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October 12, 2025Journal of Prosthodontics8 citations

Adoption and challenges of digital dentistry among dentists and dental technicians: A cross‐sectional study

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MHMuhanad M. HatamlehSSSaleh A. K. SalehOROmar I. Radwan

Key Points

  • 87% of dental technicians regularly use digital workflows, primarily utilizing 3D printing and design software.
  • 76% of dentists adopt digital tools, but many still rely on labs for milling and design due to expertise gaps.
  • Major barriers include lack of training (62%) and high costs (61.5%), limiting the broader implementation of digital dentistry.
  • Private clinics demonstrate higher adoption rates (73.3%) compared to public clinics (53.3%), indicating a sector disparity.

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the adoption of digital dentistry by examining (1) the prevalence of digital technology use among dentists and dental technicians, (2) their knowledge and perceptions of these technologies, and (3) the challenges hindering broader implementation. Materials and Methods A cross‐sectional survey among 90 Jordanian dental professionals (50 technicians, 40 dentists) was conducted. Two validated questionnaires assessed demographics, technology utilization, perceptions, barriers, and educational exposure. Descriptive statistics, frequencies, and the Chi‐square test were applied to assess statistical significance at p < 0.05. Results Of the 90 respondents, 87% of technicians regularly used digital workflows, with significant adoption of liquid crystal display (LCD)‐based 3D printers (78%; χ 2 = 25.36, p < 0.001) and Exo‐CAD software (81%; χ 2 = 15.65, p < 0.001). Technicians primarily printed models (100%) and castable materials (90%; χ 2 = 13.48, p = 0.001), but reported significant barriers, including lack of training (62%) and material unavailability (52%) ( χ 2 = 37.44, p < 0.001). Among dentists, 76% used digital tools ( χ 2 = 10.00, p = 0.002), with high usage of intraoral scanners (90.3%; χ 2 = 25.60, p < 0.001) and design software (83.3%; χ 2 = 16.90, p < 0.001). Milling and 3D printing were underutilized due to cost (61.5%) and limited in‐house expertise. Educational gaps were noted, with 43.3% receiving no predoctoral digital dentistry training. A significant disparity existed between sectors, as 73.3% of private clinics adopted digital dentistry versus 53.3% of public clinics reporting no adoption ( χ 2 = 12.91, p < 0.001). Conclusions Digital dentistry is gaining greater traction, with dental technicians frequently using 3D printing and dentists mainly utilizing intraoral scanners while relying on labs for design and milling. However, broader adoption is hindered by high costs, limited training, and material availability.

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Cite This Study

Hatamleh et al. (2025) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/68ec1be02b8fa9b2b78acffdhttps://doi.org/10.1111/jopr.70043
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