Impact of Technology Teaching in the Dental Predoctoral Curriculum on Students’ Perception of Digital Dentistry

The goal was to assess dental students' perception of digital technologies after participating in a CAD/CAM exercise for scanning, designing, and manufacturing computer-aided provisional fixed dental restorations. A survey was conducted among second-year dental students (pre-D2 and post-D2), first- (D1, negative control), third-, and fourth-year dental students (D3 and D4, positive controls). Only OSU College of Dentistry students who completed the activity and completed the surveys were included. Seven questions were rated, which evaluated changes in knowledge, skill, interest, the importance of technology availability in an office, patients' perception of technology, the importance of having the technology, and the expected frequency of clinics utilizing the technology. Statistical analysis was performed with a significance level of 0.05. A total of 74 pre-D2 and 77 post-D2 questionnaires were completed. Additionally, 63 D1, 43 D3, and 39 D4 responded to the survey. Significant differences were found for "knowledge" and "skill" between pre-D2 and post-D2, and pre-D2 and control groups (p<0.001). There was a significant difference between post-D2 and all controls for “interest” (p=0.0127) and on practice preference for technology availability (p<0.05). There were significant results between post-D2 and all controls regarding the importance of technology availability in an office (p<0.001) and the expected frequency of clinics utilizing the technology (p=0.01). No significance was found for "patient's value of technology" and "the importance of having the technology". The presence of technology in the practice and educational academic environments significantly improved students’ interest and perception of knowledge and skill.