For more than 25 years, doctors Paul R. Creighton, DDS, and Joseph E. Bernat, DDS, have worked tirelessly to provide dental care to children in the eight counties of western New York.

The two are alumni of the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, where Dr. Bernat served as faculty chair and pediatric dentistry program director while Dr. Creighton was a dental student and pediatric dental resident.

They both share a belief in the importance of academia and, after Dr. Creighton graduated from the residency program, that bond inspired the doctors to become partners and form University Pediatric Dentistry (UPD). The extramural faculty practice corporation facilitated their academic mission at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine.

Today, the doctors' model of dentistry attracts talented dentists to the teaching profession, as well as provides an outlet for dentists, students and post-graduate residents to practice pediatric dentistry.

Founded in 1989, University Pediatric Dentistry has grown to become one of the largest dental Medicaid providers in the state of New York. Ten pediatric dentists and 11 current pediatric residents treat thousands of Buffalo-area children at seven locations. "In schools, our mission is to provide a dental home for children who don't have one," Dr. Creighton said.

What makes the UPD model different from other programs in the United States is the dual mission of serving both pediatric dentistry and academia. "The whole purpose of UPD's existence is to support the academic programs at the University and provide clinical sites for training in pediatric dental care," Dr. Bernat said.