About Our Department
Every child deserves a healthy start.
The Department of Pediatric Dentistry is dedicated to improving the oral health of infants, children, adolescents, and individuals with special health care needs through education, research, patient care, and community engagement. Faculty, students, and residents work together to advance prevention-focused care while preparing future leaders in pediatric dentistry.
The department is recognized for strengths in specialty education, clinical care, oral health research, and outreach programs that improve access to care for children and families throughout Alabama and beyond. Through professional leadership, scholarly activity, and service, faculty contribute to advancing children's oral health and the specialty of pediatric dentistry.
Education and Training
The Department of Pediatric Dentistry contributes to the education of future dentists through classroom, preclinical, and clinical instruction while providing advanced specialty training through its Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program.
Residents gain experience caring for children and individuals with developmental disabilities while developing expertise in behavior guidance, sedation, dental trauma, comprehensive care, and prevention-focused dentistry. The department offers both certificate and certificate/master's degree pathways designed to prepare graduates for careers in community practice, academia, and specialty leadership.
Learn more about the Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program →
Clinical Care
Faculty and residents provide care for infants, children, adolescents, and individuals with special health care needs through a variety of clinical environments that support education, research, and patient care.
Student and resident clinical experiences include community-based pediatric dentistry, interdisciplinary care for individuals with developmental disabilities, and hospital-based care for medically complex patients. These settings provide learners with broad exposure to preventive, restorative, behavioral, trauma, and special needs dentistry while helping improve access to care for vulnerable populations.
Full-time faculty may also have opportunities to participate in faculty practice through UAB Dental Group, integrating patient care with education, research, and service.
Community Engagement
Community outreach is central to the department's mission. Faculty, residents, and students participate in programs that promote oral health, expand access to care, and create positive dental experiences for children and families throughout Alabama.
Through initiatives such as Give Kids a Smile, TeamSmile, community partnerships, educational outreach, and service activities, the department helps connect children and families with preventive care, treatment, and oral health education.
Research and Scholarly Activity
Faculty conduct basic, translational, clinical, and public health research that advances the understanding, prevention, and treatment of oral diseases affecting children and special populations.
Pediatric Dentistry
The Department of Pediatric Dentistry is actively engaged in clinical and translational research. Areas of contribution include:
- Molecular mechanism governing bacterial biofilm formation
- Osteoimmunology, host/microbial interactions in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease and dental caries
- Mucosal vaccines for oral infectious diseases
- Adjuvant development and characterization
- Regenerative dental research
- Microbiology and epidemiology of dental caries in high caries-risk population
- Mucosal immunology and cytokines in dental diseases
- Periodontal disease
News and Recognition
The Department of Pediatric Dentistry celebrates the accomplishments of its people and programs through awards, scholarly achievements, community impact, and departmental milestones.
Janice G. Jackson receives national mentoring award →
Cheon receives NIH grant to advance tooth repair materials →
Give Kids A Smile® at UAB highlights faculty mentorship and student leadership →
Ping Zhang elected president of IADR Microbiology and Immunology Group →
Pediatric Dentistry isn't child's play, but it's still fun for SOD resident Dr. Amber Were →