Adela Planerova

Adela Planerova, DDS, MS, is Chair of the Special Needs Dentistry Department at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health (EIOH) at the University of Rochester, where she also serves as Associate Professor of Clinical Dentistry and Clinical Medicine. She has extensive experience providing and advancing oral health care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and complex medical conditions.

Dr. Planerova has served as Director of Dental Services at UR Medicine’s Complex Care Center, overseeing dental care for adults with complex childhood-onset conditions. Her work spans clinical care, postdoctoral education, research, community outreach and the development of multidisciplinary approaches to improving access to oral health services for patients with disabilities and medically complex needs. She also serves as Assistant Director of EIOH’s Excellence in Clinical Education and Leadership for Specialty Dental Care (EXCEL) program.

Dr. Planerova earned her dental degree from Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, where she later served as a dentist and lecturer in pediatric dentistry. She completed two postdoctoral residency programs at EIOH and earned a master’s degree in Medical Management from the University of Rochester. She also completed a Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Fellowship at the University of Rochester.

Her leadership and commitment to improving care for people with IDD have been recognized with numerous honors, including the American Academy of Developmental Medicine & Dentistry Award for Outstanding Leadership and Service, a Special Congressional Recognition for her commitment to people with IDD, and the New York State Dental Foundation Dean’s Award..