Knowledge on Applications of 3D Design and Printing in Dentistry Among Dental Practitioners in Saudi Arabia: A Questionnaire-Based Survey

Abstract

Background : This knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) survey will provide baseline data and identify gaps that may facilitate understanding and further action to plan, implement, and evaluate practice toward 3D-printing technology among dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia. Aims and objectives: The present study aims to assess dental practitioners' self-reported knowledge, attitude, and practice of 3D printing in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional, closed-ended questionnaire of registered dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia was conducted. A sample size of 156 was considered for analysis. After obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Board, Riyadh Elm University, the research was conducted during the month of April 2022 amongst 154 registered dental practitioners. The research was distributed among dental health specialists either working in dental colleges, dental clinics, or both in government as well as private settings. Dentists who were not actively involved in 3D printing were excluded. SPSS software, version 25.0, (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) was used to analyze the data. Results and conclusion: Of all dentists included in the study, 98% were found to be aware that 3D printing in dentistry is used in Saudi Arabia and 2 % were not aware of its usage in Saudi Arabia. In total, 78.60% of the dentists felt that 3D-printed implant guides made the placement of implants the most accurate and least complicated procedure, and 21.40% of the dentists felt it was the least accurate and most complicated procedure.

Assessment of Knowledge and Practice of 3D printing amongst the dentists of Lahore

“…The majority of the participants in our study needed to become more familiar with techniques used for 3D printing, such as SLS 84(59.6%), FDM 102(72.3%) and DLP 106(75.2%). In contrast to our study Dhokar et al; reported that 85.2% of the respondents were aware of this technology 18 . Most of the respondents in the current survey responded that they use 3D printing to fabricatetemporary crowns 30(21.3%) 3Dmodels 22(15.6).…”

“…Dhokar et al assessed the practices of 3D technology and reported that 43.4% were using this technology for surgical guide preparation, 78.7% were using 3-D models,and 31.3% were designing customized prostheses. PEEK and 54(38.3%)PMMA 63(44.7%) were the most commonly used polymers, similar to our study results 18 . Pillai et al also reported that PMMA and PEEK are the most widely used polymers.…”

“…A study by Suganna at al revealed that 21.4% of the dentist felt that 3D printed appliances were not accurate and recommended using 3D printed appliances (70%) for special cases only. 18 The majority of the respondents used the 3D printing technology very rarely in the past 5 years. The reason maybe that there are not adequate facilities available for 3D printing in Lahore 19,20 Similarly majority of our respondents used 3D printing technology only once a year in their clinics.…”

Knowledge, attitude and practice assessment regarding 3D imaging among dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia

“…A previous Saudi study with the same objective reported that, 98% of people were found to be aware that 3D printing is used in Saudi Arabian dentistry, whereas 2% were not. The placement of implants was deemed to be the most correct and least complicated treatment by 78.60% of dentists and the least accurate and most complicated procedure by 21.40% of dentists (Suganna et al, 2022). Orthodontists in India were evaluated for their 3D printing knowledge, attitudes and practices in a study by claimed that 47.5% of orthodontists had used this technique; however, the current study only found that 38.7% of dental practitioners had some familiarity with it, which may be because all graduates and postgraduates were included.…”

“…The research proposal was approved by the Regional Research and Ethics committee of King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, with letter number (129- [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22].…”