Vineet K. Dhar BDS, MDS, PhD

Dr. Dhar is a clinical professor and chair of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry. He also serves as the graduate program director in the Division of Pediatric Dentistry. A board-certified pediatric dentist, he has a unique background that includes high achievement in professional education, successful private practice of dentistry, administration and teaching in dental school environment, leadership, service and scholarship.

Dr. Dhar completed his undergraduate dental training from Bharati Vidyapeeth Dental College, Pune, India in 1995. This was followed by several advanced degrees, including a master of science in pediatric and preventive dentistry from Manipal College of Dental Surgery in 1999, with a thesis entitled, “Comparative evaluation of pit and fissure sealants using invasive and non-invasive technique-an in vitro study.” He also completed a post graduate diploma in hospital and health care management. In 2009, he received a PhD from MLS University, India, with a thesis entitled “Cariology and its Prevention in Pediatric Dentistry.” In 2013, Dr. Dhar received his certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, USA.

He currently serves American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry as Member, Editorial Board of Pediatric Dentistry; Member NE District, Council on Scientific Affairs, and Council on Post-doctoral Education. He serves American Board of Pediatric Dentistry as a consultant/examiner on the Oral Clinical Exam and Qualifying Exam subcommittees. Dr. Dhar is the recipient of 2018 ADA Evidence Based Dentistry Mid-Career Faculty Award, and 2017 AAPD's Jerome B. Miller/Crest-Oral-B/For The Kids Award. He was a co-author on the paper on Sealants that won AAPD 2017 Paul P. Taylor Award. He is also the co-recipient of the 2016 Paul P. Taylor award for his systematic review evaluating effectiveness of current therapies for ECC.

Dr. Dhar received the 2017 ADEA Leadership Phase V Leadership Development Tuition Scholarship award for ADEA/AAL Chairs and Academic Administrators Management program and AAPD-HSHC Master Clinician Scholarship to attend the 2016 ADEA/AAL Institute for Teaching and Learning program. Dr. Dhar has completed his fellowship from ADEA Leadership Institute in 2016.

He works on incorporating evidence-based dentistry in education and patient care and serves on both AAPD and ADA expert panels to create evidence-based clinical recommendations. Dr. Dhar has been involved in multiple research projects and has also directed thesis work for masters’ students as advisor or co-advisor. He has produced several publications and presentations, primarily in the areas of evidence-based dentistry, chronic disease management, preventive dentistry, fissure sealants, dental trauma, and pulp therapies.