Journal of Dental Medicine

Background and Aims: Oral health is recognized as an integral component of general health andlike other health aspects, can significantly impact the quality of life of both the individual and their family. Due to their rapid physical and psychological development, children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse consequences of oral health problems. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of children's oral health on family quality of life and the factors influencing this relationship among children under six years old in Qazvin, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the parents of 80 six-year-old children in Qazvin city in 2022. A convenience sampling method was employed, recruiting participants from among those attending the Dental School of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. Initially, the child's demographic information (age, gender, birth order, and family socioeconomic status) was collected from the parents. Subsequently, they completed the Family Impact Scale (FIS) questionnaire. This questionnaire assesses the impact of a child's oral and dental problems on the family, utilizing four subscales. Subsequently, questions were asked regarding general health, oral and dental health, dental visits, and the services received. The collected data were then analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics including variance, Pearson correlation, and T tests.
Results: 80 parents were enrolled in the study of whom 39 had a son and 41 had a daughter. The mean age of the studied children was 4.72±1.06 years, with an age range of 3 years (the youngest being 3 and the oldest 6 years old). Among the dimensions of family quality of life (FIS), the family finances subscale had the highest mean score (0.53 ± 0.68), while the family conflict subscale had the lowest (0.73±0.44). The overall mean score for family quality of life was 0.52±0.6. No statistically significant relationship was found between the outcome variable (oral health-related quality of life) and the independent variable of family economic status (P>0.05). However, a statistically significant relationship was observed with the independent variable of the child's birth order (P=0.002), indicating that the impact of the child's oral health on family quality of life would increase with a higher birth order. Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between the child's age and two subscales of family quality of life: family activity (P=0.03) and family conflict (P=0.006). Specifically, a younger child's age was associated with a greater impact of their oral health on the family's quality of life. There was a significant relationship between the child's general health and oral/dental health from the parents' perspective and the impact of the obtained FIS score (P=0.001 and P=0.04, respectively).
Conclusion: The findings indicated that a child's oral health status could impact the family quality of life, and this impact was associated with the child's age and birth order.

Background and Aims: The learning environment is defined as anything that happens in a classroom or educational group, faculty or university. Evaluation of dental students’ opinions  about their learning environment, can help those responsible to provide solutions for improving the quality and quantity of clinical education. One of the tools that quantitatively measures the environment and atmosphere governing dental education is DSLES (Dental Student Learning Environment Survey). Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the educational environment of the Ilam School of Dentistry based on the DSLES questionnaire.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted on 114, clinical and pre-clinical students of the Ilam School of Dentistry were enrolled in the study in 2025. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 24). Total scores were analyzed using Student's
t-test and the significance level was set at p<0.05.
Results: The results showed that the educational environment of the dental school was in the medium to relatively desirable range in various dimensions, but none of the components reached the excellent level. The highest score was related to the "relationships between students" and the lowest score was related to the "flexibility of the educational program". "Relations between students" was the highest score among the components (p=0.002). Curriculum flexibility had the lowest score among the components (p=0.000). The results of the study indicated statistically significant differences between the preclinical and clinical students' perceptions of the educational environment (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The educational environment of the school of dentistry had a suitable basic structure but needed to be transformed. Focusing on increasing the flexibility of educational programs, strengthening responsiveness to students' needs (especially in the clinical period), and maintaining existing gender equity can lead to improving the overall quality of educational environment.

Background and Aims: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are among the most common occupational health problems faced by dentists. Given their impact on dentists’ health and performance, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of MSDs among general and specialist dentists practicing in Babol, Iran.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the standardized Nordic questionnaire, consisting of general and specific sections, was distributed in person among dentists practicing in Babol, based on data obtained from the local Medical Council. Distribution was carried out after a telephone invitation and confirmation of willingness to participate. The questionnaire included items regarding pain and discomfort in different body regions such as the neck, shoulders, and lower back. The frequency of participants with MSDs was assessed based on gender, right/left handedness, specialty, playing sports, and participating in a specific sport. The mean age, weight, height, body mass index, weekly working hours, and work experience of dentists with and without MSDs were also compared. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22, employing independent t-tests, Chi-square tests, and Fisher’s exact test, with a significance level set at 0.05.
Results: Of the 182 dentists approached, 17 declined participation and 5 met the exclusion criteria. A total of 160 dentists (mean work experience: 15.65 ±9.26 years) were included in the study; of these, 100 (62.5%) were male, 95 (59.4%) were general practitioners, and 65 (40.6%) were specialists. The overall prevalence of MSDs in this population was reported to be 90%. The most commonly affected region was the neck (76.4%), while the least affected was the ankle (3%). A statistically significant association was found between engaging in a specific type of regular physical activity and a reduced incidence of MSDs (P<0.001). No significant associations were observed with other variables such as gender, handedness, specialty, or field of specialization (P>0.05). Furthermore, no significant differences were found in the mean height, weight, body mass index, weekly working hours, or years of experience between dentists with and without MSDs (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Musculoskeletal disorders are highly prevalent among dentists in Babol. Given this high prevalence, the development and implementation of educational programs on ergonomics, along with recommendations for targeted physical activity appear to be essential.

Background and Aims: Despite the functional and aesthetic benefits, orthodontic treatment is often associated with pain and discomfort that can adversely affect patients’ quality of life. Given the growing emphasis on the patient-reported outcomes in clinical care, this study aimed to investigate the association between the pain intensity caused by orthodontic treatment and orthodontic-related quality of life in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic therapy.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 on patients receiving fixed orthodontic treatment with a metallic MBT system (slot 0.022 inch) at a private clinic in Babol, Iran. A total of 85 patients aged 15–25 years were selected using convenience sampling. Pain intensity was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 10. Quality of life was evaluated using the persian version of the Orthodontic Quality of Life questionnaire, with a scoring range of 22 to 88. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-test and Pearson’s correlation coefficient in SPSS, with a significance level set at P<0.05.
Results: Among the participants, 72.9% were female, 68.2% were under the age of 20, and 31.8% were aged between 20 and 25 years. The mean pain score was 4.75 ± 1.91, and the mean  Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) score was 37.95 ± 9.51. A significant negative correlation was found between the pain intensity and overall OHRQoL, as well as all of its subdomains (oral function, social impact, dentofacial aesthetics, and self-awareness of appearance) (P≤0.001). No statistically significant differences in pain or OHRQoL scores were observed based on gender or age group (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Orthodontic pain has a significant negative impact on patients’ quality of life. Early pain management strategies and supportive interventions during the initial phases of orthodontic treatment can enhance patients’ overall treatment experience and improve compliance.

This review article elucidates sol-gel thin films as an engineering tool for the targeted tuning of restorative interphases within the structure-process-property-performance framework. The primary focus is placed on how low-temperature solution routes, through precursor selection, adjustment of deposition parameters, and control of condensation schedules, can lead to network organization, pore distribution, and the formation of surface functionalities; the components that play a decisive role in interfacial adhesion, light transmission, and initial microbial adhesion. In the adhesion domain, siliceous interphases generated via surface infiltration or overlapping thin coatings create silanol-rich surfaces on yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia, thereby enabling durable bonding with methacrylate-based systems. Concurrently, the design of zirconia-silica mixed oxides mitigates local incompatibilities and facilitates uniform primer spreading. In the optical domain, refractive index engineering is pursued through the incorporation of porous silica or nanoscale organic-inorganic networks, strategies that target antireflective behavior, preservation of surface gloss, and increased tolerance to layer thickness variations via gradient structures. In biofilm control, visible-light-responsive titania coatings exhibit effective performance under clinical illumination conditions. In contrast, the siliceous matrices or ion-doped organic-inorganic systems provide localized release of silver or zinc ions and light-independent antibacterial effects. Key challenges reported for these approaches include balancing refractive index reduction and hardness retention, improving hydrolytic stability to mitigate the risk of embrittlement, and preventing undesirable photocatalytic effects on surface color and gloss. From a clinical translation perspective, reproducibility remains dependent on defining narrow processing windows, precise monitoring of layer thickness and surface roughness, alignment with common airborne-particle abrasion and silanization workflows, and judicious adjustment of light dose. Overall, sol-gel nanolayers provide a modular engineering toolbox for selective interphase reinforcement, optical tuning, and surface bioactivation, provided that layer structure and quality control are considered as central design variables.

This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the potential of plant-derived polyphenols in restorative and preventive dentistry. As natural bioactive compounds such as polyphenols reshape the oral microbial ecology by attenuating virulence, inhibiting quorum-sensing communication, disrupting extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) formation, and reducing acidogenicity within dental biofilms. Beyond their antimicrobial effects, polyphenols can protect host tissues, namely, enamel, dentin, and gingiva, by cross-linking collagen fibrils, suppressing matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, and modulating inflammatory pathways. Experimental, in situ, and clinical evidence consistently demonstrated improved bond durability at the dentin–resin interface. The most compelling data support the use of primers containing proanthocyanidins, quercetin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and resveratrol. In preventive applications, catechin-based varnishes have demonstrated remineralization effects comparable to those of fluoride varnishes. Conversely, pomegranate extract–enriched mouthrinses, in the presence of fluoride, could enhance both anti-demineralization and antibiofilm activity. In the context of implants and dental prostheses, the polyphenol-functionalized coatings, particularly those based on tannic or caffeic acid, would reduce biofilm formation and provide corrosion resistance for metallic surfaces. Nevertheless, several formulation challenges remain, including rapid oxidation, limited solubility, and discoloration, all of which require careful management. Strategies such as dose optimization, solvent selection, covalent stabilization, and microencapsulation are recommended to overcome these limitations. For broader and more effective clinical translation, standardization of multispecies laboratory models and harmonization of clinical endpoints are essential. Furthermore, future longitudinal trials are needed to bridge the gap between laboratory findings and clinical performance. Ultimately, with the design of innovative delivery systems and long-term monitoring of parameters such as restoration survival, secondary caries, periodontal health, and color stability, polyphenols hold promise to define a new generation of antibacterial, biocompatible, and aesthetically stable dental materials.