Interest In Dentistry Research Articles

Self-assessment of professional competence and influential factors among dental students.

Competency-based education is recognized for evaluating dental students' knowledge and skills. However, practical management training, which is the hands-on education and experience in managing operations and patient interactions, does not align fully with this framework. This study aims to assess professional competence and related factors among dental students using self-assessment, contributing to dental education literature, and identifying areas for improvement. A cross-sectional study included 50 total senior dental students from a top-ranked dental school. With a response rate of 100%, data were collected using a structured questionnaire with three sections: personal information, self-assessment of professional competency, and factors influencing competency. Statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics and tests like Chi-square and ANOVA, analyzed the data. The average self-reported professional competence score was 71.15 with a standard deviation of 3.05. Associations between age, gender, grade point average (GPA), and self-reported professional competence were assessed, with no significant links found (p>0.05). Influential factors included interaction with clinical instructors (69.24%) and interest in dentistry (67.03%). No significant differences in self-reported professional competence were observed among students residing on-campus versus off-campus. Age, gender, and GPA do not significantly impact dental students' self-reported professional competence. Positive interaction with instructors and interest in dentistry contribute to skill development. Practical experience and effective educational relationships are crucial. Dental education institutions should improve clinical competence by fostering strong student-instructor relationships, increasing hands-on clinical training, and fostering student interest in dentistry.

Combined laser, guided bone regeneration and probiotics approach in the treatment of periimplantitis: a case report

Biological complications which involve osseointegrated implants created up today a great interest in dentistry, and several kinds of treatments were proposed in these last years to avoid the loss of the implant due to the bone reabsorption. The aim of this case report was to show an original approach to treat periimplantitis by combining the use of Er:YAG and bone guide regeneration during the intervention, followed by a probiotics therapy in the immediate follow-up.

Enamel Caries Lesion Depth Obtained by Optical Coherence Tomography and Transverse Microradiography: A Comparative Study

Introduction: Visual imaging of subsurface caries lesions is of vital interest in dentistry, which can be obtained by invasive radiography technique as well as by available non-destructive imaging approaches. Thus, as a first step toward the development of a new innovative approach, Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was applied to detect the lesion depth in comparison to the established reference technique (transverse microradiography [TMR]). Methods: Bovine enamel specimens were demineralized for 5 days, following previous studies. For OCT, the resulting artificial lesions were scanned three-dimensionally (SD-OCT) and semi-automated measured (CarLQuant). For TMR, specimens were sectioned and the lesion depth was manually determined (Inspektor Research System). Results: The range of lesion depth detected with OCT was 24.0–174.0 μm (mouth rinse study), 18.0–178.0 μm (toothpastes study) and with TMR 59.2–198.0 μm (mouth rinse study), 33.2–133.4 μm (toothpastes study). We found a strong correlation between both methods in terms of lesion depth (Spearman rankwith outlierp < 0.001, Rho = 0.75, Spearman rankwithout outlierp = 0.001, Rho = 0.79). The two methods produce similar results (Passing-Bablok regression, 1.16). As deeper is the lesion, the smallest is the difference between both methods as indicated by Bland-Altman-plots. Conclusion: Especially in the case of deep lesions, the values obtained by both methods are in agreement, and OCT can potentially substitute TMR to detect and assess lesion depth with the benefit of being non-destructive.

Neurophysiological assessment of the condition of the masticatory muscle group in patients with occlusion disorders and chronic generalized periodontitis

Background. Recently, the interest of dentists and physiologists has been focused on the development of a set of informative computerized techniques for an objective analysis of the functional state of the dentofacial apparatus. Achieving certain successes in conducting functional diagnostic examinations contributes to the development of algorithms for complex treatment of patients with generalized periodontitis and premature occlusal contacts.Goal. Study of the functional state of the dentofacial apparatus according to the parameters of bioelectrical activity of muscles in patients with chronic generalized periodontitis and occlusal disorders in static and dynamic conditions of the lower jaw.Materials and methods. The study involved 37 people with clinically healthy periodontium, physiological occlusion, and absence of occlusal disorders (Group 1) and 45 patients with physiological types of occlusion, generalized chronic periodontitis and premature occlusal contacts (Group 2). Functional methods included electronic registration of occlusal relationships with the T-Scan® III computer occlusion analysis system and study of the bioelectrical activity of the masticatory muscles using the Bio-EMG® III electromyography using standard functional tests.Results. In patients of group 2, in comparison with patients of group 1, neuromuscular discoordination of the functional activity of the masticatory muscles was diagnosed. This condition is confirmed by the asymmetry and lack of muscle synergy when performing the “Maximum volitional compression” test, an improvement in the symmetry of the work of the muscles of the same name on the right and left sides and the synergy of the work of the muscles of the right and left masticatory groups, as well as a statistically significant increase in the values of biopotentials m. temporalis and m. masseter during the “Maximum volitional compression on rollers” test.Conclusions. Disturbances in the coordinated work of the muscles of the craniofacial region in patients with chronic generalized periodontitis and premature occlusal contacts are realized in a statistically significant increase in the biopotentials of the masticatory muscle group at rest, a decrease in biopotentials during functional loading, as well as a reduction in the values of symmetry and synergy in relation to similar values patients of group 1.

A Comparative Analysis of Mechanical Properties of Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) vs. Standard Materials Used in Orthodontic Fixed Appliances: A Systematic Review.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), an organic thermoplastic polymer, has gained interest in dentistry due to its excellent mechanical strength, flexibility, and biocompatibility. Furthermore, the ability to utilize CAD/CAM in the fabrication of PEEK enhances accuracy, reliability, and efficiency while also saving time. Hence, several orthodontic studies have explored the utilization of PEEK in various applications, such as archwires, brackets, fixed lingual retainers, palatal expansion devices, transpalatal arches, Tübingen palatal plates, different types of space maintainers, mini-implant insertion guides, and more. However, a complete systematic review of the available data comparing the performance of PEEK with traditional orthodontic materials has not yet been conducted. Therefore, this systematic review seeks to assess if PEEK material meets the required mechanical criteria to serve as an alternative to conventional orthodontic appliances. To ensure clarity and precision, this review will specifically concentrate on fixed appliances. This systemic review followed the PRISMA guidelines and utilized databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Springer, Web of Science, and Wiley. Searches were restricted to English language articles from January 2013 to February 2024. Keywords such as "Polyetheretherketone" or "PEEK" and "Orthodontic" or "Orthodontic device" or "Orthodontic materials" were employed across all databases. Nine studies were incorporated, covering orthodontic archwires, brackets, and fixed lingual retainers. Based on the reviewed literature, PEEK demonstrates promising potential in orthodontic fixed appliances, offering advantages in force delivery, friction reduction, and aesthetic appeal. Further research is needed to fully explore its capabilities and optimize its application in clinical practice.

Prescribing Cold: The Science and Practice of Cryotherapy in Dental Medicine.

Cryotherapy, or the use of low temperatures for medical treatment, has gained interest in dentistry for its potential therapeutic benefits. This review article delves into the rationale, applications, advantages, and limitations of cryotherapy in dentistry, shedding light on its future prospects in the field.

Clinical and practical aspects of the gingival smile. A questionnaire-based survey.

Abstract Introduction: One of the main elements of facial esthetics is represented by the smile. A harmonious proportion between the elements of facial esthetics is an important subject of interest in dentistry. Aim of the study: This research aims to evaluate the impact of the gummy smile on future dental practitioners. Materials and Methods: A survey containing 16 questions was designed to find out the students’ perceptions about the ideal smile and if the gingival smile is considered youthful or unpleasing. The impact on their self-esteem, their willingness to change the gummy smile or not, the nonsurgical and surgical methods of treatment were also evaluated. Results: 212 answers were recorded and analyzed. Nearly three quarters (70.3%) of the respondents believe that having a gummy smile is unesthetic, while only 29.3% considered it to be a sign of youth. Self-esteem can be affected by having a gingival smile, but, according to the results, most of the students (45.8%) said that their daily lives have not been affected by it, 40.6% said that in a small amount, 10.4% said that their self-assurance has been very affected and only 3.3% admitted that the gummy smile distressed their confidence. When asked if they were willing to correct their gingival smile, 51.4% were open to improving it while 48.6% would not change it. Conclusions: Among dentistry students, excessive showing of the gums is believed to be unesthetic rather than a sign of youthfulness. The respondents are generally not affected in their daily life by having a gummy smile. Education regarding the methods of correcting it still needs to be addressed amongst future dental practitioners.

Evaluation and comparison of antibacterial efficacy of different concentrations of Chhattisgarh herbal product-Terminalia chebula fruit extract in opposition to Enterococcus faecalis: An invitro study.

Due to the low cost, natural origin, higher safety margins, and little to negligible adverse effects of herbal medications, the use of plants and plant derivatives in medicine is becoming increasingly widespread. Terminalia chebula is among the most significant medicinal plants in ayurvedic, siddha, unani, and homeopathic remedies. It is ranked first in Ayurvedic material medicine. T. chebula has been shown to have established effects against various bacterial and fungal infections, including dental caries pathogens. In recent years, there has been a rise in interest in dentistry and medicine related to Enterococcus faecalis. The research aimed to assess the antibacterial effectiveness of different concentrations of T. chebula ethanolic fruit extract (10%, 40%, and 100%) in opposition to E. faecalis and compare it with 2% chlorhexidine. For the study, T. chebula ethanolic fruit extracts were obtained and prepared with Group I: -10% concentration, Group II: -40% concentration, Group III: -100% concentration, and Group IV: -2% chlorhexidine. Colonies of E. faecalis were cultivated in brain heart infusion (BHI) broth at 37°C and were inoculated in 16 BHI agar plates. Then, on the petri dishes, four wells were created (8 mm diameter) using a metal borer. The Agar well diffusion method was used to examine the antibacterial activity, and the zones of inhibition around the wells were noted. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post-hoc tests. The result shows that as the concentration increases, there is an increase in the efficacy of the antibacterial property of the extract before it reaches the saturation point. The decreasing order of antibacterial was chlorhexidine >100% T. chebula >40% T. chebula >10% T. chebula. The production of contemporary pharmaceuticals from T. chebula was addressed, as the global scenario is currently evolving toward using nontoxic plant products with traditional medicinal benefits.

Making graphene oxide (GO)-cladded SiO2 spheres (SiO2 @GO) as inorganic fillers for dental restorative resin composites

ObjectiveGraphene oxide (GO) is of great interest in dentistry as the functional filler, mainly owing to its ability to inhibit the formation of cariogenic bacteria and possess low cytotoxicity to different cells, such as human dental pulp cells, HeLa cells, etc. However, its typical brown color limits the practical application. MethodsHere, the refractive-index-matched monodisperse SiO2 were used as the supporting substrates to synthesize GO-cladded SiO2 spheres (xSiO2 @ yGO) through a mild electrostatic self-assembly process, where x and y represent the amount of SiO2 and GO in the reaction mixture, respectively. The morphology and the optical performance of the obtained xSiO2 @ yGO particles were modulated by varying the mass ratio of SiO2 and GO (5:1, 10:1, 50:1, and 100:1). All developed hybrid particles were silanized and formulated with dimethacrylate-based resins. These were tested for curing depth, polymerization conversion, mechanical performance, in vitro cell viability, and antibacterial activity. ResultsOf all xSiO2 @ yGO materials, increasing the mass ratio to 100:1 made the 100SiO2 @GO particles appear light brown and possess the lowest light absorbance from 300 to 800 nm. The results of CIEL*a*b* system showed that all these hybrid particles exhibited obvious discoloration compared with SiO2 and GO, where 100SiO2 @GO possessed the smallest color difference. Furthermore, following the results of curing depth, polymerization conversion, and mechanical performance of dental composites, the optimal filler composition was 100SiO2 @GO at 5 wt% filler loading. The resultant 100SiO2 @GO-filled composite produced the highest flexural strength (115 ± 12 MPa) and the lowest bacterial concentration (6.7 × 108 CFU/mL) than those of the resin matrix (78 ± 11 MPa; 9.2 × 108 CFU/mL) and 5 wt% SiO2-filled composite (106 ± 9 MPa; 9.1 × 108 CFU/mL), respectively, without affecting in vitro cell viability. SignificanceThe facile and mild synthesis of xSiO2 @ yGO hybrid particles provided a convenient way to tune their optical property. The optimal 100SiO2 @GO particles could be considered as the promising antibacterial filler to be applied in dental care and therapy.

Antimicrobial activity of limonene: Integrative review

Limonene is the main component of citrus essential oils, and can reach a concentration of up to 96%. Popularly known for its potential therapeutic effects on the body, among these we point out its broad antimicrobial activity against various types of pathogens. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to address the antimicrobial and antifungal properties of limonene compared to microorganisms of interest in dentistry, based on a bibliometric study and literature review. The following databases were analyzed: PubMed, Google Scholar, SciELO and Science Direct, from which ten articles published between 2011-2021 were selected. Most of results indicate a satisfactory antimicrobial potential, besides providing important data and perspectives regarding the indication and clinical use, in addition to innovative therapeutic modalities for diseases that affect the oral cavity, such as tooth decay, periodontal disease and candidosis.

Public sense of dental implants on social media: A cross-sectional study based on text analysis of comments

ObjectivesTo investigate the most discussed topics and possible new interests in dental implants among the public, as well as the public sentiments toward dental implants through topic and sentiment analysis of online comments. MethodsComments of the top 100 most viewed dental implant-related YouTube videos were studied. The comments were analyzed by topic analysis (LDA topic model, Word co-occurrence analysis) and sentiment analysis. The basic information of videos was collected and classified. Video quality was evaluated by GQS criteria and 9-point usefulness scoring system. Statistical analyses were performed using Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U-tests, and Spearman correlation analysis. Results74 videos with 61,618 comments were considered eligible in this study. Most videos targeted the public with high viewing and comments, but the theme was single and the quality was low. From topic analysis, the most discussed topics in the comments were procedure, cost, feelings associated with prognosis, and expectations. Multidisciplinary approaches in implant dentistry were frequently discussed. From sentiment analysis, the public mainly expressed positive sentiment through comments. In detail, the public had positive feelings about aesthetics and health, negative feelings about pain, and neutral feelings about cost. ConclusionThe hot topics of public concern were procedure, cost, feelings associated with prognosis, and expectations. Intriguingly, multidisciplinary approaches in implant dentistry have emerged as a new hot subtopic within the topic “procedure”. Based on the sentiment analysis of the comments, the general sentiment expressed by the public toward dental implants was predominantly positive. Clinical SignificanceText mining can extract data from social media to explore public interest in dentistry. Clinicians should convey reasonable expectations and understanding about dental implants, especially addressing the most public-concerned topics (procedure, cost, feelings, and expectations), and provide patients with well-grounded multidisciplinary treatment plans to meet the growing public demand.

Association between history of academic failure during dental school and self-reported depression, anxiety, and stress: A retrospective cohort.

To investigate the association between history of academic failure (HAF) and self-reported depression, anxiety, and stress among undergraduate dental students. This study involved 244 dental students from one university. An online questionnaire collected information on the following variables: socioeconomic status, behavior, use of licit/illicit drugs, and the choice of dentistry as an undergraduate field of study. The 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) was applied. HAF in at least one subject during a participant's undergraduate tenure was defined as the main outcome. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Poisson regression with robust variance. In addition, a subgroup analysis was performed for the variable "dentistry as the first choice for undergraduate studies." The prevalence of HAF was 25.00% (n=61). Among those students, the mean number of academic failures was 5.41±6.38 (range: 1-33). Higher rates of HAF were observed among older and non-white dental students. Moreover, those who self-reported at least severe depression presented a 79% higher HAF prevalence ratio (PR) (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.15-2.80). Similar findings were detected among those who reported (PR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.06-4.46) or did not report (PR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.10-4.46) interest in dentistry as a first undergraduate option. Conversely, among women and students who did not choose dentistry as their first option, HAF was significantly lower (PR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.21-0.80). Higher HAF rates are observed in students who are older, non-white, and self-report at least severe depression. However, dentistry as a first option for undergraduate studies was not associated with HAF.

Nanohydroxyapatite in dentistry: A comprehensive review

Enamel, being the hardest and the highest mineralized tissue of the human body, contains nearly 96% inorganic components and 4% organic compounds and water. Dentin contains 65% inorganic components and 35% organicand water content. The translucency and white appearance of enamel are attributed to Hydroxyapatite (HA), which constitutes the major part of the inorganic component of dental hard tissue. With the advent of nanotechnology, the application of Nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) has piqued interest in dentistry due to its excellent mechanical, physical, and chemical properties. Compared to HA, nHA is found to have superior properties such as increased solubility, high surface energy and better biocompatibility. This is due to the morphological and structural similarity of nanosized hydroxyapatite particles to tooth hydroxyapatite crystals. These nanoparticles have been incorporated into various dental formulations for different applications to ensure comprehensive oral healthcare. To prevent dental caries, several nHA based dentifrices, mouth rinsing solutions and remineralizing pastes have been developed. nHA-based materials, such as nanocomposites, nano impression materials, and nanoceramics, have proven to be very effective in restoring tooth deformities (decay, fracture, and tooth loss). The nHA coating on the surface of the dental implant helps it bind to the bone by forming a biomimetic coating. A recent innovative strategy involves using nHA to reduce dentinal hypersensitivity and to reconstruct periodontal bone defects. The purpose of the present review is to discuss the different applications of nHA in dentistry, especially in preventive and restorative dentistry, dental implantology, bleaching and dentine hypersensitivity management.

The Clinical Potential of 3D-Printed Crowns Reinforced with Zirconia and Glass Silica Microfillers

The development of 3D-printed crown resin materials with improved mechanical and physical properties is an area of growing interest in dentistry. This study aimed to develop a 3D-printed crown resin material modified with zirconia glass (ZG) and glass silica (GS) microfillers to enhance overall mechanical and physical properties. A total of 125 specimens were created and divided into five groups: control unmodified resin, 5% either ZG or GS reinforced 3D-printed resin, and 10% either ZG or GS reinforced 3D-printed resin. The fracture resistance, surface roughness, and translucency parameter were measured, and fractured crowns were studied under a scanning electron microscope. The results showed that 3D-printed parts that were strengthened with ZG and GS microfillers demonstrated comparable mechanical performance to unmodified crown resin but resulted in greater surface roughness, and only the group that contained 5% ZG showed an increase in translucency. However, it should be noted that increased surface roughness may impact the aesthetics of the crowns, and further optimisation of microfillers concentrations may be necessary. These findings suggest that the newly developed dental-based resins that incorporate microfillers could be suitable for clinical applications, but further studies are necessary to optimise the nanoparticle concentrations and investigate their long-term clinical outcomes.

Achondroplasia and its Oral Manifestations

Achondroplasia is the most common type of skeletal dysplasia that manifests with stunted stature and disproportionate limb shortening. Achondroplasia is of special interest in dentistry because of its typical craniofacial manifestations. We report a 9-year-old girl who had all the characteristic manifestations of achondroplasia with a special emphasis on orofacial features. This article highlights the peculiar manifestations of this anomaly.

Role and common types of herbal medicine used for oral health in the Middle-East

Herbal therapies are used worldwide to treat health conditions. In Middle Eastern countries, since ancient generations, herbal medicine has been used for oral health because of cultural and religious norms. Antiseptic, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antifungal, antioxidant, antiviral agents, and analgesic derived from plants are of widespread interest in dentistry. The properties of herbal medicine are used to treat toothache, gum inflammation, canker sores, halitosis, gingivitis, and periodontitis, as well as tooth decay. The popular herbs and spices used in treating dental disorders in Middle Eastern countries are cloves, miswak, thyme, green tea, peppermint, rosemary, olive oil, myrrh, anise, sesame, ginger, and garlic. Based on the available evidence from research demonstrating the antibacterial, antimicrobial, analgesic, and antiplaque effects of these herbs used in Middle Eastern countries, they could still be useful as an alternative treatment for gingivitis, periodontal diseases, or antiplaque agents. However, more clinical data is required to ascertain the benefits of herbal medicine for oral tissues and the prevention of oral diseases.

Overview of dental education system and gender distribution of undergraduate dental students in Taiwan

The gender distribution of dentists in Taiwan has been dominated by male dentists for a long time. This study analyzed preliminarily the appearance of the current dental education system and the gender distribution of undergraduate dental students. This study used documentary analysis and secondary data analysis to survey mainly the current dental education system and the gender distribution of undergraduate dental students in Taiwan. There were a total of 2474 dental students and 394 dental graduates in Taiwan in 2021. The numbers of male students (1435, 58.00%) and male graduates (207, 52.54%) were higher than those of female students (1039, 42.00%) and female graduates (187, 47.46%). The numbers of male dental students in the northern (629), central (428), and southern (378) regions were all higher than those of female dental students (423, 373, and 243, respectively). The chi-square test indicated the significantly higher proportion of male dental students in the northern and southern regions (P<0.01). Besides, there were a total of 15,857 registered dentists. The number of male dentists (10,997, 69.35%) was higher than that of female dentists (4,860, 30.65%). Compared with population, the chi-square test showed the significantly higher proportion of male dental students and male registered dentists (all P-values < 0.001). In Taiwan, the dental education system must promote female students' interest in dentistry and elevate the proportion of female dental supervisors to increase the proportion of female dental students and female dentists in the future.

Interest in dentistry in early months of the COVID-19 global pandemic: A Google Trends approach.

BackgroundIn early the COVID‐19 pandemic, routine dental treatments have been delayed due to the risk of disease transmission. This delay may lead public to search for information on the Internet for a solution.ObjectivesThis study aims to evaluate the public interest in dentistry in the early months of the COVID‐19 global pandemic in the selected countries.MethodsThe daily numbers of new COVID‐19 cases were recorded for China, South Korea, Italy, Germany, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey. For these countries, Internet search interest of the keyword ‘dentistry’, ‘coronavirus’, ‘COVID‐19’, ‘SARS‐CoV‐2’ and ‘pandemic’ in the early months of the COVID‐19 pandemic was evaluated by using Google Trends data.ResultsIn most countries included the public Internet search interest in ‘dentistry+coronavirus+COVID‐19+SARS‐CoV‐2+pandemic’ peaked prior to the peak of new COVID‐19 cases. While a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between the number of new cases and Google Trends data in China, South Korea, Italy and Germany, a statistically significant negative correlation was observed in Turkey.ConclusionThe peak public interest in dentistry has been prior to the peak of COVID‐19 new cases in most countries. The use of Internet data can provide useful information about pandemics and many other diseases.

Antimicrobial Activity of Eucalyptus globulus, Azadirachta indica, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Rheum palmatum Extracts and Rhein against Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Novel plant-derived antimicrobials are of interest in dentistry, especially in the treatment of periodontitis, since the use of established substances is associated with side effects and concerns of antimicrobial resistance have been raised. Thus, the present study was performed to quantify the antimicrobial efficacy of crude plant extracts against Porphyromonas gingivalis, a pathogen associated with periodontitis. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Eucalyptus globulus leaf, Azadirachta indica leaf, Glycyrrhiza glabra root and Rheum palmatum root extracts were determined by broth microdilution for P. gingivalis ATCC 33277 according to CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute). The MICs for the E. globulus, A. indica and G. glabra extracts ranged from 64 mg/L to 1024 mg/L. The lowest MIC was determined for an ethanolic R. palmatum extract with 4 mg/L. The MIC for the anthraquinone rhein was also measured, as the antimicrobial activity of P. palmatum root extracts can be partially traced back to rhein. Rhein showed a remarkably low MIC of 0.125 mg/L. However, the major compounds of the R. palmatum root extract were not further separated and purified. In conclusion, R. palmatum root extracts should be further studied for the treatment of periodontitis.

Dental students' perspectives on three intraoral scanners and CAD/CAM systems before and after a pre-clinical elective course in digital dentistry.

Intraoral scanners (IOS) are gaining interest in Dentistry for their ability to capture digital impressions of the oral cavity. These digital impressions facilitate the fabrication of indirect restorations using CAD/CAM technology. This study aimed to describe an elective course given to predoctoral dental students on the topic of Digital Dentistry and assess their learning outcomes and system preferences. Three IOS were evaluated by eight students enrolled in a Digital Dentistry elective course. These systems included Emerald S (Planmeca), Cerec Omnicam (Denstply Sirona), and True Definition (3M/Midmark). After a literature review and a hands-on session were completed for each system, the students provided their perspectives on various factors such as ease of use, organization, and user-friendliness in a qualitative narrative of each system and quantitatively through a six-items survey. Survey data suggests that the student cohort showed higher levels of previous familiarity, user preference, and clinical confidence in the Cerec and Planmeca systems as opposed to the True Definition system. Qualitatively, the students felt CEREC was the more educationally useful system to learn and presented with more ease of use, functionality, and efficacy than the other two systems. While each system proved to have its unique benefits and drawbacks, students' attitudes towards the Planmeca and Cerec systems were generally positive, while True Definition's evaluation was limited. Students appreciated their experiences throughout this elective, familiarizing themselves with various digital systems. Key words:Digital Dentistry, Intraoral Scanners, CAD/CAM, Dental Education, Learning Curve.