>> The initiative, recognized by European, national, and regional institutions, brings together researchers, faculty, and students from ADEMA for activities focused on health education, prevention, and the promotion of oral and nutritional health among schoolchildren.
>>Around 1,200 schoolchildren from Palma and the *Part Forana* (the rest of the island of Mallorca) will take part in the 2026/2027 edition, which begins today, featuring oral health screenings and workshops on prevention, healthy eating, and physical activity.
Since 2018, more than 9,500 students—ranging from preschool to secondary education—across 85 public, state-subsidized, and private schools in Mallorca have participated in the “Healthy Smiles” (“Sonrisas Saludables”) program, an initiative of the ADEMA Observatory for Oral Health and Nutritional Habits. For the 2026/2027 academic year—a new edition of which began today—nearly 1,200 students from Palma and the rest of the island (the *Part Forana*) are expected to take part in activities focused on the prevention and promotion of oral health and healthy nutritional habits.
This initiative—which has received awards from various institutions, including the Association for Dental Education in Europe (ADEE)—an organization that brings together all dental schools across Europe—the Spanish Society of Epidemiology and Oral Public Health (SESPO), and the Department of Health of the Government of the Balearic Islands, among others—combines scientific research, teaching, and direct engagement with the school-age population, with the goal of fostering healthy lifestyle habits from an early age and actively contributing to disease prevention.
Furthermore, the ADEMA Observatory for Oral Health and Nutritional Habits also maintains a significant research program. Data collected over the years have served as the basis for two doctoral theses by ADEMA faculty members—Dr. Daniela Vallejos Rojas and Dr. Irene Coll—as well as for the publication of various scientific studies in specialized, internationally recognized journals.
>>The Observatory’s research activity has led to the development of two doctoral theses, as well as the publication of various studies in specialized, internationally recognized journals, focusing on the oral health of schoolchildren in Mallorca.
La investigación de la doctora Daniela Vallejos, realizada con más de 700 escolares de 28 centros educativos de Mallorca, ha identificado desigualdades en la salud bucodental infantil relacionadas con el entorno familiar, los hábitos alimentarios y el nivel educativo de los progenitores. Por su parte, la tesis de Irene Coll, basada en una muestra de 233 adolescentes, ha revelado que el 75,9% de los participantes presenta problemas en las encías y ha analizado su relación con el consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados.
These studies provide new insights into the oral health of schoolchildren in Mallorca and help identify risk factors and vulnerable groups, with the aim of improving prevention strategies.
Through this line of work, the ADEMA University School continues to strengthen its commitment to scientific research, innovation, and knowledge transfer, with the goal of applying the results of its studies toward disease prevention and health promotion.
Multidisciplinary team and workshops
Throughout this seven-year follow-up period, a multidisciplinary team from ADEMA—comprising faculty, researchers, and students from university degree programs in Dentistry and in Human Nutrition and Dietetics, as well as from vocational training programs in Dietetics and Oral Hygiene—has conducted practical workshops, awareness-raising sessions, and oral health screenings, all centered on a preventive and holistic approach to health.
Para esta edición, que acaba de arrancar, está prevista la participación de cerca de 1.200 escolares de diferentes centros educativos de Mallorca, con 600 participaciones programadas durante el primer semestre y 575 para el segundo. Las actividades se diseñan y adaptan a las distintas etapas educativas, combinando talleres participativos, juegos didácticos, dinámicas interactivas y exploraciones bucodentales. A través de estas propuestas, los escolares adquieren conocimientos y herramientas para mejorar su higiene oral, adoptar hábitos alimentarios saludables y prevenir enfermedades desde edades tempranas.
As the project coordinators, Dr. Carla Busquets and Dr. Cristina Martorell, have explained: “The excellent reception this program continues to receive among educational centers in Mallorca reflects the importance of establishing links between the university and the educational community. One of the key values of this initiative is that it allows our students to apply the knowledge acquired in the classroom to real-life situations, develop communication skills, and gain a greater sensitivity toward the health needs of the population. It is an enriching experience for both the schoolchildren and the future healthcare professionals, in which service-learning and cooperative work play a fundamental role.”
For the 2026-2027 academic year, the Observatory plans to involve 11 educational institutions from various municipalities in Mallorca, including Palma, Llucmajor, Sineu, and Santanyí. Participating schools include CEIP Camilo José Cela, CEIP S’Algar, CEIP Tramuntana, and CEIP Son Verí Nou, as well as the state-subsidized private schools (centros concertados) Balmes, San José de la Montaña, and Sant Josep Obrer. Also joining the initiative are IES Sineu, IES Aurora Picornell, and IES Santanyí, thereby extending the scope of the project to a diverse range of educational communities.
According to Dr. Cristina Martorell, “prevention and early detection are essential for avoiding oral health problems from childhood. Taking care of one’s oral health also means looking after one’s overall health; small, everyday habits—such as thorough brushing, using fluoride toothpaste, reducing sugar intake, and having regular check-ups—can make a significant difference to the present and future well-being of schoolchildren.”
In this same vein, Dr. Carla Busquets, head of the Nutrition degree program, has emphasized that “a balanced diet from childhood is essential for preventing diseases and promoting good oral and general health. Promoting healthy habits and facilitating access to nutritional education—especially among the most vulnerable groups—is key to improving the health and well-being of the population.”