Perception and Readiness of BDS Students Towards AI and Digital Dentistry in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: The swift integration of artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning algorithms, and digital workflows into clinical dentistry is transforming diagnostic accuracy, treatment planning, and restorative procedures globally. However, the level of awareness, clinical readiness, and perceived barriers among dental undergraduates in developing nations like Pakistan remain inadequately evaluated. Therefore, the current study was designed to evaluate the knowledge, self-reported familiarity, clinical readiness, perceived diagnostic utility, replacement anxiety, and ethical concerns regarding AI and digital dentistry among undergraduate Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students and house officers in Pakistan.

Material and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate BDS students across all four academic years and clinical house officers (N = 251) using a validated, structured instrument distributed across major public and private dental institutions in Pakistan. Data were gathered on baseline demographics, general and domain-specific AI awareness, self-assessed competency, diagnostic trust, job replacement perceptions, ethical/legal concerns, and educational preferences. Data were evaluated using descriptive stats (frequencies and percentages) and inferential comparative analysis using SPSS Version 26.0.

Results: General awareness of AI technology was near-universal (98.1%, n = 246), and 80.1% (n = 201) reported basic awareness of AI applications within dental practice. However, domain-specific familiarity with specialized tools such as CAD/CAM workflow systems, automated caries detection algorithms, and intraoral digital scanning software was limited to 54.4% (n = 137). Active, routine clinical usage of AI tools was low at 8.8% (n = 22). A major proportion of participants (71.3%, n = 179) agreed that AI improves diagnostic accuracy in maxillo-facial radiology, yet 45.3% (n = 114) expressed skepticism regarding its complete reliability without direct human clinical oversight.

Conclusion: Undergraduate dental trainees in Pakistan demonstrate high conceptual awareness and favorable attitudes toward digital dentistry, yet exhibit significant gaps in hands-on clinical exposure and practical competency. To prepare future dental professionals for modern practice, regulatory authorities and academic leadership must integrate structured digital health and biomedical informatics modules into the undergraduate dental curriculum.

Keywords: Readiness, BDS Students, AI, Digital Dentistry, Pakistan