Dr. Mom, DDS

From the American Dental Association’s Morning Huddle May 25, 2016

In a piece titled, Dr. Mom, DDS, that appeared recently in the Arizona Dental Association’s publication Inscriptions, Jeanette MacLean, DDS states that with women representing nearly 50% of current dental school graduates, “more young women dentists will be faced with the perhaps overwhelming thought of balancing their dental careers with motherhood.” To demonstrate how dentistry affords dentist moms “the flexibility to navigate the journey known as motherhood,” Dr. MacLean shares the experience of 10 “veteran dentist moms,” including ADA president Dr. Carol Gomez Summerhays and immediate past ADA president Dr. Maxine Feinberg, with pregnancy, maternity leave, returning to work, childcare, balancing work with motherhood, and staying connected. “A career in dentistry, in particular, provides us the means and the flexibility to afford us the opportunity to be a great parent,” says Dr. MacLean. “That sort of flexibility is the beauty of our profession. It allows us to tailor our schedules and choose the work environment that best suits our individual needs and the needs of our families. It also gives our children the opportunity to see a strong female role model.”