"Pediatric Dentistry is an age-defined specialty that provides both primary and comprehensive preventive and therapeutic oral health care for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health care needs" (ADA).
How long is a pediatrics residency?
Residency programs take anywhere between 2-3 years to complete. This varies based on commitments within the program such as responsibilities in the hospitals (pediatric cardiology, etc.)
What makes a competitive applicant?
Nationally there are 2 qualified candidates for every residency position. Faculty recommend that you be at the top of your class to show that you can handle the rigorous training. However, grades aren’t everything. Programs are looking for people with a broad experience with children in and out of dentistry, for example if you worked as a teacher or in other aspects of childcare. They want to see that you have an altruistic, kind, and patient personality, and they expect you to be able to communicate with children and their families. Some programs only accept students who have done a GPR or fellowship.
Why should you do Pediatrics?
Enjoy working with children
The intellectual challenge of working in a constantly evolving situation
The ability to make a lifelong oral health impact on a child that they can then pass on to their children
Opportunity to educate both the patient and the family
Why should you not do Pediatrics?
Children are not very tolerant of dentistry and require your patience to help guide them through the process
Parents can be challenging to work with as it is often stressful for them
Must be able to work quickly
Statistics of Accepted Applicants
Class Rank
Class of 2023: #6-12, avg 9
Class of 2022: #11-72, avg 42
Average GPA
Class of 2023: 3.86
Class of 2022: 3.44
Accepted Applicants
Class of 2023: 2/2 matched (100%)
Alumni Applied in 2023: 2/3 matched (67%)
Class of 2022: 2/5 matched (40%)
Alumni Applied in 2022: 2/5 matched (40%)
Class of 2021: 3/5 matched (60%)
Alumni Applied in 2021: 0/0 matched (0%)
Class of 2020: 5/6 matched (83%)
Alumni Applied in 2020: 3/6 matched (50%)
Class of 2019: 2/3 matched (67%)
Alumni Applied in 2019: 3/5 matched (60%)
Class of 2018: 5/6 matched (83%)
Alumni Applied in 2018: 9/16 matched (56%)
Resources at the University of the Pacific:
Pediatric Dentistry Department Chair:
Pending
Pediatric Study Club:
pediatricstudyclub@gmail.com
UoP Alumni:
Andrea Nguyen, DDS '21 | andrea.nguyen130@u.pacific.edu | NYU Langone - Brooklyn Site
Leticia Edwards, DDS '20 | l_edwards3@u.pacific.edu | University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Christopher Niu, DDS '19 | c_niu@u.pacific.edu | Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Grace Kim, DDS '19 | gekim1917@gmail.com | NYU Langone Hospital - Hawaii Site, Waianae, HI
Adrienne Nguyen, DDS '15 | adriennenguyen@gmail.com | Tufts University, Boston, MA
Kyle Hing, DDS '17 | kyle.hing@gmail.com | Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit, MI
Rachel Thai, DDS '20 | racheltanyathai@gmail.com | NYU Langone Oahu, HI
Olivia Feng, DDS '23 | oliviacfeng@gmail.com | UCSF, San Francisco, CA
Melissa Yee, DDS '23 | melissamimiyee@gmail.com | Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
Elisa Wang, DDS '24 |e_wang15@u.pacific.edu| UCSF, San Francisco, CA
Sarah Takahashi, DDS '24 | s_takahashi1@u.pacific.edu | NYU Langone Dental Medicine - Hawaii Site