Today we’d like to introduce you to Ademola Cole.
Hi Ademola, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in a modest household and living in Nigeria and Canada, running my own pediatric dental practice in Texas was never part of the plan — but looking back, every step of the journey made perfect sense.
My foundation was built by two extraordinary parents. My father nurtured my ambition by instilled in me optimism, a thirst for knowledge, discipline, resilience, and the confidence to dream big. My mother nurtured my character by encouraging my love of science and taught me the importance of integrity and service to others. Together, anchored by my faith in God, they have shaped who I am and been a source of strength through the seasons of life.
I pursued a Bachelor of Medical Science degree with Honors in Canada, fully intending to become a medical doctor. However, as an act of providence, my family friend encourage me to explore dentistry. The union of science and artistry in Dentistry appealed to me and I have been in love ever since.
Determined to attend dental school, I threw myself into the application process, researched and applied to over 20 dental schools across the U.S. and Canada. When Howard University College of Dentistry called with my acceptance, every late night of preparation felt worth it. I earned my Doctor of Dental Surgery degree there, then completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency at the University of Rochester, New York. After several years of being a General Dentist and practicing across private practice, corporate, and public health settings, Pediatric Dentistry called to me. It fit my optimistic personality, and I was deeply drawn to the impact that instilling great dental habits in early childhood has on long-term oral health in adulthood. More than anything, the transformation of an anxious child into a child who is happy to see the dentist — that is priceless.
To become a Pediatric Dentist, I would have to specialize and apply to Pediatric Dental Residency programs. My first application to NYU Langone’s Pediatric Dental Residency was rejected despite strong grades, community service, membership in professional organizations, and glowing letters of recommendation. It was a deeply disappointing moment. But my faith in God and the emotional support of my wife Kelly, family, and friends gave me the courage to get back up.
Kelly, in particular, never let me forget my dreams. She kept reminding me not to give up, and her belief in me made all the difference. It was humbling to go back to the drawing board, but I was determined to come back stronger. I took additional pediatric dental continuing education courses, refined my interview skills, increased my community service participation, and applied a second time to 33 pediatric dental specialty programs — including NYU Langone. This time, I was accepted and graduated from the NYU Langone Pediatric Dental Residency program and finally became a Pediatric Dentist. To top it all off, my son was born a couple of months before graduation which made it much more fulfiling.
After graduation, I worked as an associate pediatric dentist for two years before taking the leap to open my own practice. The name came from an unexpected and beautiful place. My son has always had a tremendous love for turtles. Kelly and I took him to a wildlife reserve where he saw many of them, and the joy on his face that day was unforgettable. He inspired the name — Turtle Bay Pediatric Dentistry. And in many ways, the turtle captures our approach perfectly: steady, patient, and unhurried, just like the gentle care every child deserves.
Turtle Bay Pediatric Dentistry is built on a mission to provide high quality, gentle, compassionate, kid-focused dental care to every child who walks through our doors. Looking ahead, I am excited to continue serving families across Sachse and the greater Dallas community — helping children build healthy smiles and a lifetime of positive dental experiences, one child at a time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth? Not always — but every rough patch shaped who I am and how I practice today.
The most defining struggle came when I applied to NYU Langone’s Pediatric Dental Specialty program and was rejected on my first attempt. That was a deeply humbling moment. I had strong grades, community service, professional memberships, and glowing letters of recommendation — and it still wasn’t enough. Sitting with that rejection and deciding what to do next was one of the hardest things I’ve faced professionally.
What got me through was faith, and the people around me. My wife Kelly refused to let me give up. She kept reminding me of my dreams when I was tempted to question them. That kind of support is something I don’t take for granted.
So I went back to the drawing board — not bitterly, but deliberately. I reached out to mentors who were practicing Pediatric Dentists and Pediatric dental residents. Took additional continuing education courses, refined how I interviewed, deepened my community involvement, and applied a second time to 33 programs. The acceptance came, and the growth I experienced in that in-between season made me a better clinician and a more empathetic person.
Even opening my own practice came with its uncertainties. Transitioning from associate to owner means taking on risk — financial, personal, professional. There are no guarantees. But I’ve learned that the things worth doing rarely come easy, and that resilience isn’t about avoiding hard moments — it’s about choosing to move forward through them anyway.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Turtle Bay Pediatric Dentistry, everything begins with the child. From the moment a family walks through our doors, they step into an ocean-themed environment designed to calm nerves, spark curiosity, and replace anxiety with wonder. The décor isn’t just aesthetic — it’s intentional. It sets the tone for the kind of care we deliver: gentle, compassionate, and completely kid-focused.
We offer a comprehensive range of pediatric dental services, from preventive care — including cleanings, fluoride varnish applications, and sealants — to restorative treatments such as fillings, stainless steel crowns, and esthetic crowns. We also provide extractions, space maintainers, nitrous oxide, sedation dentistry, and specialized care for children with special needs. We see patients from age one all the way through age twenty, making us a true dental home for families across every stage of childhood and adolescence.
One thing I’m particularly proud of is our approach to anxious children. We always explore conservative, non-pharmacological behavior guidance techniques first — including tell-show-do, positive reinforcement, parental presence, and ceiling-mounted TVs that give kids something to focus on during treatment. When those techniques aren’t enough, nitrous oxide and sedation become safe, effective tools to ensure that even the most anxious child receives the care they need comfortably and safely. No child should leave without being treated — and no child should have to be afraid.
Sachse is a vibrant, family-focused community, and we are proud to reflect that. We serve multilingual families and welcome patients not just from Sachse, but from Rowlett, Wylie, Garland, Murphy, and the broader Dallas area. We accept a wide range of insurance plans, including MetLife, Cigna, Delta Dental, United Concordia (Tricare), Aflac, Careington, Principal, Ameritas, and Zelis — because access to quality pediatric dental care should never be a barrier.
What sets Turtle Bay apart isn’t just the services we offer — it’s the experience we create and the relationships we build. We are not a revolving door. We are a dental home, and every child who walks through ours deserves to feel safe, seen, and cared for.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is this: rejection is not the end of the road — it’s an invitation to grow.
When I was not accepted into NYU Langone’s Pediatric Dental Specialty program on my first attempt, I had a choice. I could let that disappointment define me, or I could let it refine me. I chose the latter.
I’ve learned that when you face a setback, the worst thing you can do is react emotionally and move on without reflection. The best thing you can do is pause — honestly examine what went wrong, seek out mentors who can offer perspective you can’t see on your own, and then rebuild your strategy with intention. Not timidly. Boldly. With massive action.
That’s exactly what I did. I didn’t just reapply — I came back stronger, more prepared, and more self-aware than I had been the first time. I applied to 33 programs the second time around. That number wasn’t desperation — it was determination.
I carry that lesson into everything now, including how I run Turtle Bay. In business, in dentistry, in life — things will not always go according to plan. But disappointment faced with reflection, mentorship, and relentless effort has a way of turning into the very foundation of your greatest achievements.
The door that feels closed is often just asking you to knock harder.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.turtlebaypediatricdentistry.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/turtlebaypediatricdentistry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Turtle-Bay-Pediatric-Dentistry-61582176806072/
