The college's Pediatric Dentistry program offers dentists the opportunity to build on their foundational knowledge and experience in treating the dental needs of child patients, including children with special healthcare needs. The program covers a full array of diagnostic and treatment experiences in different scenarios, including clinic, operating room, oral and intravenous sedation, and cases in the emergency department. The program's primary objective is the development of skills in clinical pediatric dentistry, with a strong component in interception and early orthodontics and presurgical orthopedics.
The Pediatric Dentistry program's facilities are located inside the Kentucky Clinic and the Dental Science Building. Extramural clinical activity in the College of Dentistry’s mobile vans is a component of the clinical experience in addition to rotations at other locations.
Clinical experience accounts for roughly 65 percent of a resident's schedule. Residents complete a 24-month program for a specialty certificate.
The development of skills in clinical pediatric dentistry is a primary program objective. However, because of the need for pediatric dentists in teaching, research, and public health positions, a strong secondary objective is to stimulate an interest in these areas. Upon program completion, the resident receives a certificate in pediatric dentistry and meets the eligibility requirements of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.
The Program has strong clinical and didactic components with a focus on:
The didactic curriculum consists of a series of interrelated seminars and courses regarding general pediatric oral health care, care of the handicapped and chronically ill child, and diagnosis and treatment of occlusion problems in the primary, mixed and young permanent dentitions. The 24-month program includes a core curriculum, specialty coursework, and a wide range of clinical experiences.
The program benefits from being administratively located in a College of Dentistry, but with residents being full-time in the University of Kentucky Hospital.
Services provided to patients:
Percent of Resident's Time Spent:
Our pediatric dentistry facilities include modern clinical, seminar, and research facilities on the second floor of the Kentucky Clinic and on the fourth floor of the College of Dentistry wing of the UK Medical Center. Extramural clinical activity in the College of Dentistry’s mobile vans are components of the clinical experience in additional to rotations.
A stipend is available to Pediatric Dentistry residents. It is established by the University Hospital and is the same for medical residents.
Explore admissions requirements, application procedures, and program details for the Pediatric Dentistry Residency. Review deadlines, eligibility criteria, and instructions for submitting your application through PASS and the National Matching Service, as well as required institutional disclosures.
LEARN MORE
Assistant Professor, Division Chief of Pediatric Dentistry, Program Director of Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program
cristina.perez@uky.edu
Assistant Professor
morgan.larkin@uky.edu
debora.scheffel@uky.edu
jba404@uky.edu
Megan.Haggerty@uky.edu
wkhump0@uky.edu
juliette.keller@uky.edu
Assistant Professor, Part-Time
lisa.kochis@uky.edu
Pediatric Dentistry Resident
Blaire.Land@uky.edu
sarika.polcum@uky.edu
justin.kindler@uky.edu
d.roese@uky.edu
Caitlin.Beach@uky.edu
madeline.white@uky.edu
Jared.Nilson@uky.edu
hmse223@uky.edu
The Pediatric Dentistry Residency is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). CODA is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.