Filipino Dentist Bags Pediatric Oral Health Research Award in Barcelona 

BARCELONA 08 July 2025 — Filipino dentist and leading pediatric dental care advocate Dr. Maritess Oliveros Villarico clinched the Pediatric Oral Health Research Award (South East Asia Division) at the 103rd General Session of the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) in Barcelona on 27 June 2025. 

Dr. Villarico was recognized for her outstanding contribution to advancing the understanding of pediatric oral health among children and adolescents. The award is sponsored by the Taiwanese Association of Pediatric Dentistry. 

Dr. Villarico was recognized for her research, “Risk Factors for Early Childhood Caries in a High-Incidence Population,” conducted in barangay health centers in Caloocan City. The study tracked toddlers over a two-year period, including during the challenging months of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. 

“The main findings revealed that 76.5% of the study participants—who had an average age of 36 months and about 19 teeth—were already suffering from dental caries,” explained Dr. Villarico. “The primary recommendation is to integrate oral health education into maternal and child care programs, even before children’s teeth begin to erupt.” 

Dr. Villarico's pioneering work, which has significantly influenced practices in dental trauma management and pediatric endodontics, was evaluated by an international panel of experts and stood out among the most distinguished entries from across Southeast Asia. 

During the visit of Dr. Villarico and the Philippine IADR delegates to the Philippine Consul General on 28 June 2025, Philippine Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro underscored that “Dr. Villarico’s achievement also marks an important milestone for Filipino dental professionals committed to bringing Philippine-based research into the global spotlight”. END

For more information, visit https://barcelonapcg.dfa.gov.ph/ or https://www.facebook.com/PHinBarcelona/.