Rute Rio

Rute Rio serves as an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Catholic University of Portugal (UCP), where she actively contributes to dental research and education. Her academic profile is anchored in evidence-based dentistry with strong institutional ties to the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health (CIIS).

Her research spans critical domains including Restorative Dentistry (specializing in glass ionomer cement applications), Pediatric Dentistry (focusing on primary/permanent teeth restorations), and Caries Risk Assessment (developing novel indices incorporating salivary/microbiological factors). She also investigates Aesthetic Dentistry parameters like smile characterization and diastema closure techniques, employing systematic review methodologies to synthesize clinical evidence.

Recent publications (2023-2024) reveal concentrated expertise in dental biomaterials evaluation, with multiple umbrella/systematic reviews establishing clinical guidelines for glass ionomer cement use. Her work bridges laboratory research with clinical applications, particularly in minimally invasive pediatric and restorative procedures.

Dr. Rio actively supervises graduate research at UCP, guiding 17 supervised works including theses on caries risk assessment and gingivectomy techniques. She participates in the CIIS research project (2020-2024) funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, collaborating with interdisciplinary health researchers across Portugal.

Her laboratory affiliations center on the CIIS research ecosystem, where she contributes to interdisciplinary oral health studies with emphasis on biomaterials testing and clinical outcome assessment. Current projects integrate microbiological analysis with traditional caries risk evaluation frameworks.