David Ciesla, D.D.S., M.S., M.A.S.
Board-Certified, Pediatric Dentistry
Director, Pediatric Dentistry Residency
Clinical Assistant Professor
405/271-6056 Ext. 34159
David-Ciesla@ouhsc.edu
Dr. David Ciesla serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor within the Department of Developmental Sciences at the University of Oklahoma's College of Dentistry. His faculty position currently holds two responsibilities, serving in the undergraduate pediatric department and as Program Director for the General Practice Residency at Oklahoma Children's Hospital. He has been actively working on the development and accreditation of a pediatric dental residency program with the targeted start date of July 2024.
In 2003, Dr. Ciesla graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry and subsequently joined the Army. During his military service, he completed an Advanced Education in General
Dentistry residency in Landstuhl, Germany. After a year-long tour in Baghdad, Iraq, he pursued pediatric dental training at Baylor College of Dentistry, earning a Master of Science degree in 2008.
Once his military service concluded, Dr. Ciesla transitioned into private practice, becoming a co-owner of River Valley Pediatric Dentistry in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Throughout this time, he held several notable positions, such as public policy advocate for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, board examiner and consultant for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, and a committee member for Arkansas's Medicaid Board.
Dr. Ciesla is also committed to research, primarily focused on enhancing access to oral healthcare and developing workforce capacity. His current research is geared towards understanding and improving the accessibility of oral healthcare for underserved populations in Oklahoma, with a particular interest in the effect of social determinants on access to the healthcare system.
His commitment to addressing these issues is further evidenced by his recent Master's degree in Global Health Planning and Management from Johns Hopkins University. His studies were primarily concentrated on access to healthcare services and strategies to boost workforce capability. Presently, Dr. Ciesla is actively leading several local and global initiatives to mitigate disparities in oral healthcare.