Oklahoma’s first and only pediatric dental residency program and its affiliated clinic recently celebrated one year of serving children statewide.
The University of Oklahoma Pediatric Dental Residency Clinic, located at Children’s Oklahoma Health Center, provides inpatient and outpatient dental care to patients from infants to adolescents.
The clinic offers a full range of pediatric dental services designed to address the oral health needs of all children, including those with medical, intellectual, developmental, cognitive, or physical disabilities. Approximately half of its patients have complex medical conditions.
The residency program, which launched in 2024, has already made an immediate and lasting impact in the state.
“Our program provides high-quality pediatric dental care to some of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable children while also training the next generation of dental professionals for Oklahoma and the entire region,” said Dr. David Ciesla, director of the University of Oklahoma Pediatric Dental Residency Program.
The clinic’s experienced and compassionate dentists and residents deliver comprehensive, evidence-based care in a collaborative learning environment focused on quality and safety.
After completing dental school, pediatric dentistry residents complete two years of advanced education and practical training focused on the unique needs of young patients. The University of Oklahoma’s two-year program had only three residents in its first year, but this year welcomed four more.
“We are honored to train outstanding pediatric specialists to meet the growing demand for pediatric dental services across the state,” said Dr. Autumn Hurd, associate director of the program. “Our mission is to improve the oral health of Oklahoma’s children.”
Since its opening, the program has served over 3,000 patients. Current and upcoming research projects focus on barriers to care for children with special health needs, access to healthcare in underserved communities, and workforce shortages in pediatric dentistry.