The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice

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VOLUME 21 , ISSUE 3 ( March, 2020 ) > List of Articles

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

A Survey of US Air Force General Dentists Regarding Computer-aided Design/Computer-aided Manufacturing Usage

Scott Walker, Amar Kosaraju

Keywords : Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing training, Dental school, General dentists, Survey

Citation Information : Walker S, Kosaraju A. A Survey of US Air Force General Dentists Regarding Computer-aided Design/Computer-aided Manufacturing Usage. J Contemp Dent Pract 2020; 21 (3):249-252.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-2778

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 01-02-2019

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2020; The Author(s).


Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to survey all United States Air Force (USAF) general dentists regarding their experience with computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) while in a dental school. Dental school graduation year and location was compared to the type and amount of CAD/CAM training and clinical experience during dental school to better understand the differences and influence of this technology. Materials and methods: A survey consisting of six questions was sent through e-mail to 546 general dentists in the AF Dental Corps in 2018 of which 306 replied (56% response rate). Results: Dentists who graduated in 2005 or earlier and between 2006 and 2009 stated they did not receive CAD/CAM training in dental school, while more respondents in the group of graduation years 2014–2017 stated that they did receive training. About 11% of the respondents who graduated in 2014–2017 completed 6–10 restorations and 9% completed 11 or more restorations compared to the other year groups. More respondents who graduated from a dental school in the southwest and southeast regions of the United States reported completing more restorations compared to other school regions. Conclusion: Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing is now becoming a prevalent curriculum in US dental schools, both as a core requirement and an elective. Its training platforms varied from lectures and literature reviews to preclinical laboratory. Clinical significance: More respondents in the groups of graduation years 2014–2017 had completed more CAD/CAM restorations compared to other year groups; however, most of the respondents did not feel their training was sufficient enough to use CAD/CAM technology independently.


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