National Children's Dental Health Month: NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln and the Pediatric Dental Clinic

February is the American Dental Association’s National Children’s Dental Health Month. This month, we’re proud to feature Dr. Selene Wun, D.D.S., M.H.A., Director of the Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln.

Setting the Scene

Establishing good oral hygiene habits at an early age is imperative for future success. Research has shown that children who have poor oral health often miss more school and receive lower grades than children who don’t, and children growing up in low-income households are more than twice as likely to have untreated cavities, compared with children from higher-income households. Untreated cavities also have serious consequences: pain, infections, and problems related to eating, speaking, and learning.

Responding to the Need

In response to the South Bronx’s need for a comprehensive community need for pediatric oral healthcare, a state-of-the-art dental clinic was opened in July 2023 at H+H/Lincoln. The new facilities include vibrant colors and dynamic television screens in each operating room.

Two months after the clinic opened its doors, Dr. Wun launched the Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program with an inaugural cohort of two residents. The residency program is 24 months long and provides dentists with scientific study and clinical experience beyond dental school, including advanced diagnostic and surgical procedures, child psychology, development and clinical management, oral pathology, pharmacology, oral and facial trauma, and advocacy. Residents participate in child advocacy events at the local, state, and national level, and receive mentorship in research from Dr. Wun and the pediatric dentistry faculty. These research projects will be presented at the Annual Session of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry at the end of their residency. This July, the program will expand to include four residents to expand the community’s access to these facilities.

Improving Outcomes

Dr. Wun and the Division of Pediatric Dentistry strive to help children and their families establish life-long oral health habits. “We are committed to improving our South Bronx community’s pediatric oral health outcomes through our holistic, education-centric approach,” Dr. Wun says.

Together, with a dedicated and caring staff, the pediatric dental faculty and residents provide education, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment necessary to maintain the oral health of infants, children, adolescents, and individuals with special healthcare needs through quality preventive and restorative care.

Learn tips for preventing childhood cavities on the CDC’s website.