From 8 to 10 May, students and lecturers from the paediatric dentistry area of the Faculty of Dentistry took part in the 46th Congress of the Spanish Society of Paediatric Dentistry (SEOP), held in the city of Toledo. During the event, several members of the area were recognised for their academic and research excellence, further consolidating the Faculty’s position as a benchmark in the field of paediatric dentistry.

One of the highlights of the congress was the awarding of the SEOP 2024 Grant, worth €3,000, to Dr Francisco Guinot, head of the paediatric dentistry area at the Faculty of Dentistry. This nationally competitive grant was awarded by the society’s scientific committee and its president. It will support the doctoral research project of lecturer Sandra Sáez Martínez. The study, titled “Chronology and sequence of eruption of permanent dentition in a paediatric population and its relationship with genetic and environmental factors”, aims to provide relevant scientific evidence on dental development in childhood. “This grant is a recognition of the research quality of our team and the Faculty’s commitment to applied research in paediatric clinical settings,” said Dr Guinot.

Lecturer Cristina García Villa also gave a presentation on “Alterations in dental eruption in children: diagnosis and early intervention”. In her talk, she highlighted the importance of early diagnosis and the role of the paediatric dentist as a key specialist in detecting and treating developmental dental conditions.

The research work of Blanca Rico and Frida Ibarra, second-year students on the Master’s Degree in Paediatric Dentistry, was also recognised at the congress. Blanca Rico received first runner-up for best oral communication for her work “Effectiveness of nitrous oxide sedation for dental treatment in paediatric patients”. Frida Ibarra received second runner-up for her presentation “Prevalence of mouth breathing in children with suspected allergic rhinitis”, a study developed as part of the collaboration agreement with Hospital HM Nens in Barcelona, where master’s students carry out part of their clinical placements.

“The recognition of these projects is especially significant as they fall within the master’s main research lines: behaviour management in paediatric patients and prevention in paediatric dentistry,” said Dr Guinot. “Both topics address real needs in daily clinical practice and reflect our commitment to evidence-based training and high-quality patient care.”