UNILAG Professor of Paediatric Dentistry Links Maternal Oral Health to Foetal Development at Inaugural Lecture

Professor of Paediatric Dentistry at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL), Omolola Olubunmi Orenuga, has underscored the strong link between maternal oral health and foetal development.

She made this assertion while delivering the 22nd Inaugural Lecture of the 2024/2025 academic session, titled “The Paediatric Dentist: Building Healthy Smiles from the Womb,” held on Wednesday, August 10, 2025, at the Tayo Aderinokun Lecture Theatre, University of Lagos.

The lecture, chaired by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics & Research), Professor Bola Oboh, drew a large audience that included the University Management team, colleagues, students, family, friends, mentors, and mentees of the inaugural lecturer.

Professor Orenuga presented research findings showing that cariogenic bacteria responsible for tooth decay can be transmitted from mother to child within the first six months of life. She stressed that the prenatal period plays a crucial role in laying the foundation for a child’s oral health, warning that gaps in maternal knowledge about primary teeth and risk factors for oral diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease remain a challenge.

She called on pregnant women to prioritize oral health, noting that maternal care directly impacts the development of an unborn child’s teeth. She also emphasized the responsibility of paediatric dentists in supporting oral health from pregnancy through childhood, describing them as central to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and family education on proper oral hygiene.

In addition to her scientific contributions, Professor Orenuga reflected on her over three-decade journey in dentistry, focusing on her specialization in paediatric dentistry. She highlighted the compassion and depth required in the profession and outlined her extensive research and clinical work in areas such as dental anomalies, cleft conditions, and oral health care for Nigerian children.

Professor Orenuga, who became a professor in 2020 after joining the University of Lagos as a lecturer in 1994, also serves as an Honorary Consultant Paediatric Dentist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). She is actively engaged in research, professional associations, and international collaborations, with several grants and awards to her credit.

Her lecture reinforced the importance of oral health education for expectant mothers and the broader role of dentistry in promoting lifelong health outcomes beginning before birth.