>> The project was awarded a prize in the “Excellence and Best Practices” category, and the award was accepted by Dr. Pere Riutord from the Minister of Health, Manuela García.
ADEMA was recognized at the 2026 Balearic Islands Health Gala for the project “Pioneering Innovation: Ultrasound-based Intraoral Splint Developed by ADEMA,” which won the award in the “Excellence and Best Practices” category. The award was accepted by ADEMA Vice-Dean Dr. Pere Riutord during the gala, held at the Palma Congress Centre under the theme “A Way of Caring.” Presided over by the Minister of Health, Manuela García, and the Director General of the Health Service, Javier Ureña, the event brought together professionals, institutions, and projects contributing to the improvement of healthcare in the Balearic Islands.
In this edition, 170 awards were presented to initiatives distinguished by their contribution to healthcare that is more humane, innovative, preventive, and person-centered. During her remarks, the Minister of Health, Manuela García, emphasized that “in the Balearic Islands, we are implementing a new approach to care that is evolving toward a preventive, personalized, and digital model,” and highlighted the essential role of healthcare professionals as the pillar of the system.
The project awarded by the Department of Health represents a pioneering innovation in the field of dentistry. It involves an internationally patented oral splint that enables more precise, safe, and comfortable intraoral ultrasound imaging.
This technological solution addresses a previously unmet clinical need: the difficulty of performing ultrasound imaging within the oral cavity while ensuring technical reliability and patient comfort. Until now, positioning the transducer amidst complex anatomical structures—such as the tongue, palate, or cheeks—and the need to apply conductive gel directly inside the mouth limited image quality and caused discomfort.
The splint developed by ADEMA introduces a significant change in this field. It is a flexible, waterproof device pre-loaded with ultrasound conductive gel that acts as a stable interface between the ultrasound probe and oral tissues. This solution eliminates the presence of air—the primary factor causing signal distortion—and enables the acquisition of high-quality images without applying gel directly into the oral cavity.
Key benefits include improved accuracy in periodontal measurements, the reliable localization of critical anatomical structures—such as the palatine artery—and the monitoring of bone and gingival grafts, as well as potential applications in aesthetic procedures and the early diagnosis of serious conditions like oral cancer.
For ADEMA, this recognition reinforces the institution’s commitment to applied research, knowledge transfer, and the development of real-world solutions for current clinical challenges. The ultrasound-based intraoral splint represents a step forward toward a form of dentistry that is more technologically advanced, less invasive, and focused on patient well-being.
The award presented at the 2026 Health Gala highlights ADEMA’s work in fostering safer, more efficient, and person-centered healthcare, and helps position the Balearic Islands as a leading hub for innovation in health sciences.