Reinforced polymeric materials are investigated as novel non-metal alternatives for prosthetic frameworks. This study examined the adherence of Streptococcus mutans to three high-performance polymeric (HPP) composites focusing on their microstructural composition, wettability, and surface roughness. Three CAD/CAM HPP composites [two fiber-reinforced composites, CarboCad (CC) and TRINIA (TR), and one ceramic-reinforced polyether ether ketone, DentoPEEK (PK)], were sectioned into ten beam- and ten plate-shaped specimens from each material. Surface properties (n = 10) were analyzed by water wettability and roughness measurements (Ra and Rz). The biofilm adherence was determined by calculating the number of S. mutans through colony-forming units (CFUs). Representative images were obtained using a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The data were analyzed using Welch one-way ANOVA and Dunnett T3 post hoc tests. The results showed significant differences in roughness (Ra) across the materials, ranked from highest to lowest as follows: TR, 0.231 µm; CC, 0.194 µm; and PK, 0.161 µm (p = 0.0001). The contact angle averages varied from 51.36° to 91.03°, with PK exhibiting the highest wettability (p = 0.0012). However, S. mutans adherence was markedly reduced in PK (1.96 CFU/mm², p = 0.0001) in comparison to TR and CC (2.86 and 2.98 CFU/mm², respectively). Consequently, the fiber-reinforced composites (CC and TR), despite their low wettability, exhibited greater susceptibility for bacterial adherence than the smoother and more wettable PK, highlighting the substantial impact of their surface roughness and microstructural variability.

Child abuse and neglect (CAN) have significant consequences for children’s health and well-being. Dentists play an important role in identifying and reporting CAN cases. This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes toward CAN among dental students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among dental students, comparing second-year (preclinical) and fifth-year (clinical) students, both male and female, in the College of Dentistry at King Saud University during the first semester of the 2022/2023 academic year, using a questionnaire with 23 multiple-choice questions and an electronic link. The results revealed that most dental students (96%) were aware of CAN, with social media being the most utilized source of information (85%). However, the dental college was noticed as the least utilized source (50%). Most dental students recognize the significance of CAN in dentistry and expressed an intense interest in learning how to effectively deal with such cases. Only a small proportion, 16%, of dental students reported experiencing incidents of CAN in their clinical practice. In general, there were statistically significant differences between preclinical and clinical students, but there were no significant differences in awareness between female and male students when the source of information and role in dealing with CAN were taken into consideration. Both preclinical and clinical dental students were aware of CAN, although there were concerns about their ability to cope with it. The results emphasize the importance of comprehensive education and training programs across the dental curriculum about CAN.