Meet the Doctors at Akron Smiles
Pediatric Dentists in Akron
Dr. Michael Crites
Dr. Crites is a graduate of Ohio State University College of Dentistry. He served as 2nd year class President and President of the student body. He completed his undergraduate at Bowling Green State University with a B.S. in Biology with an emphasis on genetics.
Dr. Crites was an owner of general family dentistry practices for the first half of his career and owner of a denture practice providing same day dentures to patients. He found his true calling when he became owner of general dental practices providing services to pediatric patients in underserved areas of Ohio. He is committed to providing quality compassionate care in a caring environment for both patients and their families. He takes continuing education classes yearly to stay current and up to date with treatment of children and helps mentor new dentists.
He enjoys spending time with his wife Christine and their three children, Brandon, Keegan, and Kaitlin. He and his wife enjoy traveling and getting together with friends and family. He and his family are active members of their church and enjoy taking time for their three dogs.
Dr. Sylvia Kramer, DDS
Dr. Sylvia Kramer is a general dentist who was raised on the east side of Cleveland. She is a proud graduate of Case Western Reserve University and has taken extensive continuing education courses in pediatric dentistry. Dr. Kramer is excited to be providing mostly pediatric dental care and is committed to educating families about dental health and diet.
In addition to her clinical skills, Dr. Kramer has had academic appointments at Case School of Dental Medicine, Lakeland Community College Dental Hygiene and the American Academy of Facial Esthetics. Dr. Kramer has lectured extensively on medical emergencies in the dental office and is known for her comprehensive and thorough style of teaching. Dr. Kramer is a member of the ADA, ODA, GCDA and AODF.
Dr. Paul S. Murphy DDS, MSD
Dr. Murphy graduated with honors from The University of Michigan College of Engineering (Chemical Engineering) in May 1988. He received numerous academic awards, honors and scholarships while at The University of Michigan.
While he enjoyed the challenges and rewards of a career in engineering, Dr. Murphy decided to pursue his dream of becoming an orthodontist. In 1992 he decided to return to school at The University of Michigan College of Dentistry. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree in May 1996. Dr. Murphy served as his class secretary for all four years of dental school. He was honored with many dental awards, including being awarded a scholarship for his final year of dental school (awarded to the top two dental students in the senior class).
Dr. Murphy went directly from dental school to an orthodontic residency at The University of Washington in Seattle, WA., widely regarded as one of the top orthodontic residency programs in the world. He completed that program in June 1998, receiving both a Certificate in Orthodontics and a Master of Science in Dentistry (MSD) degree. He completed a research project investigating the stability of orthognathic (jaw) surgery in adolescent patients.
Dr. Murphy was the owner of a private orthodontic practice in Lake County from 1999 to 2021. Upon selling his practice, Dr. Murphy has enjoyed “semi-retirement” but is now looking forward to the challenges and opportunity of starting up a new practice with Akron Smiles. He is passionate about providing the highest quality orthodontic treatment and he receives great satisfaction from helping to improve the lives of his patients.
Dr. Murphy lives in Northeast Ohio and enjoys spending his free time with his family and his two dogs. As an Ohio transplant he has become a big fan of all Cleveland sports teams.
Dr. Kramer
Dr. Kramer was born and raised in Northeast, Ohio and eager to return after completing her training in Chicago. Even before going into dentistry, Dr. Kramer knew she wanted to work with children, and found that dentistry was the perfect way to help kids smile each day. She went into the field of dentistry to help people, to treat patients and parents with kindness, to educate on the importance of oral hygiene, and to make visiting the dentist fun! She truly believes that establishing a quality dental home and a heavy emphasis on prevention in childhood can create healthy smiles for a lifetime.
In her free time, Dr. Kramer loves trying her hand at new recipes, exploring the metroparks, and spending time with her family.
Education
- The Ohio State University – Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- The Ohio State University College of Dentistry – Doctor of Dental Surgery
- University of Illinois Chicago College of Dentistry – Pediatric Dentistry Residency
Professional Affiliations
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
- American Dental Association