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Integration of Three-Dimensional Scanning and Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) Technology
Jamshid Usman M1, Neethu Latha1, Arya Saraswathy1
1Prosthodontics, Government Dental College, Kozhikode, IND.
Background:
Digital dentistry has transformed all aspects of dentistry, especially prosthodontics, and is increasingly used for diagnosis, treatment planning, execution, student training, and research. This study aimed to assess the perception, attitude, and practice of digital technology in prosthodontics among dental professionals in Kerala, India.
Materials And Methods:
A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among dental professionals in Kerala. A self-administered questionnaire with 23 close-ended questions assessed demographics, perception, attitude, and digital technology use in prosthodontics. The questionnaire was distributed via Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, California, United States), and 200 complete responses were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 25.0 (Released 2017; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States).
Results:
The response rate was 81.2%. Among respondents, 60.3% were female and most were aged 31-40 years; 66% were aware of digital technology and 42.5%, primarily males and private practitioners, had used it in practice. Training influenced usage, with 91.3% of non-users lacking training. Intraoral scanning was the most used component (87.2%), and chairside milling was the least used (1.2%). Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) restorations were rated superior to lab-fabricated ones by 75%.
Conclusion:
The findings of this study reveal moderate awareness, limited use of digital technology in prosthodontic practice, and significant satisfaction on the part of users with the outcomes. This reinforces the need to develop structured training in digital tools in dental education and offer continuing education for practitioners. A digitally enabled approach to dental education can modernize practices and address existing gaps, enhancing clinical efficiency and patient care through the adoption of digital dentistry.
