Professional Biography

Dr. Md Sofiqul Islam is an Associate Professor of Operative Dentistry at RAK College of Dental Sciences, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, UAE, with over 10 years of teaching, clinical and research experience. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students, provides pre-clinical and clinical training, and supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects. His research interests include esthetic and minimally invasive dentistry, dental biomaterials, adhesive dentistry, dental caries, salivary research, bone biology, resin composites, dental education and digital dentistry. He has authored more than 80 research articles and several book chapters, serves as a reviewer for over 30 Scopus-indexed journals and as an Editorial Board Member of several Scopus-indexed journals, has served on the Institutional Research Ethics Board and the Continuing Professional Development Committee, and is a Council Member of the IADR-UAE Section. He has received several national and international research awards in recognition of his scholarly contributions.

Qualifications

• PhD in Cariology and Operative Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan (2014)
• BDS, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh (2006)

Experience

• Assistant Professor, RAK College of Dental Sciences, RAK from 01/2017 to present
• Project Assistant Professor, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. From 04/2015 to 03/2016 
• Post-Doctoral fellow, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. From 04/2014 to 03/2015
• Instructor, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. From 04/2010 to 03/2014
• General Dental Practitioner, From 02/2006 to 03/2010

Achievements & Honours

• Competitive research grant, University of Sharjah (2022) "Understanding the Molecular Mechanism of Peri-implantitis in Response to Titanium Particles Released from Failed Dental Implants" (co-author)
• IADR-SEAD Research Category Award (Cariology and Mineralized Tissue); The 29th Annual Scientific Meeting of IADR-SEA Division, Bali, Indonesia 2015. (co-author) 
• Complementary poster award; The 6th International Congress on Adhesive Dentistry, Bangkok, Thailand 2015. (co-author)
• JASSO fellowship (2013) 
• Advanced. I. Super Studentship grant, The Global Center of Excellence (GCOE) Program International Research Center for Molecular Science in Tooth and Bone Diseases at Tokyo Medical and Dental University. (2012) 
• Outstanding paper award; The 4th International Congress on Adhesive Dentistry Seoul, Korea (2011)  
• IADR Geriatric Oral Research Awards; The 89th General Session & Exhibition of the IADR, San Diego, Calif., USA 2011 (co- author) 
• Exchange fellowship of Japan Dental Association (2008)

Areas of Teaching & Research Interests

• Dental materials
• Dental caries
• Esthetic dentistry
• Dental education
• Digital dentistry
• Minimally invasive dentistry

Selected Publications

• Islam MS, Aryal AC S, Elsayed MA, Padmanabhan V, Sultana M, Hashim NT, Guha U, Rahman MM. In vitro comparison of mechanical and esthetic properties of different universal-shade resin composites after simulated aging. Materials. 2026;19(13):2778. doi:10.3390/ma19132778
• Islam MS, Padmanabhan V, Koniali G, Alabdin MZ, Aryal AC S, Hashim NT, Elsayed MA, Rahman MM. Fluoride release, recharge, and mass stability of restorative dental materials: an in vitro study. Dentistry Journal. 2025;13(10):438. doi:10.3390/dj13100438
• Islam MS, El Bahra S, Aryal AC S, Padmanabhan V, Al Tawil A, Saleh I, Rahman MM, Guha U. The effect of chemical surface modification on the repair bond strength of resin composite: an in vitro study. Polymers. 2025;17(4):513. doi:10.3390/polym17040513
• Islam MS, Padmanabhan V, Shanati KA, Naser AM, Hashim NT, Aryal AC S. Comparative analysis of whitening outcomes of over-the-counter toothpastes: an in vitro study. Dentistry Journal. 2025;13(2):45. doi:10.3390/dj13020045
• Islam MS, Padmanabhan V, Abry MF, Ahmed KMM, Aryal AC S, Rahman MM, El Bahra S. The impact of pre-treatment with desensitizing agents on the effectiveness of in-office bleaching: an in vitro study. Materials. 2024;17(24):6097. doi:10.3390/ma17246097
• Islam MS, Thahab TS, Alhayally AT, Padmanabhan V, Aryal AC S, Rahman MM. The influence of different factors on shade-taking accuracy using digital shade guide. The Open Dentistry Journal. 2024;18:e18742106315626. doi:10.2174/0118742106315626240722093623
• Islam MS, Padmanabhan V, Al Abid HK, Khallaf EAA, Rahman MM, Aryal AC S. Prevalence of dentin hypersensitivity among dental students and effectiveness of tooth desensitizing agents. The Open Dentistry Journal. 2024;18:e18742106305789. doi:10.2174/0118742106305789240511120558
• Islam MS, Aryal AC S, El Bahra S, Abuhajjeh AJ, Al Mofleh AM, Padmanabhan V, Rahman MM. The effect of mechanical alteration on repair bond strength of S-PRG-filler-based resin composite materials. Polymers. 2024;16(11):1488. doi:10.3390/polym16111488
• Islam MS, Al-Fakhri A, Rahman MM. Computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology in the undergraduate dental programs in the MENA region. European Journal of Dental Education. 2024;28(1):142–147. doi:10.1111/eje.12930
• Islam MS, Smriti AAC, Rahman MM, Abry MF, Salman NSM, Ahmed ZM. Inhibition of silver diamine fluoride-induced tooth discoloration by using natural antioxidant: in vitro study. The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice. 2023;24(5):278–284. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10024-3512

Further Publications

• In Vitro Optical and Physical Stability of Resin Composite Materials with Different Filler Characteristics. Islam MS, Nassar M, Elsayed MA, Jameel DB, Ahmad TT, Rahman MM. Polymers (Basel). 2023;15(9):2121. doi:10.3390/polym15092121 
• Effect of different chelating agents on the shear bond strength of calcium silicate‐based cements to coronal dentin MA Elsayed, MS Islam, K Elbeltagy, M Nassar. Aust Endod J. 2023;10.1111/aej.12759. doi:10.1111/aej.12759
• Erosive Potential of Various Beverages in the United Arab Emirates: pH Assessment M Nassar, MS Islam, N Hasan, A Al-Khazraji, H Maki Dubai Medical Journal, 1-10 https://doi.org/10.1159/000530094 
• Tinnitus Prevalence and Associated Factors among Dental Clinicians in the United Arab Emirates M Nassar, MS Islam, S D’souza, M Praveen, MH Al Masri, S Sauro, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20 (2), 1403
• Inhibition of Silver Diammine Fluoride Induced Tooth Discoloration – A Literature Review Md Sofiqul Islam, Noor Sayed Majed Salman, Zainab Mohamed Ahmed, Mohammed. International Journal of Clinical Dentistry 15 (4), 707-717 
• The Blending Effect of Single-Shade Composite with Different Shades of Conventional Resin Composites-An In Vitro Study Islam MS, Huda N, Mahendran S, Aryal Ac S, Nassar M, Rahman MM. Eur J Dent. 2022;10.1055/s-0042-1744369. doi:10.1055/s-0042-1744369 
• The effect of different finishing polishing protocols on stain absorption and color stability of resin composite restorations. MS Islam, AA Aal-Fatlah, NS Alkhan, A Sadr, MM Rehman American Journal of Dentistry 35 (2), 141-145 

Committees & Institutional Service

• Chairperson, RAKCODS Research and Ethics Committee (2019 – present)
• Member, RAKMHSU Human Ethics Committee (2025 – present)
• Council Member, International Association for Dental Research, UAE Section (2023 – present)

Professional Development & Training

• AEEDC Dubai 2026
• The 2nd International Online Conference on Functional Biomaterials
• The 1st International Online Conference on Prosthesis
• The 4th International Online Conference on Materials