I’m a pediatric dentist focused on the comprehensive oral care of infants, children, adolescents and patients with special health needs. Aside from my service in the Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, I am also a faculty member in the Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency. I work with our hematologists and oncologists to provide the best oral health to patients with cancer, Fanconi anemia, telomere disorders, epidermolysis bullosa and those undergoing bone marrow transplantation.
My grandmother was the first woman magistrate in India, and she told me that we as a society are defined by how we treat our most vulnerable. I have dedicated my career to caring for underserved populations and patients with difficulty accessing oral care. I believe oral health is a universal right, not a privilege. My true north is my son, and I see every patient I care for through his eyes.
I spend much of my research time focused on two primary subjects. I aim to determine how oral health impacts families with malignancy/cancer and special needs and to identify what practices can ensure the safest procedural sedation for dental procedures.
I’m a nationally recognized expert in the procedural sedation of pediatric patients and Chair the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) 'Safe and Effective Sedation in the Pediatric Patient' national course. I was honored to be named the AAPD Pediatric Dentist of the Year (2017) and was the Aubrey Rose Doctor of the Year (2019) for my work with patients with special needs. I have presented lectures internationally in China, Serbia and Egypt and also in 26 states nationwide.
In my free time, I love spending time with my wife and son. We are a Disney family and enjoy our three pups, Wadsworth, Oliver and Theodore. I also love reading literature and collecting Marvel/Star Wars memorabilia.
DDS: New York University College of Dentistry.
AEGD-1: Wright Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH.
Residency: Pediatric Dent, Nationwide Children's Hospital.
MS: The Ohio State University.
Certification: Pediatric Dentistry, 2006.
MA: English Literature, Southern New Hampshire University, 2023.
Sedation for dental procedures; dental care for children with special healthcare needs; oral/dental care of patients with cancer or hematologic disease
Dentistry and Orthodontics, Epidermolysis Bullosa EB, Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia, Sturge-Weber Syndrome
Management and impact of oral health in patients with special needs; variables that impact safety and success in pediatric procedural sedation
Cincinnati Children's strives to accept a wide variety of health plans. Please contact your health insurance carrier to verify coverage for your specific benefit plan.
The Attack on Behavior Guidance: Canary in the Coalmine?. Pediatric Dentistry. 2024; 46:238-240.
The Path to Safety in Dental Anesthesia. Current Anesthesiology Reports. 2024; 14:318-329.
Case report of an extra-oral cutaneous sinus tract of endodontic origin in a patient with autism spectrum disorder. Special Care in Dentistry: managing special patients, settings, and situations. 2024; 44:768-772.
Creating an Environment for the Practice of Safety. Pediatric Dentistry. 2023; 45:7.
Brief Communication A Retrospective Evaluation of a Program's Use of Indirect Pulp Therapy for Primary Molars. Pediatric Dentistry. 2023; 45:16-19.
Assessment of the Head and Neck. History and Physical for the Pediatric Dental Patient. : Springer Nature; Springer Nature; 2023.
Assessment of the Vital Signs. History and Physical for the Pediatric Dental Patient. : Springer Nature; Springer Nature; 2023.
Assessment of the Teenager. History and Physical for the Pediatric Dental Patient. : Springer Nature; Springer Nature; 2023.
Conducting a History and Physical: “Succinct yet Exhaustive”. History and Physical for the Pediatric Dental Patient. : Springer Nature; Springer Nature; 2023.
COVID-19 and Procedural Sedation. History and Physical for the Pediatric Dental Patient. : Springer Nature; Springer Nature; 2023.
Patient Ratings and Comments
All patient satisfaction ratings and comments are submitted by actual patients and verified by a leading independent patient satisfaction company, NRC Health. Patient identities are withheld to ensure confidentiality and privacy. Only those providers whose satisfaction surveys are administered through Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center are displayed. Click here to learn more about our survey