Do I Actually Want To Be A Pediatric Dentist?

I'm back in school now after a small break. Actually, it was a long break but I had to waste 3 weeks of it studying for boards. And it's a good thing I did or else I may not have passed one of the sections. It seems I really suck at anatomy. I new I would have a hard time with it and I was right. Fortunately, I realized before the exam that I sucked at anatomy and I studied enough for it. While the anatomy section lowered my score overall, it wasn't so bad to do any real damage.

Now the question remains: do I really want to be a pediatric dentist? While in Utah, I spent a day at the University of Utah Children's Hospital with the pediatric dental residents. I have to admit that I really liked it. You couldn't help but feel bad for the little kids only 2 or 3 years old in need of full mouth reconstructions. I think it would be really rewarding to do cases like that.

Today I observed in the OR at Children's Mercy Hospital here in KC with UMKC's residents. Again, I really liked it. I have to admit that I would really like to go into a pediatric residency. The problem is that in admitting something like that I have to take on the responsibility of trying to make it happen. I have to hope again that I can get into a competitive program and try to solicit myself somehow.

I guess we'll just have to kind of see how things go for the next little while. Should be interesting.