Akron Children’s launches pediatric dentistry residency program to help improve access for children in need of dental care

06-17-2026 (Akron, Ohio)

Akron Children’s will launch a new pediatric dentistry residency program on July 1 to address the critical need for a stronger dental workforce and, over time, improve access to dental care for children.

“There is a significant need for pediatric dentists who are trained to care for infants, children, adolescents, and children with special health care needs,” said Dr. Abidin Hakan Tuncer, Myers Endowed Chair for Pediatric Dentistry at Akron Children’s. “This program is important because it connects three major priorities: children’s oral health, access to care and workforce development. We are training dentists in the kind of hospital-based, team-based care that many children need but cannot easily access.”

Dr. Tuncer emphasized that children’s oral health is directly linked to their overall well-being. Persistent tooth infections can spread to other parts of the body. A toothache can disrupt eating, speaking, playing, sleeping and learning. Poor oral health can also lead to social and psychological issues if, for example, children are teased or begin to feel self-conscious about their smiles.

The program will accept three dental school graduates each year. Dental residents will complete two years of training in routine pediatric dental care, as well as in the care of children with medical complexities, developmental disabilities, behavioral needs, dental trauma, dental emergencies, or those requiring sedation, including general anesthesia in the hospital’s operating rooms.

The program has received initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation and will be led by Dr. Devin Byard, pediatric dentistry residency program director.

“In addition to spending much of their time in the hospital’s dental clinic, the residents will have rotations through other departments, such as the inpatient units, the Emergency Department, Sedation Services and the Craniofacial Center,” said Dr. Byard.

Dental residents will also receive specialized training in such areas as infant oral health, behavior guidance, preventative and restorative dentistry, emergency dental care, dental trauma management, collaboration with pediatric medical teams, and community service and oral health advocacy.

“The program will elevate the Celeste Myers Dental Clinic by strengthening it as a hospital-based academic pediatric dental clinic,” Dr. Byard said. “Residents will bring additional clinical energy, structured learning, case review, research, evidence-based practices and quality improvement to the clinic.”

Access to pediatric dental care remains a major issue nationally and in Ohio.

According to America's Health Rankings for 2023-24, Ohio, at 74.2%, was ranked 49th among states for the percentage of children ages 1 to 17 who had one or more preventive dental care visits during the past 12 months.

The Ohio Department of Health’s 2023-2024 third-grade oral health screening survey found that:

·        51% of screened children had a history of tooth decay.

·        19% had untreated tooth decay.

·        20% had not seen a dentist in the past year, and

·        19% needed early or urgent dental care.

Akron Children’s pediatric dentistry residency program will be the fifth in Ohio. Dr. Tuncer said the hope is that some of the graduates will continue their careers in Northeast Ohio.

“Workforce development is local,” he said. “When residents train in Northeast Ohio, they become familiar with the region’s children, families, communities and care systems.”