Throughout college, students are asked the infamous question, “What would you do even if you didn’t get paid for it?” But here’s a different question: “What would you do, even if it meant you couldn’t practice for seven years to fulfill requirements needed in another country?”
Sandra Brener, assistant professor in the Division of Developmental Science for Pediatric Dentistry, had to answer that question. She loves pediatric dentistry so much that she went through the seven year process of fulfilling the requirements to practice dentistry in the U.S. after leaving Argentina in 2002 as a certified dentist there.
“Local dentists would tell me, ‘I can’t understand how you’re doing this all over again.’ Some of the classes, like anatomy and physiology, had me going back 20 years to when I first started dental school. But when you get to do what you’re born for, you forget about all of that,” she said.
Brener said it was interesting to repeat the schooling process, especially after being a mother and a professional for 10 years.
“It was challenging, but exciting at the same time. When you do it again, you know what you’re doing and why you’re there. [In some ways] it was easier but in some, not. English is my second language so I was learning English while I was studying and going through the process,” she said.
It’s been so long since she first chose pediatric dentistry, Brener couldn’t remember why she chose it many years ago, but she knows why she stayed in the field. She said it’s a good way to reach people by providing education on achieving a healthy lifestyle.
Brener said, “I practice with kids, so I get to reach the whole family sometimes. I’m more of an educator than a practitioner. My primary goal is to educate people to be healthy and not have to come back for treatment.”
This is the reason Brener teaches her students to see the whole person and not just focus on the dental procedure or the tooth. She said students get very excited about teeth, but they shouldn’t forget about the person carrying them.
“Whatever is happening to that tooth is happening because of the person. Everything relates to that tooth, like the way they eat, sleep or exercise. I want them to be able to see the person before they see the dental need,” she said.
This is very important because pediatric dentists can examine newborns to 18-year-olds and children with special needs. Because of this, when students ask Brener if it’s OK to pursue pediatrics because it’s profitable, she tells them not to pursue it if they don’t love it. She said otherwise they will hate every minute of it and it will be tough to go to work and do something they don’t like.
Fortunately for Brener, she loves her job. She said there are surprises all the time — both good and bad. The things she is exposed to, from children with special needs to children who have been exposed to abusive parenting, teaches her worthwhile lessons.
“I am in a rewarding field. Every second of it is,” she said.
