{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,12]],"date-time":"2026-08-12T23:31:40Z","timestamp":1786577500429,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,10]],"date-time":"2025-03-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1741564800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Dentistry Journal"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: The rising popularity of e-cigarette use is creating new challenges for oral healthcare. Factors such as targeted marketing, appealing flavors, and the perception that e-cigarettes are a safer alternative to traditional smoking have contributed to their widespread adoption. This trend is particularly prevalent among young adults and teenagers, many of whom turn to e-cigarettes despite having no prior history of regular cigarette use. This study aimed to evaluate dentists\u2019 knowledge and perceptions regarding e-cigarettes, focusing on their health effects, regulatory status, and potential risks to oral health. Assessing dentists\u2019 knowledge of e-cigarette risks is important, as they guide patients on the potential oral health dangers of vaping. E-cigarette use has been linked to several oral health problems. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 189 dentists in Kosovo, comprising both general dentists and specialists. The questionnaire assessed participants\u2019 awareness of e-cigarettes\u2019 FDA approval status, their perceptions of health impacts, and their understanding of e-cigarettes\u2019 association with oral conditions such as caries, periodontal disease, and oral cancer. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22, with significance set at p &lt; 0.05. Results: The findings revealed significant knowledge gaps, with 74.1% of respondents being uncertain about the FDA approval status of e-cigarettes and 82.0% recognizing their harmful effects on general and oral health. Nearly half (49.7%) of the participants identified e-cigarettes as a potential risk factor for caries, while 66.1% and 64.6% associated their use with oral cancer and periodontal disease, respectively. Gender and professional specialization did not significantly influence these perceptions. Conclusions: Dentists need better education on the risks of e-cigarette use, including their harmful effects on oral health. Incorporating this knowledge into dental curricula and professional training is essential to give dentists the information needed to advise patients effectively. Raising public awareness through dental health professionals can help mitigate the oral health risks associated with e-cigarettes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/dj13030119","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,10]],"date-time":"2025-03-10T05:46:52Z","timestamp":1741585612000},"page":"119","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Knowledge and Perceptions of Dentists Regarding E-Cigarettes: Implications for Oral Health and Public Awareness and Education"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-2694-5191","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Donika B.","family":"Shabani","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Endodontics, University Dentistry Clinical Center of Kosovo, Medical Faculty, University of Prishtina, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Linda J.","family":"Dula","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Prosthetic, University Dentistry Clinical Center of Kosovo, Medical Faculty, University of Prishtina, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3957-969X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zana Sllamniku","family":"Dalipi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, University Dentistry Clinical Center of Kosovo, Medical Faculty, University of Prishtina, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mirlinda S.","family":"Krasniqi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Periodontology and Oral Medicine, University Dentistry Clinical Center of Kosovo, Medical Faculty, University of Prishtina, 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3354-2194","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aida","family":"Meto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Aldent, 1007 Tirana, Albania"},{"name":"Department of Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry and Morphological Sciences with Interest in Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Dental Research Cell, Dr. D. Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, Pune 411018, Maharashtra, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1418","DOI":"10.1161\/CIR.0000000000000107","article-title":"American Heart Association Advocacy Coordinating Committee, Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing, Council on Clinical Cardiology, and Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research. Electronic cigarettes: A policy statement from the American Heart Association","volume":"130","author":"Bhatnagar","year":"2014","journal-title":"Circulation"},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"380","article-title":"E-cigarettes: How \u201csafe\u201d are they?","volume":"65","author":"Smith","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Fam. 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