Who is the Periodontal Professor?
Professor Solomon Olusegun Nwhator is a globally recognized authority in Periodontology and Periodontal Medicine. A distinguished scholar, visionary leader, and dedicated clinician, he has profoundly advanced the understanding of the oral–systemic health connection, reshaping clinical practice and influencing health policy across Africa and beyond. With about seventy publications in peer-reviewed journals and books, he brings together scientific rigor, clinical excellence, and transformative leadership in a way that continues to shape the future of his field.
Academic Affiliations & Scholarly Impact
Primary Affiliation: Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
International Collaboration: University of Helsinki, Finland
Research Metrics
Google Scholar Citations: 1,604
h-index: 19
i10-index: 27
Google Scholar ID: g0406usAAAAJ
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-3161-8092
Web of Science ResearcherID: E-6735-2013
Scopus Author ID: 16743989900
Education & Specialist Training
Professor Nwhator’s academic and professional journey reflects a lifelong commitment to excellence and interdisciplinary expertise
BDS, University of Lagos (1992)
FMCDS, Periodontology – National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (2005)
FWACS, Periodontology – West African College of Surgeons (2014)
PhD, Periodontology – University of Helsinki, Finland (2018)
Certificate, Leadership and Management in Health – University of Washington (2019)
MPA – NationalOpen University of Nigeria (2021)
His doctoral research at the University of Helsinki was a landmark achievement—the institution’s first dissertation focused on active MMP-8 (aMMP-8). This followed his seminal discovery of markedly elevated aMMP-8 levels in pregnant Nigerian women—unpublished data showing several-fold increases in the second trimester compared with Caucasian cohorts. This critical insight opened new pathways for understanding racial disparities in preterm birth risk.
Intellectual Contributions
Professor Nwhator is a leading voice in interdisciplinary research, building bridges between dentistry and systemic medicine.
1. Diabetes & Medical–Dental Integration
His groundbreaking 2012 meta-ethnographic review, “Is Periodontitis the Missing Link?”, emphasized the pivotal role of periodontal inflammation in glycemic control. He further demonstrated low physician awareness of this link, catalyzing new efforts toward medical–dental collaboration.
2. Reproductive Health & Fertility
He was among the first to identify a connection between oral health and reproductive outcomes. His influential papers—“Another Reason for Impeccable Oral Hygiene: Oral Hygiene–Sperm Count Link” (2013), and“Could Periodontitis Affect Time to Conception?” (2014)—provided compelling evidence that periodontal health significantly influences both male and female fertility.
3. Pregnancy & Racial Health Disparities
In his 2014 article, “Black Women’s Predisposition to Preterm Birth,” he spotlighted periodontal inflammation as a key modifiable factor contributing to racial disparities in preterm delivery. His 2020 research further revealed that non-surgical periodontal therapy favorably alters pregnancy biomarkers, strengthening the case for integrating periodontal care into routine antenatal programs.
4. Biomarkers & Diagnostic Innovation
A pioneer in translational diagnostics, Professor Nwhator has played a central role in validating chairside aMMP-8 testing. His work has directly shaped the global classification system for periodontitis staging and grading, and his reviews remain essential resources for clinicians and researchers worldwide.
5. Chronic Disease & Systemic Inflammation
His recent scholarship explores the intersections of periodontitis with chronic kidney disease, diabetes, COPD, and micronutrient homeostasis. His investigations into periodontal inflammatory burden (PISA) and its impact on renal and glycemic markers continue to reveal the extensive systemic benefits of periodontal therapy.
Leadership, Service, and Lasting Impact
Professor Nwhator serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Nigerian Dental Journal, a role through which he has elevated scholarly publishing in the region. He has trained and mentored generations of dentists and postgraduate scholars, shaping the evolution of periodontal research and clinical practice in Africa.A defining milestone in his legacy is his successful advocacy for the establishment of Africa’s first dedicated Periodontal Medicine Clinic at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC). This historic achievement stands as a testament to his vision and enduring contributions to oral–systemic health.
The Man Behind the Scholar
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Professor Solomon Nwhator is known for his discipline and unwavering faith. A devoted husband and father, he also serves as a choir master and pastor—embodying the harmony between intellectual excellence and deep spiritual commitment.
