Journal of Dental Medicine

Background and Aims: Given the rapid growth of digital technologies in dentistry, assessing dentists’ awareness and attitudes toward this transformation is essential. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness and attitudes of general dentists in Yazd-Iran toward digital dentistry in 2025.
Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 135 general dentists in Yazd-Iran were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected via an online questionnaire including demographic information and the questions related to awareness and attitude. Dat were analyzed using SPSS version 27 and the statistical analysis tests were Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Chi-square to examine the variables.
Results: A total of 59 men and 76 women with a mean age of 31.92 ± 7.87 years participated in the study. The mean knowledge score was 7.76 ± 2.77 out of 12. Higher knowledge and a more positive attitude were significantly associated with older age, longer work experience, and male gender (P<0.05). Overall, 74.1% of participants were unaware of the well-known CAD/CAM system, 74.8% were unfamiliar with digital implant software, and 60% did not have adequate knowledge of correct application of intraoral scanners. While, 81.5% reported an overall positive attitude, only 11.9% considered their knowledge to be aligned with modern digital technologies.
Conclusion: General dentists demonstrated a moderate level of awareness and the existing knowledge gaps warrant greater attention in both undergraduate and continuing education. Enhancing knowledge among specific groups-such as younger, less experienced, and female dentists—is essential. Significant differences in attitudes were observed according to the age, gender, and years of professional experience.

Background and Aims: Dental caries is a multifactorial chronic disease that affects the majority of the population, causing a very serious health problem worldwide This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the incidence of dental caries, parents' understanding of children's oral health, and factors affecting the use of dental services in the population of primary school children.
Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted and the desired information was collected using the OHL-AQ questionnaire, the validity and reliability of which was confirmed in the previuos study. A total of 400 students between the ages of 6 and 12 were included in the study. The decay, missing, filling (DMFT) Index was used for calculating dental caries index. The statistical population of this research were the parents and students of the primary level of education in the six districts of Isfahan city in the academic year of 1402-1403. The sampling method was random cluster sampling. Then, the data collected from the examinations and questionnaires were analyzed by correlation tests, Independent Samples
T-Test and linear regression using SPSS software version 26, and the error level was 0.05.
Results: Among 400 students, the highest frequency (20.8%) was related to the second grade and the lowest frequency (12.5%) was related to the sixth grade of education. The average age of students' parents was 39.8 years. In most cases (56%) parents had university education. The educational level of students and the level of parents’ education had a significant relationship with the DMFT score (P<0.001). The average oral health information literacy score and average age of the parents had a significant relationship with the DMFT score (P<0.001). In this study, the average oral health information literacy score of parents was estimated to be 9.1.
Conclusion: In the present study, the information literacy score of the parents was evaluated as average and showed a significant relationship with the DMFT index. Also, the educational level of the student and the level of parents’ education had a significant relationship with the DMFT score. Therefore, it can be concluded that promotion of the level of education in the society is necessary as it can affect the level of oral health of children.

Background and Aims: Post-treatment relapse is one of the common challenges in maintaining orthodontic results, and the selection of the type and characteristics of retainers plays a crucial role in treatment stability. Vacuum-formed retainers (Essix) are widely used due to their ease of fabrication, esthetics, and high patient acceptance. However, the effect of different thicknesses of these retainers on the preservation of occlusal characteristics has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Essix retainer thickness on maintaining occlusal characteristics.
Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted in 2025 on 30 patients (23 females and 7 males) who had completed fixed orthodontic treatment at the Department of Orthodontics, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups receiving Essix retainers of different thicknesses (1.5 mm and 1 mm) under similar retention protocols. The variables of overjet, overbite, inter-canine width, inter-molar width, upper arch length, and the dental irregularity index were measured immediately after debonding at 6 and 9 months of the retention phase. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, and comparisons were made between the two groups.
Results: The results demonstrated that the use of 1.5 mm thickness of Essix retainers led to a significant increase in overjet over time (p=0.04), whereas the 1 mm thickness showed no significant change (p=0.22). Changes in overbite were not significant in either group (p=0.60) and the difference between the two groups at 9 months was also not significant (p=0.23). Inter-canine width (p=0.38) and inter-molar width (p=0.13) did not change significantly over time and the difference between groups at 9 months was not significant (p>0.05). Regarding the arch length, the 1.5 mm thickness showed significant changes (p=0.04), whereas the 1 mm  thickness  did not (p=0.16). However, the difference between groups at 9 months was not significant (p=0.44). The dental irregularity index decreased significantly in both groups (p≤0.001), but the degree of change between groups was not significant (p=0.35).
Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, clinically, the thinner Essix retainers did not result in greater relapse compared to the thicker Essix retainers. Therefore, the selection of Essix retainer thickness can be based on the patient preference and clinician judgment, without a need to recommend a specific thickness definitively. However, further studies with longer follow-up periods are suggested to evaluate the long-term stability of treatment outcomes.

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.