Background: The study aimed to assess dental anxiety (self and proxy reported) using a Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and modified short State-Trait Anxiety Inventory scale (Emoji). Methods: 200 children visiting the pediatric dental clinic at the College of Dentistry at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University were recruited to assess their anxiety levels. The anxiety score was measured before and after the treatment using a short STAI scale and MDAS of 200 children using a Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and a modified short STAI (Emoji) Scale. Results: The perception of children with MDAS was found to have the highest mean score of 14.54 ± 3.82 before the dental procedure compared to the mean score of 9.40 ± 2.90 after the dental procedure. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). A statistically significant difference was observed in MDAS after the dental procedure and, in short, STAI before the dental procedure. Conclusion: All children improved their dental anxiety levels before and after the procedure. Therefore, procedural experience may improve the child’s response.

The study aimed to assess dental anxiety (self and proxy reported) using a modified dental Anxiety Scale(MDAS) and modified short state-trait anxiety inventory scale(Emoji). Methods: 200 children visiting the pediatric dental clinic at the College of Dentistry at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University were recruited to assess their levels of anxiety. The anxiety score was measured before and after the treatment using a short STAI scale and MDAS of 200 children using a Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and a modified short STAI (Emoji) Scale. Results: The perception of children MDAS was found to have a highest mean score of 14.54±3.82 after the dental procedure than compared to the mean score of 9.40 ±2.90 before the dental procedure this difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). There was a statistically significant difference observed in MDAS after the dental procedure and in short STAI before the dental procedure. Conclusion: All children exhibited improvement in their levels of dental anxiety before and after the procedure. Therefore, procedural experience may improve the child's response.

Background: Clear post-extraction sessions are vital for good patient outcomes. Traditional methods, such as verbal and printed information, have historically been prevalent; however, digital health care methods for analysis and communication are increasingly being adopted. Still, evidence comparing preferences for digital versus traditional instruction, especially for routine post-extraction care, remains limited. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate preferences between digital methods (QR code-based videos) and traditional methods (verbal and printed leaflets) for delivering post-extraction care instructions among dental patients and students. It also assesses perceptions of communication quality, confidence, and patient interaction associated with each method. Methods: A cross-sectional study involved 200 dental students and 200 patients undergoing routine tooth extractions. The sample size was determined based on a 5% margin of error at a 95% confidence level for proportion estimation. Participants experienced all three instructional delivery methods—verbal, printed leaflet, and QR code-based video—for post-extraction care and completed validated questionnaires. The study assessed preferences for each delivery method, communication quality, confidence in following or providing instructions, ease of access, perceived usefulness, and impact on patient-provider interaction. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Mann–Whitney U test for group comparisons, and Spearman correlation for relationships among ordinal data. Results: Among all participants, 67.5% chose QR codes as the preferred method for improving communication (p < 0.001). Among dental students, 49% favored QR codes as the best method for postoperative instructions, and 50.5% indicated that QR codes boosted their confidence in providing instructions to patients. Preference for QR codes ranged from 43.5% to 65.5% across different aspects evaluated. Notably, among patients aged 60 years or older, 65.5% considered QR codes the most convenient for the elderly. Mann–Whitney U tests showed statistically significant differences between students and patients for ease of access (p = 0.009, rank biserial r = −0.143), video length appropriateness (p = 0.003, rank biserial r = −0.160), and the unlikelihood of missing instructions (p < 0.001, rank biserial r = −0.446). Conclusions: QR code-based video instructions were widely preferred over traditional methods by both dental students and patients for post-extraction care delivery. These findings support the integration of digital communication tools into post-extraction care protocols as a complement to traditional instruction delivery methods, though longitudinal studies assessing actual clinical outcomes are needed.

Background/Objectives: Nanotechnology has become a transformative area in modern dentistry, providing new opportunities for better diagnosis, targeted drug delivery, improved restorative materials, antimicrobial treatments, and tissue regeneration. This scoping review outlines the scope, key developments, and future directions of nanotechnology use across all dental specialties, highlights emerging innovations, and identifies major translational challenges and research priorities. Methods: This review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and adhered to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. These guidelines, originally by Arksey and O’Malley (2005) and later updated by Levac et al. (2010) and Peters et al. (2020, 2021), guided the process. The Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework guided the eligibility criteria. Included studies were primary research or reviews reporting nanotechnology applications in any dental specialty, published in English, with no date restriction. Excluded were non-peer-reviewed sources, conference abstracts without full text, studies unrelated to dental applications, and non-English publications. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. After screening titles and abstracts and reviewing full texts, 133 studies were included. Results: The included studies covered a wide range of fields such as restorative dentistry, implantology, periodontology, endodontics, drug delivery, tissue regeneration, oral diagnostics, antimicrobial applications, prosthodontics, orthodontics, and emerging technologies like nanorobotics and graphene-based systems. The most commonly reported nanomaterials were silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaP NPs), and polymeric nanoparticles such as PLGA and chitosan. Additionally, there was a notable increase in publications starting from 2019. Conclusions: Nanotechnology offers transformative possibilities in every area of dentistry. Nonetheless, challenges such as nanotoxicology safety, regulatory alignment, and effective clinical application need resolution. Essential steps include standardized characterization, gathering long-term safety data, and establishing international regulatory standards to ensure safe adoption of nano dentistry.

Background: The integration of Quick Response (QR) codes into healthcare offers a modern solution for efficient and cost-effective information dissemination. Given Saudi Arabia’s high smartphone penetration rate, QR codes hold significant potential for enhancing preventive oral healthcare. Objective: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of QR codes in providing preventive oral health information leaflets (PILs), focusing on patient awareness, ease of use, and preferences compared to traditional paper leaflets. Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 118 participants, predominantly middle-aged and well-educated. The study assessed familiarity with QR codes, their actual usage, and patient preferences for accessing healthcare information via mobile technology or paper PILs. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the associations between demographics and preferences. Results: The study found universal awareness of QR codes among participants, with 44.1% reporting prior usage. A majority (91.5%) preferred accessing healthcare information via mobile devices, with 80.5% favoring QR codes over leaflets for their convenience and accessibility. No significant differences were observed in preferences across gender or educational levels, although women were more likely to require assistance. Participants highlighted the ease of sharing healthcare information through QR codes (87.3%). Conclusion: QR codes are widely recognized as effective tools for patient education, particularly in preventive oral healthcare. Their ease of use, accessibility, and strong preference over traditional methods underscore their potential in healthcare communication. Further research is needed to address barriers to broader adoption and assess long-term impacts.

Background: Dental insurance claims data are vital for research in oral health, epidemiology, and policy. However, issues like data quality, coding standards, validity, interoperability, and analytical approaches hinder their use. This review outlines these challenges. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR and Arksey-O’Malley, we searched Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed through April 2026 for peer-reviewed studies on dental insurance data issues. Two reviewers screened and extracted data, identifying key challenges and implications. Results: Out of 563 records, 389 remained after deduplication; 45 studies met criteria. Data sources included Medicaid, Medicare, insurers, and national systems from various countries. Six main challenges emerged: (1) coding errors and lack of standardization; (2) data validity and quality concerns; (3) interoperability and linkage barriers; (4) fraud detection issues; (5) analytical limitations; (6) policy insights on disparities. Validation showed variable accuracy, with diagnosis codes more reliable than procedure codes. Conclusions: Challenges limit data use in research and policy. Standardized coding, validation, interoperability, transparency, and causal inference are essential for leveraging these data to improve oral health research and policies.