I spend a lot of time with kids as a pediatric dentist. One of my favorite topics to discuss with them is what do they want to be when they grow up. Of course, you get all kinds of answers-pilot, teacher, ballerina etc. Rarely do you hear dentist – it does happen though.

I recently came across the report that got me started on my path to becoming a pediatric dentist.  I lived in a small town in Colorado and for a school assignment was asked to write a report on a career. I happened to choose the local town dentist and a career was born. Since the age of 8, I wanted to be a dentist. In order to pursue my dream, I worked in an orthodontist’s office in my teens and then after graduating from college, I worked as a dental assistant in both a general and a pediatric office.

I entered dental school with an open mind, but felt I was best suited for pediatric dentistry. After four years of dental school, I completed two additional years of specialized residency training in pediatric dentistry. After training, I practiced in Grand Junction, Colorado for three years before opening Saddle Rock Pediatric Dentistry in Aurora in 2008. I am always happy to hear patients tell me they want to be a dentist;  I know from personal experience that decision can be made quite young.