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DP survey

DiSCUSSiON AND RESULTS
The present cross-sectional survey within India
showed the following: There is a very long learning curve in adoption of digital
• 87% of Dental practitioners surveyed associated dentistry and companies should make their products
3D printing, intra oral scanning, CAD CAM a bit more affordable so that it won’t be an obstacle in
and digital CT scan with digital dentistry.
• The digital penetration in dental practices was digitizing one’s practice. There are many who are highly
49% while digital dentistry was not practiced enthusiastic to incorporate digital dentistry but due to
in 45% of the practices surveyed. Several
respondents mentioned the use of digital Xrays budget issues they have to step back.
and CBCT so that needs to be factored in the Dental practitioner, Baytu, Rajasthan
percentage of dentists who said they practice
digital dentistry. It is noteworthy to mention
here that more than 50% of the respondents to Going digital is the need of the hour, it’s the present.
this survey were from the 6 major metropolitan Things will only improve from here.
cities.
• 78% of those dental practices that were digitally Dental practitioner, Nagpur
equipped were using intra oral scanners while
34% were using both intra oral scanners and Despite the initial cost, digital technology has helped
CAD CAM planning and milling.
• 43% of dentists felt that incorporating the newer with improved treatment outcome and has enabled our
digital technologies was too costly while 19% practice to grow to a level which I do not think would
found it cost effective. have been possible otherwise.
• 59% dentists found digital dentistry to be an
effective dental education tool for the patient. Dental practitioner, New Delhi
• 97% of the dentists who are currently practicing
digital dentistry felt that company/ manufacturer I wanted to invest in an intraoral scanner but when I
training is important. Respondents felt that
it was imperative that companies invest in found out my lab costs will also go up significantly, I
training so that the dentists are well versed with postponed my decision.
the product and the technology.
• 74% of the dentists who are currently practicing Dental practitioner, Faridabad, Haryana
digital dentistry felt that the dental laboratory
is extremely important for adoption of digital There is a learning curve and we need total orientation
dentistry while 66 % of dentists not practicing
digital dentistry felt the same. of the products. Companies need to train us properly.
• 75% of the dentists who are currently not Dental practitioner, Chennai
employing digital technologies said they wished
to digitalise their practice.This marks a hugely If we have to update, we have to go digital, there is no
positive trend showing that a great majority see
this as the way forward. other way. Dental practitioner, Karnal
• 75% of these respondents said they wished
to incorporate an intra oral scanner in their A lot would depend on how a digital impression is
practice to commence their digital journey.
Intra oral scanner continues to be the preferred marked regarding margins and also how accurate sub
equipment for those who wish to take the digital gingival margins can be recorded.
path.
• 73% of the respondents who are currently not Dental practitioner, Mumbai
digitally equipped mentioned high cost as the
single most important reason for this decision. For any Digital upgradation, cost vs ROI needs to
CONCLUSiON be properly calculated and factored in before any
The present survey shows that as compared purchase decisions. Dental practitioner, Ahmedabad
to a few years back, digital technologies are
predominantly used in a much larger number
of practices for patient management and this
number is on the rise. Additionally three fourth
of the dental practices that were currently not
employing digital technologies expressed a desire
to move towards a digitally equipped practice.

20 Dental Practice i July-August 2023 i Vol 19 No 4