Remembering Dr. Teddy Bear

Dr. Theodore “Ted” Levitas, affectionately known as Dr. Teddy Bear by his family and patients, was a pioneer and leader in dental care for children. He treated generations of children in Atlanta, throughout Georgia and the South. His expertise and advocacy for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities greatly expanded their access to safe, quality pediatric dental care. He made the experience of going to the dentist a calm and enjoyable one for so many children. We look back at the impact he had through a life dedicated to service and making a difference in the lives of others.



Early life and Education

Dr. Levitas, a native Atlantan, was born in the city on April 9, 1924, making 2024 the year of his 100^th birthday. He won a scholarship to attend Emory University, intending to pursue a career in journalism. He put his studies on pause to enlist and serve in the US Navy during World War II, where he served as a pharmacist’s mate aboard the USS Hoggatt Bay in the Pacific. After returning from the war, he concluded his undergraduate studies but was soon convinced by his cousins, Drs. Marvin and Irving Goldstein, to attend Emory University Dental School and receive his D.D.S. degree. Marvin and Irving were both prominent dentists in Atlanta who began the Ben Massell Dental Clinic over 100 years ago. After working in general practice for several years, he returned to Emory University to complete his MSD which allowed him to specialize in Pediatric Dentistry.


A Storied Career

Dr. Levitas’s 63-year career made him a leader in pediatric dentistry, and he became a significant part of the lives of thousands of children and their families. He served in many leadership roles in organizations including President of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Society of Dentistry for Children, the Northern District Dental Society, and the Thomas P. Hinman Dental Society. The Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry has held a lecture in his name since 2000. He also lectured around the world and contributed extensively to the literature on children’s dentistry and the treatment of medically compromised children.

Dr. Levitas brought his expertise to Scottish Rite and Egleston Hospitals (now Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta). He was the only dentist to ever serve as President of the medical staff of Scottish Rite Hospital. At both hospitals, he was instrumental in creating the protocols to provide dental treatment to children under general anesthesia, which increased the safety and availability of dental care for children.

Dr. Levitas has been honored with numerous awards and titles recognizing his accomplishments in the field of children’s dentistry and his dedication to serving patients, including the Emory University Dental Alumni Association Award for Meritorious Service and the Pioneer in Pediatric Dentistry from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He devoted the last several decades of his career to the care of medically compromised children with cognitive, developmental and physical disabilities and was subsequently honored as a Diplomate of The American Board of Special Care Dentistry. He was also honored by FOCUS (Families of Children Under Stress) for the love of children “because of his loving care and service to children with disabilities and to their families.”


Giving Back at the Ben Massell Dental Clinic

As a part of his steadfast belief in expanding access to oral healthcare, Dr. Levitas worked his entire career to give back to the community. He was a devoted volunteer at the Ben Massell Dental Clinic (BMDC) beginning when he was a dental student, providing free dental care to those who couldn’t afford it for over 55 years. Dr. Levitas led the clinic as Chief of Staff from 1987-1998 and was later honored for his dedication with the title of Chief of Staff Emeritus, the only dentist to receive this recognition.

While the clinic only sees adult patients now, during Dr. Levitas’s time the clinic regularly provided care to children in need thanks to him. He was the only pediatric dentist at the clinic and had a special gift for connecting to children and making them feel safe and comfortable in the dental chair. The pediatric patients were often children with behavioral problems or intellectual or developmental disabilities that county health departments had deemed “non-treatable” and referred them to BMDC. These more difficult cases required a children’s specialist to treat them, which many health departments did not have at the time. With his Teddy Bear nickname, calming voice, patient management expertise, and lighthearted behavior, Dr. Levitas put these children at ease in a way many could not.

Barbara Jones, Director of BMDC, remembers Dr. Levitas’s chairside manner and his commitment to serving patients, saying “He had a way, he was very good at it, he had a way of gaining their trust and we were able to treat them and get them out of pain and in a healthy state.”

Sharing about their patients, she said, “We got of all [the health department’s] difficult cases. Children who were terrified of the dentist, or kids who had rampant decay… Some of these children were so bad off that they lost primary teeth when their permanent teeth weren’t going to come in soon.” She shared a memorable case where a three-year old girl had to have several of her primary teeth removed due to widespread decay. Dr. Levitas and the staff made her a small partial denture as she would not likely get her permanent teeth for five more years. Without the denture, missing so many teeth would have affected her speech patterns, nutrition, and physical development.

His unique ability to connect with patients was an amazing asset to the clinic. He used this skill throughout his career treating children with autism, special needs, and intellectual disabilities.


Community Involvement

In addition to his service at BMDC, Dr. Levitas devoted a substantial portion of his private practice to serving Medicaid patients who did not have access to quality dental care. His received the Georgia Dental Association’s Award of Merit in 1991 for “outstanding service to the association and exceptional service to the wider world of dentistry.”

Dr. Levitas was passionate about politics and was an early supporter of civil rights, human rights and social justice causes. He was heavily involved in the Jewish community and served on many organizational boards including the Anti-Defamation League, B’nai B’rith, Jewish Family & Career Services. In addition, while at Emory University Dental School, he was at the forefront of exposing and confronting Dean John Buler for blatant discrimination of Jewish students at the Dental School, which ultimately resulted in his resignation, a period well chronicled in Dr. Perry Brickman’s book Extracted – Unmasking Rampant Antisemitism in America’s Higher Education.

In addition to his advocacy for people with special needs, Dr. Levitas was also a staunch advocate for people of color within the dental profession.

Dr. Levitas was recognized for his service by The State of Georgia House of Representatives when they presented a “Resolution commending Dr. Theodore C. Levitas for his exemplary and loving service to the citizens of his community and state and congratulating him on the occasion of his 54th year of practice”.



With such an extensive and distinguished career, it is impossible to sum up his accomplishments and impact on the community. At the Ben Massell Dental Clinic, we remember his compassion and connection to the patients, and we work to incorporate his attitude as we treat each patient with kindness, respect, and dignity.


To donate to the Ben Massell Dental Clinic in memory of Dr. Ted Levitas and send a personal message to his family, please click here.



Watch Dr. Teddybear ~ 100 Years “PROMISE” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB7tlmeDzM4

Read Dr. Ted Levitas's full obituary here.



Special thank you to Miriam Strickman Levitas for her interview, stories, and source material.