? Sinkler’s daughter, Oxford resident Diki Sinkler-Burns, who’s also a patient of Ferri’s, wrote a beautiful poem (see sidebar) that is now on display at the 830 S. Lapeer office.
‘She just about put me to tears when she read it to me,? Ferri said of the poem. ‘I was blown away.?