OPT Pediatric Dentist Jobs
Pediatric dentist roles on OPT require an active dental license in your state, which means coordinating your NCLEX-equivalent dental boards with your OPT authorization timeline. Most positions are full-time clinical roles at private practices, DSO groups, or community health centers, all of which can serve as valid OPT employers.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
The Division of Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics at Cincinnati Children’s seeks a talented, academically oriented faculty member to join our team.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We have an open position for a residency-trained Pediatric Dentist faculty member in an academic clinician track. Board eligibility or board certification in ABPD is expected. Our division includes seven (7) full-time pediatric dentist faculty members, one (1) full-time craniofacial orthodontist faculty member, one (1) full-time dual-trained dentist anesthesiologist and pediatric dentist faculty member, one (1) full-time general dentist faculty member, and two (2) part-time pediatric dentist faculty members. Our faculty members have expertise and academic interests across the full range of our specialty, including pharmacologic behavior management, restorative dentistry, patients with complex medical and special needs, and advocacy. Clinically, the practice environment includes over 30,000 visits per year across 2 clinics and three (3) operating room sites. We enjoy a busy level 1 trauma service and are strongly committed to excellence in multidisciplinary dental trauma care.
Our academic model is enriched by a thriving 2-year residency program with seven (7) residents per year and an ongoing commitment to excellence in how we teach and learn together. Evidence of excellence as an educator, both in bedside teaching and in creation and delivery of didactic and experiential learning, is a core expectation for applicants. Residents provide after-hours dental trauma care to over 350 patients annually. Faculty all take after-hours call on a weekly basis to provide consultation and in emergent situations after-hours operating room care.
Established in 1883, Cincinnati Children’s is a full service, non-profit pediatric academic medical center committed to be the leader in improving child health and consistently rank among the top 5 pediatric hospitals in the country by U.S. News and World Report. With more than 900 registered beds, Cincinnati Children’s serves patients from all 50 states and 51 countries. Faculty in Pediatric Dentistry at CCHMC receive a competitive salary with excellent benefits to foster wellness, maximize savings, and prepare for the unexpected. Faculty are also offered incentive operating room case care to supplement the base salary. Cincinnati Children’s funds a defined contribution retirement plan at 10% of compensation up to annual IRS limits. Full-time faculty are eligible for tuition remission at the University of Cincinnati for spouse and unmarried dependent children.
Cincinnati is a thriving Midwestern City with a vibrant urban core, and offers a full range of sports, arts and entertainment to make life and living here enjoyable and engaging. Recently recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the Top 20 Most Affordable Cities, Cincinnati has a mix of housing across diverse neighborhoods.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- D.M.D. or D.D.S. from an accredited dental school
- Board-certified or board-eligible in Pediatric Dentistry
- Accredited pediatric dentistry residency completion
- PALS/BLS
- Experience working with pediatric patients and patients with special needs
- Current active dental license issued by the State of Ohio or eligible for license
- Appropriate credentialing through the Medical Staff Services offices
- Completion of all required pre-employment activities (screening, background check, badging, and orientation)
- Assistant or Associate Professor appointment or eligibility required
- Prior clinical practice experience may be required based on the specific needs of the hiring department
To be considered, applications must be complete and include the following:
- Cover letter indicating intent and professional goals
- Curriculum Vita (CV)
- Three professional references with contact information
Early applications are encouraged; interviews will be granted on a rolling basis.
About us
At Cincinnati Children’s, we come to work with one goal: to make children’s health better. We believe in a holistic team approach, both in caring for patients and their families, and in advancing science and discovery. We strive to do better and find energy and inspiration in our shared purpose. If you want to be the best you can be, you can do it at Cincinnati Children’s.
Cincinnati Children's is:
- Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 10 best Children's Hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years
- Consistently among the top 3 Children's Hospitals for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding
- Recognized as one of America’s Best Large Employers (2025), America’s Best Employers for New Grads (2025)
- One of the nation's America’s Most Innovative Companies as noted by Fortune
- Consistently certified as great place to work
- A Leading Disability Employer as noted by the National Organization on Disability
- Magnet® designated for the fourth consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
We Embrace Innovation—Together. We believe in empowering our teams with the tools that help us work smarter and care better. That’s why we support the responsible use of artificial intelligence. By encouraging innovation, we’re creating space for new ideas, better outcomes, and a stronger future—for all of us.
Comprehensive job description provided upon request.
Cincinnati Children’s is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/Veteran/Disability
LOCATION
Primary Location Location C
Department Dentistry
Shift Day (United States of America)
Schedule Full time
Weekly Hours 40
FTE 1
Employee Status Regular
INTRODUCTION
The Division of Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics at Cincinnati Children’s seeks a talented, academically oriented faculty member to join our team.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We have an open position for a residency-trained Pediatric Dentist faculty member in an academic clinician track. Board eligibility or board certification in ABPD is expected. Our division includes seven (7) full-time pediatric dentist faculty members, one (1) full-time craniofacial orthodontist faculty member, one (1) full-time dual-trained dentist anesthesiologist and pediatric dentist faculty member, one (1) full-time general dentist faculty member, and two (2) part-time pediatric dentist faculty members. Our faculty members have expertise and academic interests across the full range of our specialty, including pharmacologic behavior management, restorative dentistry, patients with complex medical and special needs, and advocacy. Clinically, the practice environment includes over 30,000 visits per year across 2 clinics and three (3) operating room sites. We enjoy a busy level 1 trauma service and are strongly committed to excellence in multidisciplinary dental trauma care.
Our academic model is enriched by a thriving 2-year residency program with seven (7) residents per year and an ongoing commitment to excellence in how we teach and learn together. Evidence of excellence as an educator, both in bedside teaching and in creation and delivery of didactic and experiential learning, is a core expectation for applicants. Residents provide after-hours dental trauma care to over 350 patients annually. Faculty all take after-hours call on a weekly basis to provide consultation and in emergent situations after-hours operating room care.
Established in 1883, Cincinnati Children’s is a full service, non-profit pediatric academic medical center committed to be the leader in improving child health and consistently rank among the top 5 pediatric hospitals in the country by U.S. News and World Report. With more than 900 registered beds, Cincinnati Children’s serves patients from all 50 states and 51 countries. Faculty in Pediatric Dentistry at CCHMC receive a competitive salary with excellent benefits to foster wellness, maximize savings, and prepare for the unexpected. Faculty are also offered incentive operating room case care to supplement the base salary. Cincinnati Children’s funds a defined contribution retirement plan at 10% of compensation up to annual IRS limits. Full-time faculty are eligible for tuition remission at the University of Cincinnati for spouse and unmarried dependent children.
Cincinnati is a thriving Midwestern City with a vibrant urban core, and offers a full range of sports, arts and entertainment to make life and living here enjoyable and engaging. Recently recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the Top 20 Most Affordable Cities, Cincinnati has a mix of housing across diverse neighborhoods.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- D.M.D. or D.D.S. from an accredited dental school
- Board-certified or board-eligible in Pediatric Dentistry
- Accredited pediatric dentistry residency completion
- PALS/BLS
- Experience working with pediatric patients and patients with special needs
- Current active dental license issued by the State of Ohio or eligible for license
- Appropriate credentialing through the Medical Staff Services offices
- Completion of all required pre-employment activities (screening, background check, badging, and orientation)
- Assistant or Associate Professor appointment or eligibility required
- Prior clinical practice experience may be required based on the specific needs of the hiring department
To be considered, applications must be complete and include the following:
- Cover letter indicating intent and professional goals
- Curriculum Vita (CV)
- Three professional references with contact information
Early applications are encouraged; interviews will be granted on a rolling basis.
About us
At Cincinnati Children’s, we come to work with one goal: to make children’s health better. We believe in a holistic team approach, both in caring for patients and their families, and in advancing science and discovery. We strive to do better and find energy and inspiration in our shared purpose. If you want to be the best you can be, you can do it at Cincinnati Children’s.
Cincinnati Children's is:
- Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 10 best Children's Hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years
- Consistently among the top 3 Children's Hospitals for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding
- Recognized as one of America’s Best Large Employers (2025), America’s Best Employers for New Grads (2025)
- One of the nation's America’s Most Innovative Companies as noted by Fortune
- Consistently certified as great place to work
- A Leading Disability Employer as noted by the National Organization on Disability
- Magnet® designated for the fourth consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
We Embrace Innovation—Together. We believe in empowering our teams with the tools that help us work smarter and care better. That’s why we support the responsible use of artificial intelligence. By encouraging innovation, we’re creating space for new ideas, better outcomes, and a stronger future—for all of us.
Comprehensive job description provided upon request.
Cincinnati Children’s is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an environment of dignity and respect for all our employees, patients, and families. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, genetic information, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. EEO/Veteran/Disability
LOCATION
Primary Location Location C
Department Dentistry
Shift Day (United States of America)
Schedule Full time
Weekly Hours 40
FTE 1
Employee Status Regular
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Pediatric Dentist
Start your state dental license application before OPT begins
Most states take 8 to 16 weeks to process dental licensure applications. Submit yours as soon as your program director signs off, so your license is active when your OPT start date arrives and you can begin working immediately.
Target DSO groups for stronger sponsorship pipelines
Dental service organizations like Aspen Dental and Pacific Dental Services have dedicated HR and immigration teams. They hire at volume and are more experienced with H-1B visa sponsorship than independent private practices with one or two dentists.
Confirm the employer's NCLEX status before accepting an offer
Some pediatric dental practices work exclusively with state Medicaid, which adds credentialing requirements on top of licensure. Verify those timelines before signing, since credentialing delays can push back your actual start date by weeks.
Frame your pediatric specialty as a genuine clinical differentiator
Pediatric dentistry is a recognized specialty requiring additional residency training. When communicating with employers, lead with your specialty credential, not just your dental degree. It directly addresses their hardest staffing gap and strengthens your sponsorship case.
Get clarity on H-1B sponsorship intent before your OPT ends
Ask hiring managers directly whether the practice has sponsored H-1B visas before and whether they plan to do so for this role. Practices that have done it previously are far more likely to do it again without requiring attorney education.
Apply to community health centers and federally qualified health centers
FQHCs and CHCs often qualify as cap-exempt H-1B employers, meaning they can file outside the annual lottery. For OPT students in pediatric dentistry, these settings offer a meaningful path to long-term work authorization beyond the standard cap.
Pediatric Dentist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a pediatric dentist on OPT without a state dental license?
No. Practicing dentistry in the United States requires an active state dental license, and OPT work authorization does not waive that requirement. You must hold a valid license in the state where you practice before you can legally begin clinical work. Check your target state's dental board for specific examination and application requirements.
Does pediatric dentistry qualify as a STEM OPT field eligible for the 24-month extension?
It depends on your degree program's CIP code. Some dental degree programs are classified under STEM-eligible codes, but many are not. Check your degree's CIP code with your DSO before assuming you qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. If your program is not STEM-designated, you are limited to the standard 12 months of post-completion OPT.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor pediatric dentists for H-1B status after OPT?
Dental service organizations, federally qualified health centers, and large hospital-affiliated pediatric dental programs are the most consistent H-1B sponsors in this field. FQHCs are particularly valuable because many qualify as cap-exempt employers, meaning they can file H-1B petitions outside the annual lottery. Browse Migrate Mate to find pediatric dentist roles at employers with sponsorship history.
Can I work at multiple dental practices on OPT, or am I limited to one employer?
OPT does not restrict you to a single employer, but each position must be directly related to your dental degree and involve at least 20 hours of work per week to count as valid OPT employment. If you work at multiple practices, each must be tracked carefully since unauthorized or unrelated work can jeopardize your status. Consult your DSO before taking on concurrent positions.
How far in advance should I start applying for pediatric dentist jobs on OPT?
Start at least four to six months before your intended OPT start date. State dental licensure alone can take three to four months, and many employers will not finalize an offer until they see an active license. Earlier applications give you time to complete both licensing and the OPT application process before your target start date without a gap in employment.