Erica Caffrey, DDS and Sydnee Chavis, DMD, MS: Oral Health and Dentistry for Cerebral Palsy

In this episode, guests Dr. Erica Caffrey and Dr. Sydnee Chavis provide their unique expertise and experience in dentistry and oral heathcare for individuals with Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities across the life span. Both are professors of dentistry who have a passion for advocacy, education and access to high quality dental care for those with disabilities. This podcast covers the topics of general oral health, tooth brushing, fluoride, x-rays, pain, dental trauma, braces and accessibility to care and care providers. 

Dr. Erica Caffrey joined the pediatric dentistry faculty in the beginning of 2022. Prior to this position, Dr. Caffrey was an attending at Children's National Hospital and a private practitioner in Washington, DC.  She received her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and her certificate in pediatric dentistry from Children's National. Her areas of clinical and research interest include pediatric oral medicine and oral pathology, social determinants of oral health and dental care for medically complex children. Dr. Caffrey is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and currently serves on the board's examination committee.  She is a consultant for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's Council for Clinical Affairs, and has been the lead author on multiple AAPD Policy Statements.  She is a former recipient of the Samuel D. Harris Health Policy & Research Fellowship and the ABPD Pugh Achievement Award.  Dr. Caffrey is excited to be a part of the thriving UMB campus and to foster interdisciplinary care to promote optimal oral health for children in the Baltimore community.  

Dr. Sydnee Chavis graduated from Harvard School of Dental Medicine and completed her general practice residency training at the University of Michigan Health System.  She was faculty at University of Michigan before joining the University of Maryland Dental School Faculty in the division of Special Care. Her clinical interests include providing accessible dental care for patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as medically necessary dental treatment for patients with medical complexities such as organ transplantation and cancer. She is engaged with teaching dental students, residents, and practicing dentists how to provide comprehensive dental care for complex patients, as well as methods of empowering and enabling dentists to provide dental treatments for patients with special needs and medical complexities. She received her Masters in Epidemiology and Clinical Research and is actively engaged in clinical and translational research to improve methods of dental care, access to care, and oral health outcomes for patients with disabilities and medical complexities. Outside of her career as a dentist, she is married with two young sons and a very entitled rescued racing greyhound, and does stand up comedy. (Her comedy comes in handy in her practice where she has a very attentive one person audience!)