Working: A day on the job in south Pinellas county
Sandra Worman, 32: Pediatric dentist, 5353 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg
By ELLEN MOSES
Published May 25, 2003
Is this a full-time or part-time job for you?
Right now I am part time. I'm doing Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, usually from about 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. I have three kids under (age) 3 that keep me pretty busy at home.
How long have you been doing this?
Since 1998. It will be five years in July, seven years if you count residency.
What kind of training do you need to do this?
Four years of college, four years of dental school, and any time you want to do a specialty - which is anything like oral surgery or orthodontics or pediatric dentistry - any of those are a minimum of two more years after dental school.
Are there any special certifications or licenses you must have to practice?
Each state has its own licensing exam and in Florida it's a test you take in Gainesville at the University of Florida. It's a written exam on knowledge, but you have to know the laws of the state regarding dentistry and what you can and can't do. There is also a clinical exam where you have to do a filling or a crown or certain procedures on a live patient. The whole test takes four days.
How is a pediatric dentist different than an adult dentist?
A lot of people don't even know there are pediatric dentists. They take their kids to their adult dentist and figure it's all the same. But just as there are pediatricians that take care of kids medically, the pediatric dentist specializes and treats just children. We see a much more diverse set of problems with children, plus we know a little bit more about how children grow and how their mouth changes.
What are some of the more common pediatric dental problems that you treat?
Tooth decay, trauma and pain (toothaches). Kids falling off bicycles, knocking out teeth, kids breaking teeth, we see those every day. We see a lot more problematic patients than an adult dentist.
Why is it important to take care of baby teeth if they are just going to fall out anyway?
Because what you do with your baby teeth sets the pattern for what will happen with your permanent teeth. Your baby teeth are the space maintainers, basically. They hold the spot for your permanent teeth to come it.
When should a child first visit a dentist?
We recommend they start at age 21/2, just to make sure everything's okay. We show parents how to brush and floss their child's teeth, and talk about pacifier use, finger sucking and those types of behaviors that can be detrimental.
What is your favorite thing about this job?
My favorite thing about the job is getting to know the kids and their families. I love when I go out to the mall or dinner and the kids come up and say, "There's Dr. Sandy!" I think that's a lot of fun.
What is the hardest part about your job?
The hardest part is when you have an extremely hysterical child that you're trying to do a ton of dentistry on. And it's not even that it's hard, it's just that it's a little more stressful and a little more time-consuming. I have to spend a lot more time talking to the kid and telling them what I'm going to do.
How much money do you make?
In my case, I'm not earning my full potential because I'm only working three mornings a week. How much you can make totally depends on the volume and number of patients that you see. Someone starting out could expect to make probably close to $100,000 (a year). Right now my income is supplemental, but I would like to eventually work full time and make a nice living.
What would your dream job be?
I think I would like to be a food critic, because everyone who knows me knows that I love to eat and I love to eat out. And just to go to all the restaurants and try all that food would be great. I love to eat out and I hate to cook.
What kind of personality traits to you need for this job?
To do pediatrics you have to be very high-energy because it's very, very fast-paced. I'm usually running six chairs at one time. My assistants are doing a lot of it, but I have to see every single patient that comes through the door. I really think you have to be patient, too, because you do work with little kids that are scared and you have to take your time with them. That's probably the most important thing is not to rush.
