Must every dental student become digitally competent? Lessons from prosthodontic education in Southeast Asia

Chu, Seng Boon (2026) Must every dental student become digitally competent? Lessons from prosthodontic education in Southeast Asia. European Journal of Dental Education, 30 (3). pp. 1-6. ISSN 1396-5883 E-ISSN 1600-0579

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Abstract

Digital technologies such as intraoral scanners, computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM), cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), artificial intelligence (AI), and additive manufacturing are increasingly transforming contemporary dental practice. As these technologies become integrated into routine clinical workflows, dental schools face growing pressure to prepare graduates for an evolving digital healthcare environment. The question facing educators is no longer whether digital dentistry should be incorporated into undergraduate curricula, but rather how digital competence should be defined, taught, and assessed within already crowded educational programmes. This perspective article examines digital competence from the viewpoint of prosthodontic education within Southeast Asia. While digital technologies offer substantial opportunities to improve efficiency, communication, and patient care, challenges related to cost, faculty development, technical workforce readiness, curriculum overload, and unequal access remain significant barriers to implementation. Furthermore, the assumption that contemporary students are inherently digitally competent because they are “digital natives” is increasingly challenged by evidence demonstrating substantial gaps in digital health literacy and preparedness for AI-enabled clinical practice. This paper argues that digital competence should be regarded as a core professional competency rather than a collection of technical skills. Importantly, digital education must complement rather than replace foundational clinical reasoning, manual dexterity, and patient-centred care. A pragmatic three-phase educational framework is proposed to support the progressive integration of digital dentistry into undergraduate curricula while preserving the essential principles of conventional dental education.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Digital Dentistry; Dental Education; Prosthodontics; Artificial Intelligence; Curriculum Development; Southeast Asia
Subjects:	R Medicine > RK Dentistry
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Dentistry > Department of Prosthodontics
Depositing User:	Dr Seng Boon Chu
Date Deposited:	15 Aug 2026 10:15
Last Update:	15 Aug 2026 10:15
Queue Number:	2026-08-Q4723
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/130705

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