Dr Isabel Olegário de Costa
Dr Isabel Olegário graduated with honours in Dentistry from the University of São Paulo, Brazil, where she also completed her Master’s, PhD, and Postdoctoral studies. In 2017, she undertook a split-fellowship PhD at the Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA). More recently, she completed the D.Ch.Dent in Paediatric Dentistry at Trinity College Dublin, where she also contributed as an Assistant Professor involved in undergraduate dental education for five years.
She is a Senior Lecturer in Paediatric and Primary Care Dentistry at the newly established RCSI School of Dentistry, where she leads the Professional Development and Research strands of the undergraduate dental curriculum. Alongside her academic role, she works in private practice at the Hermitage Hospital limited to paediatric dentistry with a focus on children requiring complex treatment, behavioural support and treatment under general anaesthesia.
Dr Olegário’s clinical and research interests include paediatric dentistry, cariology, and dental education. She has led and collaborated on international clinical trials and educational research, with publications in peer-reviewed journals and contributions to textbooks in paediatric dentistry. Her current projects focus on preventive and minimally invasive approaches to care for children, and on innovation in dental education and assessment. She is an active member of the Irish Society of Dentistry for Children (ISDC) committee and serves on the editorial board of the European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry. She also works closely with colleagues in Ireland and internationally to strengthen research, education, and clinical practice networks.
Dr Olegário is passionate about representing the dental profession and advocating for high standards in education, clinical care, and research. She is committed to supporting colleagues across general and specialist practice, ensuring the profession is well represented, and that the voices of patients and families remain central in shaping the future of dentistry in Ireland.