Imtiaz and Steve in front of a mountain. This is a picture of Dr. Steve Ratcliff and me at the "Top of Europe" at a place called Jungfrau in Switzerland. It's a breathtaking display of snow, ice and rocky peaks that is waiting for you when you disembark at the highest railway station on the continent.

The entire trip was one incredible scene after another rolling by outside our train windows, and I got a new appreciation for the beauty of the Swiss landscape. I also developed a new appreciation for what is known as "the Swiss way" of doing things. We always hear about Swiss watches and their reputation for precision and accuracy.

But it wasn't until I spent some time in Switzerland that I really came to see what it is like to live in a daily environment where scrupulous attention to detail is part of the culture.

There are clocks everywhere and they all seem to be perfectly synchronized. When a train is scheduled to leave at 9 a.m., it leaves at precisely that time. Public facilities and private businesses are always clean and well maintained. The people are polite and helpful.

We were in Switzerland to visit the headquarters of Straumann, and the people we met there further exemplified the philosophy of "the Swiss way." It's a company that is all about the details and delivering the highest quality with the greatest efficiency. It makes sense that they should be based in this country that values precision so highly.

There is something about how this "Swiss way" environment makes you feel as a visitor, and I think it is similar to what a patient feels when they visit an extraordinary dental practice. You can sense that the people providing services to you are on top of their game. You feel reassured, confident and valued.

And you look forward to going back there.


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