Incomplete network restoration may be associated with higher relapse risk in women with major depressive disorder.

The contexts in which dentists practice are rapidly evolving, driven by advances in healthcare knowledge, emerging technologies, and shifting disease burdens []. Yet, dental curricula have often struggled to keep pace with these developments [], particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where educational frameworks remain shaped by colonial and Eurocentric models []. These curricula frequently prioritise global North agendas at the expense of addressing urgent local health priorities and resource constraints [, ]. A striking example in the South African context is the insufficient curricular focus on alcohol misuse and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) []. Alcohol misuse is a major contributor to the global burden of disease, accounting for an estimated 4.7% of all deaths and 4.6% of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) []. In South Africa, alcohol-related harm accounts for an estimated 7.3% of all deaths and 5.6–6.9% of all DALYs [, ]. Alcohol misuse contributes to a wide range of systemic conditions, including liver disease, cardiovascular disorders, and mental health disorders; it is also associated with infectious disease, traumatic injury and death []. Alcohol misuse significantly affects oral health, increasing the risk of oral cancers and trauma, both of which are highly prevalent in South Africa [, ]. Beyond the direct health implications, alcohol misuse carries profound societal consequences, especially in South Africa, where historic injustices caused by colonisation, racism and apartheid contributed to specific communities bearing a disproportionate burden of FASD [, ]. Globally, the prevalence of FASD was estimated at 7.7 per 1,000 children and youth in 2017 []. In South Africa, estimates are considerably higher. The Foundation for Alcohol-Related Research (FARR) estimates that approximately 6 million people in the country are affected by FASD, suggesting that more than 10% of the population may live with the condition, and many more with its effects [, ]. These figures represent a public health crisis, with far-reaching implications for health, education, and social systems.