Meet Dr. T.P. Sivakumar
Being a pediatric dentist, and working with little kids, has been the most rewarding career: I cannot imagine being in any other profession!
I love coming to work and have enjoyed every single day for the last 25 years. There is nothing I know, or can imagine, that satisfies me more than interacting with my little patients and helping to take care of their dental health.
It is inspiring to make a connection with a child who is fearful of dentistry, creating trust and helping them feel safe and secure. It is fulfilling to care for children who are underserved, providing them with the highest-quality of care and helping establish oral health. And it is rewarding to be surrounded by happy, healthy, growing smiles – and to know my team and I have played a role in developing them!
Education and Experience
I grew up in Madras, India, and attended Madras Dental College, where I completed my dental degree in 1989. I then served as Clinical Assistant in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Leeds Dental School in Leeds, England. This was followed with service as Senior House Officer in Oral Surgery and Restorative Dentistry at the Charles Clifford Dental School in Sheffield, England.
Moving to the United States, I completed a two-year Advanced General Dentistry Residency at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. Remaining at the school, I then completed a two-year Pediatric Dental Residency, while also attending graduate school: I was awarded a Master’s Degree in Dental Science by the Graduate School of the University of Connecticut.
I then accepted appointments as a Fellow in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Connecticut and at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale University. There, I served as faculty in the Department of Surgery/Pediatric Dentistry for two years.
All told, I have worked for:
- 25 years as a pediatric dentist
- 4 years as a general dentist
- 2 years as an oral surgeon
Current Activities
For more than 15 years I have been on the Dean’s Faculty with the University of Maryland, Department of Pediatric Dentistry. I have also worked, for over ten years, with the Maryland State Dental Association and Frederick County Dental Association as an Executive Committee Member, and for eight years as an Executive Committee Member with the Maryland Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.
Additionally, I volunteer my time and serve as an Executive Committee Member with Skygen, which is responsible for the “Healthy Smiles” program for Maryland’s children.
Continuing Education and Professional Affiliations
Oral healthcare, and especially the pediatric dentistry specialty, is constantly changing. In addition to my teaching activities, I regularly participate in continuing education to keep up-to-date on the latest treatment modalities. Learning new techniques ensures that my clinical treatment meets and exceeds the standards.
I am an active member of the:
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
- American Dental Association
- Maryland State Dental Association
Through these organizations, I have access to the most current research, as well as the latest technological and treatment options.
Beyond the Practice
My wife, Dr. Savithri Sivakumar, was a classmate in dental school. She works with the Frederick County Health Department and at our office. Our daughter completed her undergraduate studies at the Johns Hopkins University with a double major in Spanish and Molecular and Cellular Biology; she is now at the University of Pennsylvania Dental School and has a keen interest in Pediatric Dentistry.
My favorite times, if I’m not caring for growing smiles, are spent with family and friends. I enjoy traveling and make it a point to visit India at least once a year. Closer to home, I like chilling in the Bethany Beach area, playing badminton, and watching cricket.