Amber Were, D.D.S., has discovered that there is more to being a pediatric dentist than merely learning the dental skills. She says when it comes to treating children, there also is a bit of psychology involved, some of which she is learning as a resident in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry’s pediatric postdoctoral program.
“It’s about much more than just working on a tooth. You also need to know how to manage different types of behavior from children,” Were says. “You need to have an understanding of their nutrition, their access to care, and the different social and family dynamics taking place. Because their treatment plan is going to take into account all those things.
“I like to talk to kids about their day and their life. Find out what they like. Then slowly introduce dentistry into that. I show them the instruments and let them hold some of them and pretend to be the dentist. In order for them to stay calm and cooperative, you need to learn the psychology of children.”
As a high school student growing up in Peoria, IL, Were says she briefly considered a career in emergency medicine. However, after volunteering at a local emergency department, she realized that such a high-intensity career “just wasn’t for me at all.”
“I was kind of sad, because if I wasn’t going to medical school, I didn’t know what the goal would be,” Were says.
Knowing that Were enjoyed working with children – her first job was as a birthday-party host for a gym, and she later spent time as a summer camp counselor – a family friend connected her with a pediatric dentist who offered Were a summer job. By the end of her first day, Were had found her career calling.
“It was the perfect fit for me, the perfect lifestyle. I got to practice dentistry and still be playful,” Were says. “Everyone who worked there was happy. And I really liked how they got to see their patients grow from being babies to being teenagers going off to college.”
Were received an undergrad degree in biochemistry from Augustana College in Illinois, then graduated from Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville in 2021. She spent time working at a pediatric dental office in Atlanta before applying for the UAB SOD pediatric residency program last year.
“As soon as I came here for the residency interview, I knew I wanted to be in this program,” Were says. “I could just feel that this was the right place for me.”
Were says she has been particularly pleased at the wide variety of patients she gets to treat by working at three different clinics: the Finn Pediatric Dental Clinic at the School of Dentistry, Children’s of Alabama Hospital, and the UAB Sparks Dental Clinic for special health care needs patients.
“This program is the perfect mixture of a hospital program and a traditional university-based residency program,” Were says. “You get a good spectrum of different types of patients through this residency.”
“Pediatric dentistry is a unique blend of clinical skill, empathy, and creativity and Dr. Amber Were embodies all of those qualities. From the moment she joined our program, she brought a natural ability to connect with children and a thoughtful approach to care that reflects the heart of our specialty. Our residency is designed to prepare dentists for the full spectrum of pediatric needs, and Amber has embraced every opportunity to grow as both a clinician and a compassionate advocate for her patients.”
— Dr. Janice Jackson, Chair, UAB Pediatric Dentistry
Once she completes the residency next year, Were says she plans to return to Atlanta and eventually open her own pediatric dental practice. However, she hopes to maintain a connection with UAB.
“I want to keep my toe in the UAB world,” Were says. “I’ve really enjoyed my time here and would love to be able to help give back to the program by teaching or helping cover clinics once every few weeks.”