Policy Document

Aims & Objectives

The Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (JBKCD) is committed to advancing the field of dentistry by publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed research from Pakistan and around the world. It provides a dynamic platform for the exchange of new and impactful scientific knowledge related to oral health and associated disciplines. JBKCD also encourages original research, supports continuing dental education, and promotes the global dissemination of advancements in dental science. Upholding strict editorial and peer-review standards, the journal ensures the integrity, relevance, and excellence of all published work.

Focus & Scope

The Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (JBKCD) publishes high-quality, peer-reviewed articles across a broad range of topics within dentistry and allied medical sciences. The journal welcomes original research, clinical studies, reviews, and case reports that contribute to the advancement of dental science and practice. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Restorative and Operative Dentistry
  • Periodontology
  • Endodontics
  • Prosthodontics
  • Orthodontics
  • Pediatric Dentistry
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology
  • Dental Biomaterials
  • Community and Preventive Dentistry
  • Dental Implantology
  • Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
  • Oral Medicine
  • Systemic diseases with oral manifestations
  • Interdisciplinary approaches to dental and medical care
  • Clinical Case Reports and Case Series
  • Health Policy and Dental Ethics
  • Medical and Dental Education and Curriculum Development

JBKCD is dedicated to promoting scholarly communication and supporting innovations in oral health by serving as a platform for researchers, clinicians, and educators both in Pakistan and globally.

Audience
The Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (JBKCD) serves a diverse readership including faculty members, consultants, dental specialists, scholars, and postgraduate trainees across all disciplines of dentistry.

Frequency
The journal is published biannually.

Publisher/Owner
Bacha Khan College of Dentistry, Mardan, Pakistan.

Sponsor
Bacha Khan College of Dentistry, Mardan, Pakistan.

Article Processing Charges (APC)
JBKCD does not currently charge Article Processing Charges (APCs). As the journal is not yet formally recognized, it operates without any fees for authors. This allows for open and free dissemination of research during its initial development phase.

Advertisement Policy
The journal does not accept advertisements of any kind, in line with its commitment to academic integrity and independence.

Direct Marketing
JBKCD does not engage in direct marketing activities.

Peer Review Policy

The Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (JBKCD) upholds a rigorous double-blind peer review process to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and scientific quality.

All authors are required to submit a blinded manuscript, ensuring that any identifying information is removed prior to review. Each manuscript is independently evaluated by two expert reviewers:

  • One national reviewer based in Pakistan
  • One international reviewer from a developed country

Reviewers are selected based on their expertise and scholarly contributions to the relevant field of dentistry.

The reviewers’ evaluations, including constructive feedback and recommendations, are shared with the authors to guide revisions. When necessary, a second round of peer review may be conducted to ensure that all critical points have been addressed satisfactorily.

Following the peer review process, the revised manuscript is further assessed by the Section Editor, and a final decision is made by the Editor-in-Chief.

  • Upon acceptance, authors are formally notified, and the manuscript proceeds to publication.
  • In cases of rejection, authors are informed with appropriate feedback, and the manuscript is archived.

This comprehensive and transparent review process ensures that only high-quality, original, and impactful research is published in JBKCD.

Copyright and Licensing

Authors publishing with the Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (JBKCD) retain full copyright ownership of their work.

All articles are published under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0)
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

This license permits users to:

  • Share : Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
  • Adapt : Remix, transform, and build upon the material

Provided that the following conditions are met:

  • Attribution :Proper credit must be given to the original author(s) and the journal, a link to the license must be included, and any changes made must be clearly indicated.
  • Non-Commercial Use: The material may not be used for commercial purposes.
  • No Additional Restrictions: Users may not impose legal or technological restrictions that prevent others from exercising the rights granted under this license.

This licensing framework promotes open access to scientific knowledge while safeguarding the rights of authors and ensuring proper academic attribution.

Open Access Policy

The Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (JBKCD) is dedicated to promoting unrestricted access to scientific knowledge. All content published in JBKCD is made freely and immediately available online, without any subscription or access fees.

We firmly believe that open access to research fosters wider dissemination, encourages academic collaboration, and enhances the global exchange of knowledge ultimately benefiting both the scientific community and the public.

JBKCD fully endorses the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI) definition of open access, which states:

“Open access means the free availability of scholarly literature on the public internet, permitting any user to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of these articles, crawl them for indexing, pass them as data to software, or use them for any other lawful purpose without financial, legal, or technical barriers, other than those inseparable from gaining access to the internet itself. The only constraint on reproduction and distribution and the only role for copyright in this domain should be to give authors control over the integrity of their work and the right to be properly acknowledged and cited.”

In Simple Terms:

  • Free to access: Anyone, anywhere in the world, can read and download articles without paying.
  • Free to use: Readers can share, reuse, or adapt the content for any non-commercial purpose, as long as proper credit is given to the original author(s) and the journal.
  • No barriers: There are no paywalls or legal hurdles preventing access to or use of the published material.

This open access policy reflects our commitment to advancing dental research and making knowledge accessible to all.

Data Sharing Policy

To promote openness and transparency in research, authors are encouraged to share the data used in their study.

Before submitting the manuscript, authors should:

  • Upload their data (Excel, SPSS, Stata, or any other format) to a public data repository (such as Zenodo, Figshare, Dryad, or any institutional platform).
  • Provide the name of the repository and a link to the data.
  • Add this information under a separate heading titled “Data Sharing” just before the Acknowledgments and References section in the manuscript.

Sharing data helps readers understand your research better and supports further studies in the field.

Appeal Process

At the Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (JBKCD), we want to make sure everyone is treated fairly and with respect throughout the publication process.

If you are an author, reviewer, reader, or anyone else and have concerns such as delays in review, manuscript rejection, publication fees, or any other issue you can send a formal appeal to the Managing Editor at:
???? managingeditor@bkcd.edu.pk

The Managing Editor will pass your appeal to the Appeals Committee, which is part of our Editorial and Advisory Boards. This committee will carefully review your case and provide recommendations.

We follow the guidelines and ethical standards of respected organizations like:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
  • World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)
  • Council of Science Editors (CSE)
  • Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan

We take all appeals seriously and aim to resolve them quickly and fairly, making sure the process is transparent and trustworthy.

Complaints Process

The Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (JBKCD) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct in publishing.

Anyone who wishes to report concerns or complaints regarding publication misconduct involving authors, reviewers, editors, or members of the editorial board may submit a formal complaint to the Managing Editor at:
???? managingeditor@bkcd.edu.pk

Upon receipt, the Managing Editor will refer the matter to the Complaints Committee, constituted by members of the Editorial and Advisory Boards. This committee will thoroughly investigate the complaint and provide recommendations to the Editorial Board for a final decision.

All investigations and decisions are guided by the core principles and best practices outlined by:

  • Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
  • World Association of Medical Editors (WAME)
  • Council of Science Editors (CSE)
  • Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan

JBKCD is dedicated to addressing all complaints with fairness, transparency, and confidentiality, ensuring the integrity of the publication process is upheld at all times.

Digital Archiving Policy

The Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (BKCD) employs the LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) and CLOCKSS (Controlled LOCKSS) systems to ensure the permanent preservation of its published content.

These systems create a secure, distributed network of digital archives maintained by participating libraries worldwide. This guarantees that the journal’s articles are safely stored and can be reliably restored in the event of data loss or technical issues.

By using LOCKSS and CLOCKSS, BKCD ensures that its scholarly publications remain accessible and preserved for current and future readers.

Repository & Self-Archiving Policy

The Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (BKCD) encourages authors to share their research widely. Authors may deposit any version of their work including preprints, accepted manuscripts, and the final published version in institutional or subject-based repositories.

There is no embargo period, allowing immediate sharing of the article upon publication.

This policy helps increase the visibility and accessibility of research, benefiting both authors and the wider community.

Authorship Criteria

The Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (JBKCD) follows the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines to define who qualifies as an author. This helps keep the process fair and clear.

To be listed as an author, a person must meet all four of these criteria:

  • Helped design the study or collected, analyzed, or interpreted the data.
  • Took part in writing the manuscript or revising it with important changes.
  • Approved the final version of the article before it was published.
  • Agrees to take responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the whole work.

Simply providing funding, collecting data, or supervising the project is not enough to be an author, but these contributions should be mentioned in the acknowledgments.

The corresponding author must provide the full list of authors, their order, and what each author did when submitting the manuscript. No changes to authorship will be allowed after submission.

If there is any disagreement about authorship, the editorial board will review it according to ICMJE and Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines to ensure fairness.

Acknowledgements

Authors are encouraged to acknowledge individuals or organizations that provided non-financial support or advice during the research or manuscript preparation. All contributors who do not meet authorship criteria should be named, along with a brief description of their contributions, in accordance with ICMJE guidelines.

We recognize that authors may receive assistance from technical writers, language editors, artificial intelligence (AI) tools, or professional writing services in drafting their manuscripts. Any such support must be transparently disclosed in the Acknowledgements section.

Failure to acknowledge this assistance appropriately may result in the manuscript being deemed ineligible for publication.

Informed Consent & Confidentiality of Research Participants

Authors must ensure proper consent and permissions are obtained before including any personal information, case details, images, or recordings of patients or other individuals. This is vital to comply with relevant Data Protection and Privacy Laws.

  1. Clear Information and Consent:
    Anyone appearing in videos, photos, illustrations, or case reports including the individual, their legal guardian, or authorized representative must be informed in advance about how their images or data will be used. Explicit written consent must be obtained, detailing all intended uses, including publication. Any special conditions on consent must be communicated to the journal.
  2. Retention and Submission of Consent Forms:
    Authors should keep signed consent forms safely and provide copies or evidence of consent to the journal upon request.
  3. Special Care for Children and Vulnerable Individuals:
    Consent must be obtained from all legal guardians when involving children or individuals with special needs. If there is disagreement among guardians, consent is considered not given, and images must not be used. Images of children should show appropriate dress to prevent misuse.
  4. Respectful Representation:
    Even with consent, all images and captions should treat individuals with dignity and respect.
  5. Consent for Participation:
    Authors must confirm that informed consent was obtained from all adult participants or from parents/guardians for participants under 16 years.
  6. Protecting Personal Information:
    Authors should never include names, initials, hospital numbers, birth dates, or other personal identifiers unless absolutely necessary. Patient images should only be used if scientifically essential, with written informed consent for publication. Identifying details should be removed wherever possible.
  7. Anonymity and Masking:
    When there is any doubt about anonymity, informed consent is required. If masking (e.g., blurring) is used, authors must ensure it does not compromise scientific integrity and must inform the editors.
  8. When Consent Is Not Required:
    Fully anonymized images such as X-rays or pathology slides without identifying marks, and unaccompanied by identifying information, do not require formal consent.
  9. Insufficient Anonymization:
    Simply obscuring faces or using eye bars is not enough if formal consent has not been obtained.
  10. Following CARE Guidelines:
    Authors are encouraged to follow the CARE guidelines for ethical and transparent case reporting.

Conflict Resolution Policy

The Editorial Board of the Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry adheres to the conflict of interest guidelines outlined by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council to ensure integrity and transparency in the publication process.

A conflict of interest occurs when an author, reviewer, or editor has personal, financial, or professional relationships that could potentially influence their impartiality, whether or not such influence actually affects their judgment. Common examples include financial ties—such as employment, consultancy, stock ownership, honoraria, or expert testimony—directly or via immediate family members. Conflicts may also stem from personal relationships, academic rivalry, or strong intellectual commitments.

The credibility of the peer review process and published work relies on how effectively these conflicts are disclosed and managed. While scientific rigor often helps minimize bias, financial and other conflicts can be more subtle and harder to detect.

All participants involved in the peer review and publication process are required to disclose any relevant conflicts of interest. This transparency enables editors and readers to evaluate the potential impact on the work. Given the increased risk of bias, some journals avoid accepting review articles or editorials from authors with significant conflicts.

Editors may use disclosed information on conflicts of interest to guide their decisions and may publish these disclosures when they believe it is important for readers’ understanding.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

When submitting a manuscript to the Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry, authors must clearly declare any personal or financial relationships that could influence their work.

This includes things like funding, employment, speaking fees, or close personal ties that may affect the study. If there are no such conflicts, authors must clearly state that as well.

Please include this information on a separate “Conflict of Interest” page right after the title page of your manuscript. You can also mention any extra details in your cover letter.

If the research involved participants, authors should let them know about any potential conflicts and mention in the manuscript that this was done.

Our editors will review the information and decide whether to publish it. If there’s any uncertainty, we believe it's better to share the details to maintain trust and transparency.

Potential Conflicts of Interest Related to Project Support

Many biomedical research projects receive support from commercial organizations, private foundations, or government bodies. While such support is valuable, it can sometimes create a risk of bias in research findings.

At JBKCD, we believe authors have an ethical responsibility to present honest and independent research. Researchers must not enter into agreements that limit their access to study data, interfere with data analysis, or restrict the writing and publication of results.

Authors are required to clearly state the role of any funding source or sponsor in the following areas:

  • Study design
  • Data collection, analysis, and interpretation
  • Manuscript preparation
  • Decision to submit the work for publication

If the funder had no role in any of these areas, authors must explicitly declare that.

When a sponsor has a financial or proprietary interest in the outcomes of the study, the journal may request the authors to confirm, by signed statement, that:

“I had full access to all the data in this study and take full responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of the data analysis.”

In such cases, editors may also request to review the study protocol or any contracts between the authors and the funding agency before making a publication decision. If a sponsor restricts an author’s ability to publish independently, the journal reserves the right to decline the manuscript.

Transparency in funding and sponsor involvement is essential for maintaining scientific integrity and reader trust.

Conflicts of Interest: Editors, Reviewers, and Journal Staff

At the Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (JBKCD), maintaining transparency and fairness in the editorial process is a top priority. To ensure unbiased decision-making, all individuals involved in the publication process—editors, reviewers, and staff—must avoid conflicts of interest.

Editors

Editors who make decisions on manuscripts must have no personal, professional, or financial interests that could affect their judgment. Editors should not handle papers in which they are involved as authors or have a personal connection to the research. In such cases, the editorial responsibility will be passed to another qualified editor.

Editors must also regularly disclose any potential conflicts of interest related to their role in the journal.

Reviewers

Reviewers must:

  • Disclose any potential conflicts of interest—whether personal, academic, or financial—before accepting a review task.
  • Decline to review a manuscript if they feel their objectivity could be compromised.
  • Avoid using any unpublished information from the manuscript for their own benefit.

If a conflict exists or is suspected, reviewers must clearly state it. Silence will not be assumed as a lack of conflict.

Journal Staff

Editorial staff involved in the decision-making process must:

  • Share a declaration of any financial or other interests that might affect editorial judgment.
  • Refrain from making decisions on manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists.
  • Not use unpublished information gained through the journal for personal or professional gain.

Author Requests

Authors may request that specific individuals not be selected as reviewers due to potential conflicts of interest (e.g., colleagues from the same institution). These requests should be explained and will be considered by the editorial team during reviewer selection.

By following these practices, JBKCD upholds integrity, impartiality, and trust throughout the peer review and publication process.

Plagiarism Policy

Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry

Preamble

In Pakistan’s evolving higher education landscape, the credibility of academic and research work is essential. Original contributions are now closely tied to academic recognition, career advancement, and funding opportunities. Plagiarism presenting someone else’s work as your own undermines this integrity and must be firmly discouraged. At the same time, false accusations must be prevented to protect genuine scholars. This policy aims to raise awareness, define plagiarism in practical terms, provide a framework for investigation, recommend appropriate penalties, and prevent misuse of the system.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as presenting another person’s work ideas, text, images, data, or research as your own, without proper acknowledgment. This includes:

  • Verbatim copying or close paraphrasing of text without proper citation.
  • Copying elements such as formulas, diagrams, data, tables, or images without credit.
  • Using someone else’s digital content (e.g., software code, spreadsheets, websites, drawings, music) without citation.
  • Self-plagiarism, i.e., reusing your own published work without referencing it.

According to Wikipedia: “Plagiarism is the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one’s own original work.”

Plagiarism is not the same as copyright infringement while copyright protects the creator’s legal rights, plagiarism concerns ethical misrepresentation and dishonesty.

 

Objective

The goal is to inform students, teachers, researchers, and staff about plagiarism, how to avoid it, and the consequences of engaging in it.

Scope

This policy applies to all students, teachers, researchers, and staff at Bacha Khan College of Dentistry and affiliated institutions involved in academic writing, publishing, or research activities.

Institutional Responsibility

Bacha Khan College of Dentistry must:

  • Ensure all individuals are informed of this policy.
  • Promote academic integrity.
  • Make authors aware they are responsible for the originality of all content in their work.
  • Implement this policy. Failure to do so may result in HEC derecognizing degrees from the institution.

How to Report Plagiarism

Anyone can report suspected plagiarism to the HEC or the college. The complaint should include:

  1. Details of the original work (title, author, publication, date).
  2. Details of the allegedly plagiarized work.
  3. Copies of both works if possible.
  4. Contact information of the complainant.

Investigation Process

Once a plagiarism complaint is received:

  1. The Vice Chancellor/Principal will form a Plagiarism Standing Committee consisting of:
    • Three senior faculty members.
    • A subject expert.
    • A senior student (if the accused is a student).
    • A nominee from HEC.
  2. The committee will:
    • Ensure confidentiality.
    • Allow both the complainant and the accused to present their views.
    • Conduct a fair and thorough investigation, using both manual and software tools to detect similarities.
    • Submit a report within 60 days.

Penalties for Plagiarism

For Teachers, Researchers, and Staff

Penalties depend on the severity of the offense:

  • Major Offense (e.g., most of the paper copied without credit):
    • Dismissal from service.
    • Blacklisting from employment in academic institutions.
    • Public notification of the offense.
  • Moderate Offense (e.g., key parts copied without citation):
  • Minor Offense (e.g., a few paragraphs copied without citation):
    • Written warning.
    • Suspension of research grants and promotions.
    • Restriction from academic benefits such as PhD supervision or travel funding.

For Students

Depending on the severity:

  • Expulsion or suspension from the college/university.
  • Failure in the subject or entire course.
  • Demotion to a lower academic level.
  • Fines or written warnings.
  • Degree withdrawal if plagiarism is found in thesis/dissertation.
  • Restriction from scholarships or grants.
  • Public notification of offense.

Note: In the case of a plagiarized thesis, only the student will be held accountable not the supervisor or committee.

Responsibility of Co-Authors

All listed authors of a paper are equally responsible for the content. Co-authors must sign a declaration confirming the work is original.

Additional Actions

If a plagiarized work is published online:

  • It will be removed from public access.
  • Authors must apologize in writing to the original creator.
  • If the work is under review, it will be immediately rejected.
  • Repeat offenders will face escalating consequences.

Appeals

Accused individuals may appeal to the Principal/Chairperson within 30 days of notification. Appeals will be resolved within 60 days.

False Allegations

If a complaint is found to be false, disciplinary action will be taken against the complainant by their institution.

For any questions or clarifications about this policy, contact the Plagiarism Committee at Bacha Khan College of Dentistry.

Disclosure

If your article is part of a thesis, dissertation, pilot project, or ongoing study, please mention this when you submit your work.

Funding

If your study received money or support from any company, organization, or institution, please mention their name and what kind of support you received (such as a grant or materials).

Disclaimer

The Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (JBKCD) is not responsible for what authors write in their articles. The opinions and information in the articles are the authors' own and do not always reflect the views of the Editor-in-Chief, the journal, or Bacha Khan College of Dentistry.

The journal is not responsible for any mistakes or missing information in published articles. Authors are responsible for checking their facts and references.

Instructions to Authors

Editorial Policy

The Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (JBKCD) is the official peer-reviewed publication of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry. The journal is dedicated to sharing new knowledge in all areas of dental sciences, including the oral cavity and related structures in both health and disease.

JBKCD aims to be a leading voice in dental research by providing a platform for high-quality, impactful studies from Pakistan and around the world. It welcomes submissions that contribute to scientific understanding and clinical advancement in dentistry.

The journal publishes a wide range of article types, including:

  • Original research articles
  • Clinical studies and innovations
  • Reviews
  • Evidence-based case reports
  • Short communications
  • Letters to the editor
  • Guest editorials

Our goals include:

  • Promoting original research in oral health sciences within Pakistan
  • Supporting continuing dental education
  • Sharing valuable scientific insights with both local and international audiences

JBKCD is published biannually and serves a broad readership of dental professionals, researchers, and students interested in staying informed about current developments and innovations in dentistry.

 

 

Manuscript Submission

The Journal of Bacha Khan College of Dentistry (JBKCD) adheres to the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), as last updated in October 2004. These guidelines are available at www.icmje.org.

Only manuscripts that have not been previously published or submitted elsewhere for publication will be considered.

Submission Requirements:

  • Tables and illustrations must be typed or drawn on separate pages.
  • A covering letter (Annexure-1), signed by the principal author and must accompany the manuscript. This letter should include:
    • A declaration of originality
    • A statement that the work has neither been published nor is under consideration elsewhere

Electronic Submission:

  • Authors, including international contributors, may submit manuscripts electronically via the journal’s official website:
    https://jbkcd.bkcd.edu.pk
  • Manuscripts, including tables and references, must be submitted as MS Word documents.
  • All graphics and illustrations should be submitted as JPEG files.

 

Format Requirements

Manuscripts reporting original research should be structured as follows:

  1. Title Page
    Page 1 must include:
  • Title of the article
  • Full names of all authors in the order they should appear in print
  • Academic degrees, titles/designations, departmental and institutional affiliations
  • Corresponding author’s full contact details (address, telephone number, and email)
  • Acknowledgements, if any

 

  1. Abstract
    Page 2 should feature a structured abstract (maximum 250 words) with the following headings:
  • Objectives
  • Materials and Methods
  • Results
  • Conclusion
    Note: Structured abstracts are not required for evidence-based clinical cases or literature reviews.
  1. Keywords
    include 3–6 relevant keywords listed at the bottom of the abstract page.
  2. Abbreviations
    Use only standard abbreviations. Define each abbreviation in full at its first mention in the text. Avoid abbreviations in the title and abstract.
  3. Introduction
    Briefly state the rationale and objectives of the study. Do not include extensive literature review, data, or conclusions. Limit references to those most pertinent and clearly present the working hypothesis.
  4. Materials and Methods
    Describe the study design and procedures in detail to allow reproducibility. Include:
  • Ethical approval number (mandatory in unblinded version)
  • Description of the sample (patients, subjects, or materials)
  • Consent procedures (verbal or written)
  • Drug or material names (generic), dosages, and routes of administration
  • Statistical methods and software used
  1. Results
    As per JBKCD editorial policy, articles that present only frequency-based results will not be accepted. Present findings clearly through text, tables, and figures. Avoid repeating data across these formats. Highlight key results in the text and reference tables/figures for additional details.
  2. Discussion
    Interpret and compare your findings with existing literature. Avoid repetition of content from the Introduction or Results. Discuss implications and limitations of the study.
  3. Conclusion
    List evidence-based conclusions in numbered format, directly linked to the study’s objectives.
  4. Tables
    Each table must be:
  • Presented on a separate page
  • Double-spaced
  • Titled briefly and accompanied by a legend
    Avoid duplicating results presented in figures.
  1. Illustrations (Figures)
    All graphics, drawings, and photographs are labeled as “Figures” and numbered consecutively.
  • Each figure must be on a separate page with a caption
  • Photographs must be labeled on the back with figure number and caption
  1. References
    · References must be formatted according to the Vancouver style, double-spaced, and numbered consecutively in the order in which they appear in the text.
  • the total number of references should not exceed 40 for original articles and 100 for review articles.

Journal Articles:

  • Include full names and initials of all authors if there are six or fewer.
  • If there are more than six authors, list the first six followed by et al.
  • Provide the following details:
    • Author(s)
    • Title of the article
    • Abbreviated name of the journal (as listed in Index Medicus)
    • Year of publication
    • Volume number
    • Issue number (in parentheses)
    • Page range

Example:
Bashir U, Hassan A, Arshad N. Cleidocranial dysplasia. J Pak Dent Assoc 2005;14(3):177–80.

Book Chapters:

  • Include:
    • Author(s) of the chapter
    • Title of the chapter
    • Editor(s) of the book
    • Title of the book
    • Edition (if not the first)
    • Place of publication
    • Publisher
    • Year of publication
    • Page numbers

Example:
Shafer WG, Hine MK, Levy BM. Dental caries. In: Shafer WG, Hine MK, Levy BM, editors. A Textbook of Oral Pathology. 4th ed. India: Saunders; 1997:406–11.

  1. Ethics
    State whether the research was approved by the institutional ethics committee and conducted according to the Helsinki Declaration (1975, revised 1983). Do not include patients’ names, initials, or hospital numbers in text or illustrations.
  2. Units of Measurement
    Use SI units wherever possible. Conventional units may be included in parentheses.
  3. Drug Names
    Prefer generic names. If brand names are necessary, place them in parentheses.
  4. Permissions
    If using content from other sources, include written permission from both the original author and publisher for reproduction.