UCLA Pediatric Dentistry Program: Shaping Leaders in Children's Oral Health

The UCLA Pediatric Dentistry Program stands as a leading institution dedicated to advancing the oral health of children through comprehensive education, research, and community outreach. This article delves into the various facets of the program, highlighting its mission, curriculum, faculty, and contributions to the field of pediatric dentistry.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Children's Oral Health

At the heart of UCLA's commitment to children's oral health lies the UCLA Center for Children's Oral Health (UCCOH). Established in 2015 and led by Dr. Francisco Ramos-Gomez, UCCOH serves as a multidisciplinary initiative that translates evidence-based research into clinical care, policy development, and advocacy. The center's overarching goal is to improve children's oral health in Los Angeles, California, the United States, and across the globe.

UCCOH strengthens and coordinates activities related to children's oral health by fostering interprofessional education within the UCLA Schools of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health. This collaborative approach ensures that future healthcare professionals receive comprehensive training in addressing the unique oral health needs of children.

Addressing Oral Health Disparities

A key focus of the UCLA Pediatric Dentistry Program is to reduce oral health disparities, particularly among underserved populations. The program achieves this by:

Advancing minimally invasive pediatric treatment services.
Expanding knowledge of risk assessment and disease management.
Promoting oral health research.

Through these efforts, the program aims to ensure that all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background, have access to high-quality oral healthcare.

Innovative Postdoctoral Training

The UCLA School of Dentistry's Section of Pediatric Dentistry, also under the leadership of Dr. Francisco Ramos-Gomez, has received a five-year Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant. This grant enables the program to expand its innovative postdoctoral training in pediatric and public health dentistry. This marks the fourth consecutive federal award, solidifying UCLA’s position as a national leader in dental public health education and workforce development.

This HRSA-funded program prepares dentists to address the complex and comprehensive needs of pediatric patients within rapidly changing demographics and a paradigm shift in dentistry.

Curriculum and Training

The UCLA Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program is a 25-month postgraduate certificate program designed to cultivate academically strong pediatric dentists. Graduates are equipped to pursue careers in private practice, community health centers, teaching, or a combination thereof. The program emphasizes knowledge of disparities in dental care delivery, issues surrounding access to dental care, and advocacy for solutions.

The program's didactic curriculum combines rounds, seminars, and conferences to ensure residents acquire a thorough understanding of biomedical and clinical sciences. Topics covered include:

Preventive dentistry
Growth and development
Restorative dentistry
Pulp therapy
Traumatic dental injuries
Oral pathology
Behavior guidance
Sedation and general anesthesia
Pediatric medicine
Practice management
Research methodology
Biostatistics
Clinical epidemiology
Histology
Embryology
Genetics

This comprehensive curriculum ensures that residents are well-prepared to provide comprehensive oral healthcare to infants, children, and adolescents.

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Clinical Experience

Residents receive clinical training in all aspects of pediatric dentistry, including:

Hospital care
Management of child behavior
Craniofacial growth
Provision of care utilizing various sedation and anesthesia modalities

Clinical experiences are primarily offered at the UCLA School of Dentistry Pediatric Dentistry Clinics, located at the Westwood Campus and the Venice Dental Center. The program also provides strong didactic and clinical orthodontic components to enhance residents' skills in this area.

Pediatric dentistry residents rotate through various clinical areas within the UCLA Health System, including the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, and the UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital. These rotations provide expertise in pediatric medicine, general anesthesia, and the management of children with special needs, such as those with chronic diseases and developmental disabilities.

Community Outreach: CARE-PD

Through the Community Access, Reach and Education in Pediatric Dentistry (CARE-PD) program, residents receive traditional didactic and clinical training in pediatric dentistry. They also complete academic courses that introduce them to the multiple factors that contribute to oral disease.

Residents apply their knowledge through community-based clinical training and practicum activities, such as working with community groups to support children's oral health issues. They also advocate for public health policy legislation at the local, state, and national levels, particularly for underserved populations.

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CARE-PD supports continual updates to the innovative curriculum and enhances integration of pediatric dentistry concepts in pediatric medical and nursing education. Multiple levels of competencies are developed through a systems-based training program where residents practice advocating at the individual, family, community, and policy levels to promote oral health. Instruction is provided through the academic facilities and faculty at the UCLA School of Dentistry and the UCLA Health System.

Research Component

A research project involving data collection and analysis, culminating in a final comprehensive report of publishable quality, is required to complete the program.

Faculty

The UCLA Pediatric Dentistry Program boasts a distinguished faculty of experts in the field. Full-time faculty members include:

Ghassem Ansari, D.D.S., M.Sc., Ph.D., A.P.P.D.: Joining the faculty in 2024, Dr. Ansari is known for his expertise in administration, leadership, and professionalism, holding leadership positions in local, state, and national oral health organizations.
Francisco Ramos-Gomez, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H.: Dr. Ramos is the chair of the Section of Pediatric Dentistry and the principal investigator of the CHAT-PD grant. He joined the school as a faculty member in 2008.
Nini Tran, D.D.S., Ph.D.: Dr. Tran is an Assistant Professor in the Section of Pediatric Dentistry at the UCLA School of Dentistry and a Diplomat of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

The program also benefits from the expertise of part-time faculty members, including:

Dr. David Chin, Continuing Lecturer
Dr. Setareh Ghafouri, Continuing Lecturer
Dr. Arina Hartunian, Assistant Clinical Professor
Dr. Michelle M. Kelman, Lecturer

Selection Process and Application

Applicants to the UCLA Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program are evaluated based on a variety of factors, including:

Recommendation letters from current or former teachers and/or attending staff, including four (4) Personal Potential Index (PPI) Evaluations (included in the PASS Application). One PPI must be from the Director of Predoctoral Pediatric Dentistry Education at the applicant's dental school or a member of the Pediatric Dentistry faculty who is most familiar with the applicant's clinical performance in Pediatric Dentistry. An additional (5th) PPI evaluation from an individual other than dental school faculty is highly desirable.
Two ADEA PASS Professional Evaluation Forms from individuals familiar with the applicant's clinical and/or academic competencies, submitted through PASS.

Phone interviews may be conducted. Applicants are notified of acceptance through the Match service. A letter of acceptance signed by the Program Director and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs is issued upon acceptance.

The application deadline is September 15th of the year preceding matriculation. The program begins approximately July 1 of each year.

Accreditation and Mission

The program in Pediatric Dentistry is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association and has been granted the accreditation status of "Approval without Reporting Requirements.”

The mission of the faculty and staff of the Section of Pediatric Dentistry is to improve the health of the people of California by educating residents, students, and practitioners about the physical and mental growth of children and the art and science of pediatric dentistry. This mission is accomplished by:

Researching the causes, prevention, and treatment of dental diseases and craniofacial abnormalities in infants, children, and adolescents.
Providing service to patients and the community at large.

Additional Programs and Initiatives

Pediatric Dentistry Advanced Clinical Training Program

This program is designed for foreign-trained dentists who wish to return to an academic setting for short periods to supplement their knowledge and experiences. Trainees can audit all courses offered by the Section of Pediatric Dentistry, including topics such as histology and embryology, growth and development, interceptive orthodontics, oral pathology, behavior management, preventive dentistry, pediatric diagnosis and treatment, sedation and anesthesia, pediatric medicine, practice management, and research methodology.

Each trainee designs a curriculum based on their desired objectives, with approval from the program director. Trainees spend approximately 30% of their time observing patient care in the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic, 40% in seminars and classes, and 30% on library use, faculty and resident discussions, lectures, and research.

Newly Erupted Podcast

The program also engages in outreach through platforms like the "Newly Erupted Podcast," which features discussions on topics such as minimally invasive pediatric dentistry and advocacy.

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