Pediatric Dentistry Certificate

Program Description 

The Department of Pediatric Dentistry offers a two-year Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry resulting in a Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry. Residents are trained in the advanced diagnostic clinical techniques necessary to provide specialty care to children, adolescents, and patients with special health care needs. Residents are eligible to participate in the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry certification examinations, upon successful completion of the program. 

An option to obtain a Masters in Dental Science (MDS) is available and will require additional coursework resulting in additional time beyond the two-year period. 

All facilities within the School of Dental Medicine are available for resident use, and there is a vast Health Science Center Library system housed in the medical school directly across the street from the School of Dental Medicine. 

Curriculum 

The multifaceted advanced pediatric dentistry curricula integrate scientific principles and methods with the clinical application of pediatric dentistry. Ample time is provided for either basic science or clinical research. Emphasis is also given to community and dental public health experiences. In addition to the core curriculum for all specialty residents, the following pediatric dentistry specific conferences are offered: 

• Behavior Guidance 

• American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Board Review 

• Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Anomalies 

• Clinical Pediatric Dentistry 

• Community Dentistry Off-site Experiences 

• Diagnosis and Case Presentation 

• Growth and Development 

• Interceptive Orthodontics 

• Outpatient General Anesthesia 

• Pharmacological Patient Management 

• Pulp Therapy 

• Special Needs Patients 

• Traumatology 

Rotations 

Rotations are scheduled at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) - Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, and the Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Center. 

The following rotations are completed at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC or at one of its satellite offices: 

• Pediatric Medicine 

• Anesthesiology 

• Hospital Based Operating Room 

Advanced Education Pediatric Dentistry residents also rotate through the pre-doctoral pediatric dentistry clinic and the preclinical simulation clinic to provide instruction and clinical supervision to pre-doctoral dental students. 

Application Process 

The Advanced Education Program in Pediatric Dentistry applications must be filed through the Postdoctoral Application Support Service (PASS) and the Postdoctoral Dental Matching Program (MATCH). 

For additional information about how to apply to the advanced dental education residency program in pediatric dentistry, please visit our Advanced Dental Education Residency Programs general information page. 

 Supplemental Application Fee 

A non-refundable $50 supplemental application fee is required at time of application. 

Application Deadline 

Applications are due by September 15 of the preceding year before matriculation. 

Benefits, Stipend, Tuition & Fees 

Students are responsible for the charged tuition, which varies if you are in-state or out-of-state, and includes a student activity fee, books and professional fees. 

A yearly stipend is provided to pediatric dental residents. 

Pediatric Dentistry Research 

A research project is a graduation requirement for the Advanced Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program. 

The following are projects completed, or in progress, within the last five years 

• Association Between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Caregiver-Reported Dental Caries in Children 

• Child Dental Neglect Laws: State Specifications and Repercussions for Dentists 

• The Relationship Between Training with a Dental Anesthesiologist and Preference in the Modality of Anesthesia Delivery Among Board-Certified Pediatric Dentists in the United States 

• Factors Associated with the Agent of Choice for Moderate Sedation 

• Parental Acceptance of the Human Papilloma Virus Vaccine 

• Outcomes of Single-Surface Restorations Placed in Young Children Receiving Outpatient General Anesthesia 

• Race and Payer Types for Child Visits with Public Health Dental Hygienist Practitioners 

• Various Recall Intervals Following Outpatient General Anesthesia Services for Patients with Special Needs and DMFT Scores 

• Changes in vital signs in children using oral sedation with triazolam 

• Breastfeeding practices and its association with early childhood caries among US children: National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), 2018 - 2019 

• School meal program participation and its association with dental caries in US children and adolescents: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 2015 - 2016 

• Parental acceptance of pediatric COVID-19 vaccinations 

• Parental language barrier and risk of development of early childhood caries  

For additional information about the residency program in pediatric dentistry, including how to apply, please visit dental.pitt.edu/pediatric-dentistry-residency

The advanced specialty education program in pediatric dentistry is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at 312-440-4653, or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60611. The Commission’s web address is http://www.ada.org/100.aspx.