Digital impression perception among dental students in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Digital Dentistry
• Prosthodontics
• Dental Education

Background:

• Digital dentistry adoption is growing in prosthodontics.
• Dental students often lack practical experience with digital technologies in clinics.
• Assessing student perceptions of digital vs. conventional impressions is crucial for curriculum development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate dental students' perceptions of digital impressions compared to conventional methods.
• To identify differences in perception based on educational year and gender.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional questionnaire study surveyed 122 dental students at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University.
• Students reported experience with both intraoral scanning and conventional polyether impressions.
• Perceptions were measured on a 5-point Likert scale; statistical analysis used Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests.

Main Results:

• Most students found digital impressions faster and more user-friendly than conventional ones.
• Female students reported more challenges with handpiece size and software complexity.
• Students in higher educational years generally reported higher satisfaction with digital impressions.

Conclusions:

• Digital impressions are generally perceived favorably by dental students for speed and ease of use.
• Male students and those in advanced educational years exhibit a more positive perception of digital impression technology.
• Findings suggest a need for enhanced digital dentistry training and support for students, particularly females.