Objective: High prevalence of Dental and periodontal problems during the gestation period may have a negative effect on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in pregnant women. This systematic review aimed to perform a quality assessment and provide a critical overview of the current research available on OHRQoL in pregnant women. Methods: For this systemic review, all original and peer-reviewed human studies, which investigated OHRQoL of women during pregnancy or post- partum period, were searched. Studies were screened in title and abstract for the relevance by two independent investigators. Methodological quality was assessed using modified items recommended by the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale for observational studies. Results: All of the eight included studies had a cross-sectional design. Meta-analysis was not possible due to the heterogeneity of key aspects among the included studies. Thus, the data from the studies were evaluated qualitatively. The overall risk of bias of the included studies was low. Conclusion: The main conclusion of this review is that the presence of signs and symptoms of dental and gingival disease negatively affects the self-perception of OHRQoL in pregnant women. The most affected domains of OHRQoL in pregnant women were related to mental and psychological discomfort, followed by physical and functional problems.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that progressively damages the supporting structures of teeth, resulting in gum bleeding, inflammation, gum recession, and eventual tooth loss. Key factors, including poor oral hygiene, plaque accumulation, smoking, inadequate nutrition, and genetic predisposition, drive its development. Recent evidence underscores the potential role of periodontitis as a contributing factor to systemic diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by memory loss, cognitive decline, and brain inflammation. Emerging clinical and experimental studies indicate that these two conditions share overlapping risk factors and may be interconnected. One notable finding is the detection of specific periodontal pathogens, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), in the brains of individuals with AD. This suggests a possible link between chronic oral infections and neurodegeneration. These pathogens are believed to exacerbate neuroinflammatory processes by activating microglia and promoting systemic inflammation, which is central to AD pathogenesis. Further research is needed to clarify the biological mechanisms underlying this association. Targeted interventions that address periodontitis, such as anti-inflammatory therapies or treatments targeting specific pathogens like P. gingivalis, could potentially mitigate its impact on the onset and progression of AD, offering a novel avenue for prevention and management strategies.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop the Iranian version of the Children's Experiences of Dental Anxiety Measure (CEDAM) and evaluate its validity and reliability in assessing dental anxiety in children aged 9‒16.Methods: The CEDAM was translated into Persian following the guidelines of the IQOLA project. A ‎sample of children completed the measure in a clinical setting, with a subgroup completing it ‎again to assess test–retest reliability. Concurrent criterion validity was evaluated by having all ‎participants complete the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS) alongside the ‎CEDAM. Construct validity was examined using exploratory and confirmatory factor ‎analyses.‎Results: The study included 275 children between the ages of 9 and 16. The Iranian version of CEDAM ‎exhibited excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach's ⍺ coefficient of 0.83. Test–retest ‎reliability was also high, with an intraclass correlation coefficient value of 0.96. Furthermore, there was a significant and ‎positive correlation between CEDAM and MCDAS scores (ρ = 0.72, p < .01). Exploratory ‎factor analysis identified two factors, and confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the ‎instrument aligned well with the factor structure obtained from the exploratory analysis.‎Conclusion: This study provides evidence supporting the validity and reliability of the Iranian version of ‎CEDAM as a valuable tool for evaluating dental anxiety in Persian‐speaking children between ‎the ages of 9 and 16.‎

Oral health in pregnant and lactating women can affect maternal and child health. Dental treatments in this period should not have adverse effects on maternal and child health. This study was conducted to investigate the last-year dental students’ knowledge of the prescription of analgesics and antibiotics for pregnant and lactating mothers in Isfahan city, Iran. Methods: A total of 104 last-year dental students of Khorasgan Islamic Azad University and Isfahan University of Medical Sciences were recruited in this descriptiveanalytical study. They completed a 16-item questionnaire on the prescription of analgesics and antibiotics for pregnant and lactating mothers. Data were analyzed by SPSS (Version 22) statistical software(t-test). Results: The total mean score of students’ knowledge was 9.02±1.91. The highest level of knowledge about the safest analgesic (acetaminophen) was reported for the pregnant patients so that 100% of them had correct information in this regard. Further, the lowest level of knowledge was found for the use of dexamethasone during lactation, as only 10.6% of respondents were able to provide a correct response in this regard. Conclusion: The dental students had average knowledge about the prescription of antibiotics and analgesics for pregnant and lactating patients. To prevent the possible risks for these patients, further information should be provided to dental students.