Dental practice considerations

Treating young children, working through an intermediary (the parenting adult), obtaining informed consent, and reporting suspected child abuse bring extra pressures to the dentist and staff members unless the protocol for each step is established and followed precisely. Managing for fiscal soundness and making a profit are other professional responsibilities. Counterbalancing the many pressures, the dentist who treats young children enjoys an added measure of pleasure beyond that experienced by many colleagues by helping a young child cope with the stresses of treatment, leading a child into a lifetime free of dental disease, and winning the trust and approval of parents or guardians. All of these aspects make dentistry a profession that provides a lifetime of excitement, fulfillment, learning, and constant opportunities for growth.