General Practice Residency
St. Vincent Charity Hospital
2005
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Faculty
Faculty
Gillian D.D.S. Robinson-Warner ( She/Her)
Associate Professor
Department/Office
- Restorative Dentistry
School/College
- College of Dentistry
Biography
Gillian Robinson-Warner, D.D.S. is an associate professor with indefinite tenure at the Howard University College of Dentistry. She is an accomplished clinician-educator, researcher and dental administrator with extensive experience in academic dentistry, private practice ownership and community-based oral health initiatives. She serves as assistant director of the Restorative Division in the Department of Comprehensive Care at Howard University College of Dentistry, where she is also an associate professor, course director for Behavioral Dentistry and module coordinator for Restorative Dentistry.
Robinson-Warner earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Howard University in 1996 and subsequently completed a general practice residency at St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Her academic foundation also includes undergraduate studies in biology and chemistry at John Carroll University. She holds active dental licenses in Washington, D.C., and Virginia.
In her leadership role at Howard University, which she has held since 2018, Robinson-Warner develops and manages clinical and departmental schedules, provides direct supervision in the D1 simulation laboratory, and delivers didactic and simulation-based instruction across multiple courses, including Behavioral Dentistry, Dental Materials, Restorative Dentistry and Operative Dentistry. She oversees restorative faculty, mentors students and serves as a faculty adviser for the American Student Dental Association and Delta Phi Sigma Dental Sorority. She has also supervised dental students on Rural Area Medical mission trips throughout the United States and Jamaica, reinforcing her commitment to service learning and underserved populations.
In addition to her academic career, Robinson-Warner is a practicing dentist and successful entrepreneur. She is co-owner of G and G Dental Group in Washington, D.C., where she has practiced since 2019, and previously co-owned Warner Dental Care LLC in Bowie, Maryland, from 2008 to 2019. Her clinical practice includes comprehensive general dental services, including clear aligner therapy, sleep apnea management, pediatric dentistry, crown and bridge, minor oral surgery and endodontic therapy. Her prior clinical leadership includes serving as lead dentist at Small Smiles Dental Center and as a dental associate with Ocean Dental, where she primarily provided care to Medicaid and underserved pediatric populations.
Robinson-Warner is an active scholar with a strong publication record focused on oral-systemic health, health disparities, tobacco use, food insecurity, the impact of infectious diseases on dental education and underserved communities. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including Acta Scientific Dental Sciences, Journal of Dental Education, Journal of Public Health Dentistry and Journal of the National Medical Association. She is currently involved in a Colgate-sponsored study evaluating the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral therapy-based intervention to improve oral hygiene outcomes in adolescents. She has also completed advanced research ethics training through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative.
A sought-after speaker, Robinson-Warner has delivered invited lectures at national meetings, including the Greater New York Dental Conference, on topics related to dentistry in underserved communities, cultural competency and diversity in dental education.
Her excellence in teaching and service has been recognized with multiple honors, including Female Faculty of the Year in 2024 and 2025, Outstanding Clinical Professor of the Year at Howard University from 2020-23, and induction into the International College of Dentists in 2023.
Robinson-Warner maintains active membership in numerous professional organizations, including the American Dental Education Association, Academy of General Dentistry, Jamaica Dental Association and American Dental Association. Her community service includes participation in international and domestic dental missions, COVID-19 vaccination and testing initiatives, and annual programs such as Give Kids a Smile Day.
Through her integrated roles as a clinician, educator, researcher and mentor, Robinson-Warner remains deeply committed to advancing oral health equity, fostering inclusive dental education and improving access to care for underserved populations.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Robinson-Warner enjoys traveling with her family and boxing. She has also completed several half-marathons, 5K races and 10K races.
Education & Expertise
Education
Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.)
Dental Surgery
Howard University
1996
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Biology/Chemistry
John Carroll University
1987
Areas of Expertise
Restorative Dentistry
Academics
Academics
Restorative Dentistry
Behavioral Dentistry
Dental Materials
Operative Dentistry
Research
Research
Specialty
LGBTQIA COMMUNITYGroup Information
Dr.Brian Laurence, Sefa Laurence, Nancy Trang, Dr.Al Cheeks, Dr.Candace Mitchell
Accomplishments
Accomplishments
Distinguished Faculty Award - HU College of Dentistry, May 6, 2026
Spring Break Mission Trips to Guyana, 2025 & 2026
Female Faculty of the Year, 2024
Outstanding Clinical Professor of the Year - Howard University, 2020 - 2023
Inducted into the International College of Dentistry (ICD), 2023
Publications and Presentations
Publications and Presentations
Diabetes and its Impact on Root Canal Therapies and Other Oral Conditions
Diabetes and its Impact on Root Canal Therapies and Other Oral Conditions
Advances in medical science and in preventive dentistry have changed the context of oral health. The American population is living longer with numerous complex chronic diseases. This paper is to raise awareness about the impact of diabetes and the associations with altered success in root canal therapy. Comorbidities can worsen the course of dental treatment. Better communication is needed to improve medical consultation and referral management. It is imperative that dentists receive a very-detailed medical consultation from the patients’ medical team. This information will help dentists understand why there may be increased infection rates and slow healing after root canal therapy in diabetic patients. Requests for medical consult are important to provide full patient information and to determine diabetic chronicity.
A Double Threat to Oral health
A Double Threat to Oral health: The Inflammatory Processes of Diabetes and Tobacco Use
The incidence debilitating conditions such as diabetes and risk factors such as the use of tobacco products continue to climb, so does the need for better understanding of these complex conditions. Long-term presence of diabetes and tobacco use may result in deterioration. Additionally, diabetics who use tobacco products have many adverse oral conditions. Of these factors, inflammatory responses represent a complex interplay and offers a unique challenge. Strong medical consultation team approaches contribute to improving outcomes of diabetes and its comorbid disorders.
The Perils of Continuous Wearing of False Eyelashes in Clinical Settings
The Perils of Continuous Wearing of False Eyelashes in Clinical Settings
Dental and medical providers work hard to provide the best care for patients while avoiding risk-bearing practices. Healthcare professionals, performing or participating in the operative process, are aware that it is essential to adhere to aseptic practices in intraoperative settings. Wearing false eyelashes while participating in clinical and surgical services may be a gateway for possible infection. This paper explores the question if wearing false eyelashes in clinical settings is appropriate and it will also highlight implications for providing care using aseptic techniques in operative settings. Is wearing false eyelashes while performing clinical procedures an opportunity to increase the likelihood of infections caused by false eyelashes germs? This paper also assesses the rationale for healthcare professionals to wear false eyelashes while performing clinically-related procedures.
Food Insecurity is associated with lower diet quality among dental students
Food Insecurity is associated with lower diet quality among dental students
Food insecurity is associated with lower diet quality, adverse health outcomes, and academic difficulty among undergraduate students. The objective was to identify the relationship between food security status and diet quality in dental students.
All dental students attending Howard University (n = 286) or the University of Iowa (n = 326) during the fall 2021 semester were invited to complete a cross-sectional survey designed to query demographics, food security status (i.e., United States Department of Agriculture's ten item Adult Food Security Module), and diet quality (i.e., short Healthy Eating Index). The survey was administered using the Qualtrics platform.
Sickle Cell Disease: Contributing Factors and Radiological Assessments
Sickle Cell Disease: Contributing Factors and Radiological Assessments
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is genetically described as an autosomal blood disorder resulting from the presence of a mutated form of hemoglobin. Morbidity, frequency of crisis, degree of anemia, and organ systems involved vary considerably per patient. Dental health professionals and other specialists commonly request comprehensive medical consultations prior to performing complex periodontal, endodontic, and surgical procedures. In order to have successful dental outcomes and minimize posttreatment dental complications, relevant disease indicators are noted. This review is to raise awareness of the impact of oral diseases in patients with sickle cell disease and to emphasize the importance of full medical disclosure, radiographic interpretation, and a well-documented medical history, and a well-written consultation which can guide treatment planning and greatly improve the course of dental treatment.
