Connecting generations of experts
Meeting with a Pediatric Dentist & Entrepreneur
What it takes to run two medical offices and deal with uncooperative patients with cavities... #ColumbiaMedicalSchool #pediatricdentistry #RunningDentalOffice
Elina Kamensky
6/20/20266 min read
At this month’s Career Connection Club meeting, we spoke with Dr. Sean Adler, a pediatric dentist who has spent more than 20 years caring for children in New York City. Dr. Adler earned his dental degree at Temple University, completed his pediatric dentistry residency at Columbia University, and has worked in the same Manhattan practice for over two decades. Recently, he expanded into entrepreneurship by opening his own pediatric dental practice near NYU.
Dr. Adler was very honest about the fact that he did not always know he wanted to become a dentist. He entered college as a science major and was considering several healthcare paths. During his junior year, a college advisor suggested dentistry as a profession that might fit his strengths and interests. His mother had also encouraged him to consider dentistry when he was younger, although, as he joked, he did not necessarily want to listen to his mother at the time.
He moved directly from college to dental school to residency without taking any gap years and began his first professional job at age 28. Looking back, however, he said that taking a gap year can be a valuable choice. A year may feel significant when you are young, but over the course of a long career, it makes very little difference. That time can help students travel, gain experience, and make sure they are committing to a path they genuinely want.
While in dental school, Dr. Adler discovered that he did not enjoy every type of dentistry. He disliked some procedures, such as making dentures and crowns, and found himself deciding between pediatric dentistry and oral surgery. He knew he was especially good at working with children and ultimately chose pediatric dentistry, partly because it required fewer additional years of training. Now, he believes that students should not let a few extra years stop them from pursuing the specialty they truly want.
Dr. Adler also explained how many different career directions exist within dentistry. Graduates can become general dentists or continue their training in pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, oral surgery, endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, or dental anesthesiology. Some oral surgery programs even allow dentists to earn a medical degree as part of their training.
His own workday usually runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with some of his busiest hours after school and on Saturdays. Younger children are often scheduled in the morning because they tend to be calmer and more cooperative earlier in the day. His most common procedures include examinations, cleanings, X-rays, sealants, fillings, baby root canals, and extractions.
One of the most interesting parts of the conversation was learning how much pediatric dentistry depends on psychology and communication. Dr. Adler estimated that more than 90 percent of the children in his private practice are cooperative, but many still arrive feeling nervous. He uses calm explanations, child-friendly language, television screens, toys, and distraction to help them feel comfortable.
He also explained that parents can unintentionally make dental visits more difficult by passing their own fears on to their children. Telling a child about needles, drills, or pain before a procedure can create anxiety that might not otherwise exist. In his practice, instruments are kept out of sight, procedures are described in simple language, and children are not given unnecessary details that might frighten them.
For children who cannot safely cooperate during major procedures, Dr. Adler may recommend sedation. A pediatric anesthesiologist comes into the office and manages the anesthesia while he completes the dental work. Children with serious medical conditions, bleeding disorders, heart problems, or other complex needs may still require treatment in a hospital setting. In some cases, dental procedures can be coordinated with another surgery, such as having tonsils removed, so the child only needs anesthesia once.
Dr. Adler said that one of the most rewarding parts of his work is helping an extremely anxious child have a positive experience. When that child returns months later feeling confident and excited to see him, he knows that he may have changed the child’s attitude toward dental care for life.
Along with practicing dentistry, Dr. Adler has experienced both sides of the business world. He works in one established practice that he does not own and operates another practice that he built himself. The established practice provides a reliable income, while the newer practice requires far more time, marketing, networking, hiring, and problem-solving.
Owning a practice gives him independence and the ability to create the kind of patient experience he believes in. His practice does not accept insurance, which allows him to spend more time with patients and avoid rushing through a large number of appointments each day. At the same time, ownership means that every staffing problem, financial decision, and operational issue eventually becomes his responsibility.
He emphasized that a successful private practice depends heavily on the people surrounding the dentist. He needs skilled dental assistants and hygienists, but also reliable front-desk staff who can build relationships with families and make the office feel welcoming rather than transactional. Outside the office, he relies on accountants, lawyers, contractors, electricians, plumbers, and other professionals.
Technology is also beginning to affect his work. His practices use artificial intelligence software that analyzes dental X-rays and highlights areas that may contain cavities. He said the system often overdiagnoses problems, so he does not rely on it to make final clinical decisions. However, it can be helpful when showing parents where a problem appears on an X-ray. His practice is also beginning to use AI tools that create draft clinical notes from conversations and procedures, although the dentist still needs to review and edit them.
Throughout the meeting, Dr. Adler returned to the importance of mentorship. He regularly mentors dental students, residents, assistants, and younger people who are exploring the profession. He believes that a good mentor should want the mentee to grow, even when that growth eventually leads the person to leave for a better opportunity.
Quote I Loved
“Find someone who has done what you want to do and is successful, and ask a lot of questions. A good mentor wants you to be successful.”
Actionable Insights
Arrange a few days of shadowing. You do not necessarily need to spend an entire summer in one office. Even a short experience can reveal whether you enjoy the environment, procedures, pace, and patient interaction.
Ask professionals what they dislike about their careers. The negative parts of a job are often just as informative as the positive ones.
Observe several different specialties and work settings. A hospital, private office, insurance-based practice, and fee-for-service practice can offer very different experiences.
Pay attention to whether you enjoy hands-on work. Dentistry requires fine motor skills, comfort working in a very small space, and the patience to perform detailed procedures.
Do not choose a college major only because it sounds impressive for dental school. Study a subject that genuinely interests you while completing the required science prerequisites.
Find mentors before you urgently need advice. Build relationships with professionals who can guide you through applications, training decisions, job searches, and eventually business ownership.
Ask mentors specific questions. Instead of only asking, “What is dentistry like?” ask about daily schedules, difficult patients, debt, compensation, training, staffing, and work-life balance.
Learn basic business skills early. Anyone interested in owning a healthcare practice should understand budgeting, hiring, marketing, contracts, taxes, and customer service.
Notice how professionals communicate with anxious people. The ability to explain complicated information calmly can be as important as technical knowledge.
Think about where you may eventually want to practice. Job opportunities and competition can vary greatly by region, especially between saturated cities and rapidly growing areas.
Evaluate the people around a workplace, not only the doctor. The quality of a practice often depends on the front desk, assistants, hygienists, and overall office culture.
Treat AI as a tool, not a replacement for judgment. New technology can support diagnosis and documentation, but trained professionals still need to evaluate the information.
Keep an open mind when your first plan changes. Discovering that you dislike a procedure, specialty, or environment is useful information because it brings you closer to the right fit.
Final Thoughts
Our conversation with Dr. Sean Adler showed that dentistry can combine science, surgery, communication, psychology, and entrepreneurship. It also showed that choosing a career does not always begin with a dramatic moment of certainty. Sometimes it develops gradually through classes, conversations, shadowing, mentorship, and learning what you do not want to do.
Dr. Adler’s career also demonstrated the difference between practicing a profession and building a business around it. Becoming a skilled dentist is only one part of owning a successful practice. A practice owner must also create a strong team, attract patients, manage finances, solve problems, and build trust with families.
The biggest takeaway was to stay curious and gather real information before committing to a path. Talk to people who are doing the work, visit different environments, ask honest questions, and look for mentors who are willing to share both the rewards and the challenges.
A huge thank you to Dr. Adler for sharing his experiences so openly and giving our members a realistic look at pediatric dentistry, private practice, and healthcare entrepreneurship.