{"id":29015,"date":"2026-04-17T12:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T17:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oraldna.com\/trends-in-salivary-testing\/?p=29015"},"modified":"2026-04-02T08:32:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T13:32:58","slug":"how-did-they-do-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oraldna.com\/trends-in-salivary-testing\/index.php\/2026\/04\/17\/how-did-they-do-that\/","title":{"rendered":"How Did They Do That?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

I was at dinner with my friends from OralDNA Labs \u2014 Amanda and Diane \u2014 talking about stories from my book <\/span>Undeniable Hospitality<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Little did we know, we were about to live one.<\/span><\/p>\n

The setting was spectacular \u2014 the kind of architectural beauty you might expect in the Museum of Modern Art. Elegant. Minimal. Intentional.<\/span><\/p>\n

But ambiance alone doesn\u2019t create magic.<\/span><\/p>\n

The servers were polished. Smiling. Attentive. I did notice that no one introduced themselves by name \u2014 a miss in my world, because names create connection. Still, nothing felt extraordinary.<\/span><\/p>\n

At first.<\/span><\/p>\n

They asked if it was a special occasion.<\/span><\/p>\n

I told them my friends were visiting from Minnesota and I wanted them to experience New York\u2019s finest.<\/span><\/p>\n

A few minutes later, our server returned \u2014 not with food, but with small printed menus.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSince this will be memorable,\u201d she said, \u201cperhaps this will help you remember it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Anticipation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The tasting menu began. The second course \u2014 their signature egg on egg on egg \u2014 was sublime. Halfway through, I casually said, almost to myself, \u201cI wish there were more toast to soak up this egg and caviar.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Within what felt like seconds, a plate of toast appeared.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow did they know?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Later, I took a sip of water. \u201cOh, that\u2019s sparkling. I prefer still.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Moments later, my glass was replaced \u2014 apology included.<\/span><\/p>\n

Again: \u201cHow did they know?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At one point I joked about a hidden microphone under the table. The captain gave a slightly sinister laugh \u2014 just enough to preserve the illusion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then dessert arrived \u2014 along with a small cake and candle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEven though it\u2019s not a special occasion,\u201d our server said, \u201cwe appreciate that you came all the way from Minnesota. So here\u2019s something extra.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And after the check was paid, we were invited into the kitchen, where the entire brigade turned toward us and offered a collective welcome and thank you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Choreography.<\/span><\/p>\n

And as if scripted, while retrieving our coats, a former patient recognized me and praised me in front of my guests.<\/span><\/p>\n

It felt staged.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it wasn\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was art.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Choreography Looks Like in Dentistry<\/b><\/h3>\n

In a dental practice, the choreography should begin long before the patient ever sits in the chair.<\/span><\/p>\n

It starts:<\/span><\/p>\n