Raphael Freitas De Souza

Dr. Raphael F. de Souza, DDS, MSc, PhD, FRCDC, is a prosthodontist board-certified in Canada and a clinician-scientist with extensive experience in clinical research on oral rehabilitation. His research and teaching have focused primarily on the treatment and long-term oral health of patients with edentulism. Since completing his PhD, he has been continuously involved in the development and coordination of clinical studies, including randomized clinical trials and systematic reviews. He has led and collaborated on research involving investigators from several countries, including Brazil, Canada, and Chile.

With a strong commitment to evidence-based dentistry, Dr. de Souza integrates expertise in clinical research methods with prosthodontic practice and a particular interest in public health and interdisciplinary care. His research focuses on interventions that can improve access to effective and cost-conscious care for edentulism, promote the long-term oral health of prosthesis wearers, and advance prosthodontic techniques and materials. His work can be broadly divided into two main areas:

(1) Treatment modalities for edentulism.
This area focuses on clinical studies and systematic reviews evaluating interventions that may improve the accessibility, effectiveness, and efficiency of prosthodontic care. Examples include the use of mini dental implants, implant-retained overdentures, CAD/CAM and other digital technologies, as well as simplified approaches to the delivery of prosthodontic treatment.

(2) Prosthesis-associated oral infections and inflammation.
This research focuses particularly on Candida-associated conditions such as denture stomatitis, which are common among removable prosthesis wearers but remain relatively underinvestigated in clinical trials. Dr. de Souza is interested in evaluating conservative and clinically applicable strategies for their prevention and management, including oral hygiene interventions and antimicrobial therapies.