Knowledge, Attitudes, and Barriers Toward Digital Dentistry Among Dental Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Abstract

Digital technologies are fundamentally reshaping clinical dentistry, yet adoption rates among practicing professionals remain inconsistent across different practice settings. Understanding the current state of knowledge, clinical utilization patterns, professional attitudes, and perceived barriers is essential for informing both educational curricula and health policy. This cross-sectional survey study investigated these dimensions among 208 dental professionals practicing in public and private settings in Benghazi, Libya. A structured, self-administered questionnaire assessed awareness of core digital dentistry concepts, frequency and scope of digital tool usage, attitudes toward digital workflows, and perceived adoption barriers. Among 208 respondents (65.4% with over 10 years of experience), awareness of the term digital dentistry was high (80.4%), as was familiarity with intraoral scanners (92.3%) and 3D printing (82.7%). However, knowledge of specific technical elements was more limited: only 26.9% could differentiate open from closed CAD/CAM systems, and only 19.2% were familiar with STL/DICOM file formats. Digital radiography was the most widely used tool, and diagnostic applications represented the predominant use case. Overall attitudes were strongly positive, with over 96% agreeing or strongly agreeing that digital dentistry improves restoration accuracy and represents the future of the profession. The primary barrier to adoption was high initial equipment cost (51.9%), followed by lack of technical training (36.5%). Subgroup comparisons by practice setting and years of experience showed consistent directional trends but no statistically significant differences. Dental professionals exhibit broad awareness of digital dentistry coupled with highly favorable attitudes toward its integration. Practical adoption, however, remains limited largely to radiography and is constrained by financial and educational barriers. Targeted investment in continuing education, subsidized access to equipment, and structured integration of digital competencies into dental curricula are essential to bridge the gap between positive attitudes and meaningful clinical implementation.