Knowledge, Awareness, and Practice of CAD/CAM Technology Among Dental Students

The adoption of Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology in dentistry has transformed clinical practices, but its integration remains limited among dental students. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, awareness, and practice of CAD/CAM technology among final-year dental students. A descriptive survey was administered to final-year dental students across public colleges using a validated structured questionnaire. The instrument covered demographic characteristics, knowledge of CAD/CAM clinical applications, awareness of digital systems and materials, practical training exposure, perceived advantages, and implementation barriers. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software (version 21; IBM Corp.). Most participants (63.9%) were aware of CAD/CAM clinical applications, with crown/bridge fabrication (66.4%) and digital impressions (50.4%) being the most recognized uses. However, only 17.6% had attended CAD/CAM training. High cost (63.6%) and insufficient training (16.9%) were cited as key barriers. Despite this, 79% believed CAD/CAM represents dentistry’s future, and 66.4% preferred it over conventional methods. Gender differences emerged: males reported higher engagement with crown/bridge fabrication, while females recognized smile design and onlays/inlays more frequently. Materials like zirconia (51.3%) and E-Max (40.3%) were well-known, yet 38.7% lacked material knowledge. Final-year dental students demonstrate awareness of CAD/CAM, but practical adoption is hindered by cost and infrastructure challenges. Enhanced digital dentistry training in dental curricula could facilitate broader integration into clinical practice.