Iranian Dental Association Journal of Iranian Dental Association 3060-8201 38 3-4 2026 09 28 Knowledge, Attitude and Self-Reported Practice of Final Year Dental Students on Non-Invasive Management of Caries: A Collaborative Study 91 100 10.34172/jida.2325 EN A Pakdaman https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2964-059X Asoma Awudu https://orcid.org/0000-0000-0000-0000 Mohammad Javad Kharrazifard https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2451-4944 Paul Mat Mantodo https://orcid.org/0000-0000-0000-0000 Journal Article 10.34172/jida.2325 2025 12 28 2026 05 09 Background: Dental caries, one of the most common non-communicable diseases, can be managed non-invasively when lesions are non-cavitated. The aim of the present study was to investigate dental students’ knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported practices regarding caries risk assessment and minimally invasive dentistry (MID) in Iran and Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 using a convenience sample of final-year dental students. Following ethical approval, a validated online questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitudes toward caries risk assessment, and self-reported practices based on two case scenarios was administered. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 24.0), with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 185 students responded: 153 from Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) and 32 from the University of Ghana (response rates: 59% and 67%, respectively). The mean knowledge score was 13.21 (95% CI: 12.96–13.35), attitude score 2.9 (95% CI: 2.84–2.96), and self-reported practice score 2.2 (95% CI: 2.12–2.28), with an effect size of 0.185 for the knowledge domain. In multiple regression analysis, attitude was significantly associated with gender (p = 0.028) and school (p = 0.001); female students and those from Ghana demonstrated more favorable attitudes toward caries risk assessment and non-invasive management methods. No significant associations were found between background factors and knowledge or self-reported practice. A weak correlation was observed between knowledge and attitude, as well as between knowledge and self-reported practice (Pearson’s r = 0.08, p > 0.2). Conclusion: Participants demonstrated good knowledge but moderate attitudes and self-reported practice. Integrating this concept into the undergraduate dental curriculum is recommended