Knowledge and Attitudes of Undergraduate Dental Students Toward Conventional and Digital Workflows in Maxillofacial Prosthetics: A Cross-Sectional Survey

İrem Sözen Yanık; Aslıhan Öztürk; Aslı Bengisu Karayel; Ayberk Demirok; Dilara Sahin Hazir

doi:10.15311/selcukdentj.1901005

Knowledge and Attitudes of Undergraduate Dental Students Toward Conventional and Digital Workflows in Maxillofacial Prosthetics: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Background: Digital technologies are increasingly transforming the field of maxillofacial prosthetics; however, the extent to which undergraduate dental education has adapted to these developments remains unclear. Evaluating dental students’ knowledge and attitudes toward conventional and digital workflows is essential for identifying potential educational gaps. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 201 undergraduate dental students (99 fourth-year and 102 fifth-year) receiving clinical prosthodontic training. Data were collected using a 24-item structured questionnaire distributed online. Knowledge and attitudes were assessed using a 12-item Likert-type scale. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and comparisons between groups were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test and Chi-square test, where appropriate (α = 0.05). Results: Fourth-year students demonstrated significantly higher total knowledge and attitude scores than fifth-year students (p = 0.012). They also reported greater clinical exposure to maxillofacial cases and higher involvement in impression procedures (p = 0.018 and p = 0.036). Conversely, fifth-year students showed significantly higher self-reported knowledge regarding the operating principles of digital scanners (p = 0.002). Fourth-year students expressed stronger confidence in the accuracy and time-saving advantages of digital technologies (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001). Despite positive attitudes toward digitalization, awareness of specialized digital software such as craniofacial CAD and digital imaging platforms remained low among both groups. Conclusions: Although dental students demonstrate positive attitudes toward digital technologies in maxillofacial prosthetics, gaps remain between theoretical awareness and practical knowledge. Integrating structured digital workflow training into undergraduate dental curricula may help improve clinical competence and better prepare future clinicians for digitally driven maxillofacial rehabilitation. Keywords: Maxillofacial prosthetics, digital dentistry, dental education, dental students, digital workflow

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Hacettepe University

Ethical Statement

SBA 25/1042

Thanks

Ethics approval for this study was obtained from the Hacettepe University Ethics Committee with the decision number SBA 25/1042.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Prosthodontics

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

İrem Sözen Yanık ^*
0000-0002-9420-7787
Türkiye

Aslıhan Öztürk
0009-0002-1266-4261
Türkiye

Aslı Bengisu Karayel
0009-0005-3599-9322
Türkiye

Ayberk Demirok This is me
0009-0006-7693-3570
Türkiye

Dilara Sahin Hazir
0000-0002-4305-0257
Türkiye

Publication Date

August 24, 2026

Submission Date

March 2, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 3, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 13 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.15311/selcukdentj.1901005

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA89DL86DS

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Sözen Yanık, İ., Öztürk, A., Karayel, A. B., Demirok, A., & Sahin Hazir, D. (2026). Knowledge and Attitudes of Undergraduate Dental Students Toward Conventional and Digital Workflows in Maxillofacial Prosthetics: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Selcuk Dental Journal, 13(2), 221-227. https://doi.org/10.15311/selcukdentj.1901005

AMA

1.Sözen Yanık İ, Öztürk A, Karayel AB, Demirok A, Sahin Hazir D. Knowledge and Attitudes of Undergraduate Dental Students Toward Conventional and Digital Workflows in Maxillofacial Prosthetics: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Selcuk Dent J. 2026;13(2):221-227. doi:10.15311/selcukdentj.1901005

Chicago

Sözen Yanık, İrem, Aslıhan Öztürk, Aslı Bengisu Karayel, Ayberk Demirok, and Dilara Sahin Hazir. 2026. “Knowledge and Attitudes of Undergraduate Dental Students Toward Conventional and Digital Workflows in Maxillofacial Prosthetics: A Cross-Sectional Survey”. Selcuk Dental Journal 13 (2): 221-27. https://doi.org/10.15311/selcukdentj.1901005.

EndNote

Sözen Yanık İ, Öztürk A, Karayel AB, Demirok A, Sahin Hazir D (August 1, 2026) Knowledge and Attitudes of Undergraduate Dental Students Toward Conventional and Digital Workflows in Maxillofacial Prosthetics: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Selcuk Dental Journal 13 2 221–227.

IEEE

[1]İ. Sözen Yanık, A. Öztürk, A. B. Karayel, A. Demirok, and D. Sahin Hazir, “Knowledge and Attitudes of Undergraduate Dental Students Toward Conventional and Digital Workflows in Maxillofacial Prosthetics: A Cross-Sectional Survey”, Selcuk Dent J, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 221–227, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.15311/selcukdentj.1901005.

ISNAD

Sözen Yanık, İrem - Öztürk, Aslıhan - Karayel, Aslı Bengisu - Demirok, Ayberk - Sahin Hazir, Dilara. “Knowledge and Attitudes of Undergraduate Dental Students Toward Conventional and Digital Workflows in Maxillofacial Prosthetics: A Cross-Sectional Survey”. Selcuk Dental Journal 13/2 (August 1, 2026): 221-227. https://doi.org/10.15311/selcukdentj.1901005.

JAMA

1.Sözen Yanık İ, Öztürk A, Karayel AB, Demirok A, Sahin Hazir D. Knowledge and Attitudes of Undergraduate Dental Students Toward Conventional and Digital Workflows in Maxillofacial Prosthetics: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Selcuk Dent J. 2026;13:221–227.

MLA

Sözen Yanık, İrem, et al. “Knowledge and Attitudes of Undergraduate Dental Students Toward Conventional and Digital Workflows in Maxillofacial Prosthetics: A Cross-Sectional Survey”. Selcuk Dental Journal, vol. 13, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 221-7, doi:10.15311/selcukdentj.1901005.

Vancouver

1.İrem Sözen Yanık, Aslıhan Öztürk, Aslı Bengisu Karayel, Ayberk Demirok, Dilara Sahin Hazir. Knowledge and Attitudes of Undergraduate Dental Students Toward Conventional and Digital Workflows in Maxillofacial Prosthetics: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Selcuk Dent J. 2026 Aug. 1;13(2):221-7. doi:10.15311/selcukdentj.1901005