College of Dentistry News

The White Coat Ceremony holds a special place in the hearts of aspiring clinicians. It marks the next phase of their medical education as they begin their first-year orientation. For many, it marks a moment when the dream of becoming a healthcare professional becomes real.

This summer, the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry launched the state’s first pediatric dental residency, a two-year program that trains new dentists in the care of children, with a special emphasis on those with medical complexities and developmental conditions. In doing so, the college aims to grow the workforce of pediatric dentists in Oklahoma and increase access to comprehensive oral health care.

David Ciesla, D.D.S., M.S., MAS, clinical assistant professor and director of the pediatric dentistry residency program at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry, was recently awarded the Ann Page Griffin Humanitarian Award by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

The University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry provided free cleanings, fillings and crowns to over 100 children during the annual Kids’ Day. The event was sponsored in part by the Delta Dental of Oklahoma Foundation.

A research article by Fabio G. Ritto, DDS, M.D., MS, Ph.D., an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry at OU Health Sciences, has been named Best Paper in the surgery section of the journal Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, and Oral Radiology.