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ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify oral Lactobacillus species and characterize their adhesion properties and antibacterial activity in patients with periodontitis compared with periodontally healthy individuals.Materials and MethodsThree hundred and fifty‐four isolates from the saliva, subgingival, and tongue plaque of 59 periodontitis patients and 59 healthy individuals were analyzed. Oral Lactobacillus species were identified through the culture method in the modified MRS medium and confirmed by molecular testing. Moreover, the radial diffusion assay and cell culture methods were used to determine the antibacterial activities of oral strains against oral pathogens and their adhesion activity in vitro.Results67.7% of the cases and 75.7% of the control samples were positive for the Lactobacillus species. Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and Limosilactobacillus fermentum were the dominant species in the case group, whereas Lacticaseibacillus casei and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum were dominant in the control group. Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus gasseri had higher antibacterial effects against oral pathogens. Moreover, Ligilactobacillus salivarius and L. fermentum demonstrated the highest ability to adhere to oral mucosal cells and salivary‐coated hydroxyapatite.ConclusionL. crispatus, L. gasseri, L. fermentum, and L. salivarius can be introduced as probiotic candidates since they demonstrated appropriate adherence to oral mucosal cells and salivary‐coated hydroxyapatite and also antibacterial activities. However, further studies should be conducted to assess the safety of probiotic interventions using these strains in patients with periodontal disease.

Introduction: The emergence of disparate opportunities and challenges in the twenty-first century emphasizes the importance of leadership training in dentistry. Therefore, a reflective, interactive, and collaborative training workshop in this field can positively improve the pioneer dentists' knowledge, mindset, and skillset. Aims This article aimed to share the foundation of the leadership program, design expected outcomes, evaluate the program's effectiveness in a dental school in Iran, and discuss the importance of leadership skills for dentistry students. Design: We conducted a program design and research evaluation based on a mixed-method approach. A two-day leadership development program was developed and held in Alborz dental school in Karaj, Iran. A group of 20 dentistry students participated in the program. Then, the program was evaluated twice, once just after the program and once six months later, Results 90% of the participants rated the course 4 or higher (4.5 on average) on a 5-point satisfaction scale, in which 1 meant utterly dissatisfied and 5 meant completely satisfied. The highest average score was for the Leadership from Inside-out module (4.55 of 5). In addition, the students rated teamwork practice as the most challenging part and presentation skills as the most influential module of the program. Furthermore, according to this survey, 80% of the students will participate in future leadership programs with high satisfaction, and 95% of the students recommended it as an extra-curricular activity for all students in dental school. Conclusion The program's facilitators provided an exceptional opportunity and psychologically-safe environment for students to learn leadership skills. Training leadership as non-clinical skills can be beneficial for dentistry students, and it can positively affect the dental profession and ultimately effective healthcare systems. Therefore, including voluntary leadership courses in undergraduate and postgraduate dental curricula is recommended.