S. Thikkurissy, DDS, MS

A photo of S. Thikkurissy.

Director, Residency Program, Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics

Epidermolysis Bullosa Team Dentist

Hematology Oncology Team Dentist

Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

513-636-4644

Board Certified

"I believe that every patient deserves the dignity and value a smile can bring. A smile makes a child and their family light up, and teeth should never be the cause of poor health."

About Me

Biography

As chief of Dentistry at Cincinnati Children’s, I specialize in the dental care of patients with special healthcare needs. My focus is on young patients with cancer, bone marrow transplant patients, and those with epidermolysis bullosa, Sturge Weber syndrome and vascular malformations. I’m also concerned with achieving safety in procedural sedation.

I enjoy the humanity of medicine, which for me, is making connections with my patients and their families and helping them set and achieve their overall health goals. I am always mindful of the responsibility of being a voice for the most vulnerable in our society.

In my practice, I believe that every patient deserves the dignity and value a smile can bring. A smile makes a child and their family light up, and teeth should never be the cause of poor health. I am also pragmatic and a realist. I individualize my treatments to the needs of my patients and their families while considering what they can maintain.

In 2017, I received the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s Dentist of the Year and the 2019 Aubrey Rose Foundation Doctor of the Year.

In addition to helping patients, I am also engaged in research. We are seeking ways to minimize morbidity from dental disease in populations with special health issues and improve medical outcomes through dental health.

In my spare time, I enjoy being with my family. I have a talented son who has grown up with multiple, severe food allergies and is a student at the University of Cincinnati — Go Bearcats! I also have a 4-year-old greyhound named Oliver, who is my spirit animal — he loves to nap and go outdoors!

Clinical Interests

Sedation for dental procedures; dental care for children with special healthcare needs; dental traumatology

Academic Affiliation

Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Clinical Divisions

Dentistry and Orthodontics, Epidermolysis Bullosa EB, Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia, Sturge-Weber Syndrome

My Education

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.

My Publications

Improving Oral Health and Modulating the Oral Microbiome to Reduce Bloodstream Infections from Oral Organisms in Pediatric and Young Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Recipients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Badia, P; Andersen, H; Haslam, D; Nelson, AS; Pate, AR; Golkari, S; Teusink-Cross, A; Flesch, L; Bedel, A; Hickey, V; et al. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 2020; 26:1704-1710.

Prevalence of Primary Teeth Injuries Presenting to a Pediatric Emergency Department. Cully, JL; Zeeb, K; Sahay, RD; Gosnell, E; Morris, H; Thikkurissy, S. Pediatric Dentistry. 2019; 41:136-139.

Characterizing oral microbial communities across dentition states and colonization niches. Mason, MR; Chambers, S; Dabdoub, SM; Thikkurissy, S; Kumar, PS. Microbiome. 2018; 6.

Impact of an Alternative Hours Dental Clinic for Adolescents. Cully, JL; Doyle, M; Thikkurissy, S. Pediatric Dentistry. 2018; 40:288-290.

A Study of the Relationship of Parenting Styles, Child Temperament, and Operatory Behavior in Healthy Children. Tsoi, AK; Wilson, S; Thikkurissy, S. The Journal of clinical pediatric dentistry. 2018; 42:273-278.

Characterizing oral microbial communities across dentition states and colonization niches. Mason, MR; Chambers, S; Dabdoub, SM; Thikkurissy, S; Kumar, PS. Microbiome. 2018; 6.

An Algorithm-Based Approach for Behavior and Disease Management in Children. Meyer, BD; Lee, JY; Thikkurissy, S; Casamassimo, PS; Jr, VW F. Pediatric Dentistry. 2018; 40:89-92.

Oral health and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A longitudinal evaluation of the first 28 days. Doss, LM; Dandoy, CE; Kramer, K; Pate, A; Flesch, L; El-Bietar, J; Lane, A; Davies, SM; Thikkurissy, S. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2018; 65:e26773-e26773.

Temperament as a predictor of nitrous oxide inhalation sedation success. Nelson, TM; Griffith, TM; Lane, KJ; Thikkurissy, S; Scott, JA M. Anesthesia progress. 2017; 64:17-21.

Standing at the Confluence. Thikkurissy, S. Pediatric Dentistry. 2016; 38:98-99.