Abstract
Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the attitude of Saudi dentists towards CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) in restorative dentistry, investigate the existing knowledge and improve the practice accordingly. Methods: At random, electronic surveys were distributed to Saudi dental practitioners. The study received 500 questionnaires, with 425 being deemed valid. The following sections were included in the questionnaire: (i) Practitioner demographic information such as gender, practice level, and practice experience; (ii) CAD/CAM knowledge and benefits; (iii) CAD/CAM skills and training required; and (iv) CAD/CAM clinical overview. Descriptive statistics such as numbers and percentages were used to analyze the collected data. The Chi-square and Fisher's Exact tests were used to assess the results. Results: Males accounted for 292 (68.7%) of the participants, while females accounted for 133 (31.3%). General Practitioners accounted for the most subjects (253, or 59.5%), followed by consultants (91, or 21.4%) and specialists (81, or 19.1%). Among 425 dentists, 170 (40%) were aware of CAD/CAM, while 255 (60%) were not. Consultants and specialists demonstrated more significant levels of knowledge than general practitioners. Furthermore, dentists with experience of more than ten years and experience of 5-10 years showed more understanding of CAD/CAM than dentists with less than five years of experience. Most participants (71.5%) do not use CAD/CAM in dental practice, whereas only less than one-third of them use it. Most participants (63.5%) plan to purchase CAD/CAM. Most dentists (74.4%) believe CAD/CAM technology is helpful in clinical procedures, while others believe it is useful in diagnostic and different functions. Most participants assume that CAD/CAM will eventually replace traditional methods. Most dentists assume that the use of CAD/CAM requires skills and training. Conclusion: The findings of this study show a prominent level of satisfaction and a favorable attitude among the surveyed dentists towards the usage of CAD/CAM technology in clinical practice.
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