Influence of gender, age and education on the knowledge and attitudes towards teledentistry among dental students at a dental college in Northern India

TL;DR

This study explores how dental students in Northern India understand and feel about teledentistry, finding differences based on their education level.

Contribution

The study reveals variability in dental students' attitudes toward teledentistry and highlights the need for curriculum integration.

Findings

Early-year students are more open to teledentistry adoption.

Advanced-year students show greater caution toward teledentistry.

There is a gap in knowledge and attitudes that needs addressing for clinical integration.

Abstract

The primary issue explored in this study is the lack of comprehensive understanding of dental students' knowledge, attitudes, and
practices concerning teledentistry. This study contributes to the understanding of dental students' readiness to adopt teledentistry,
highlighting the variability in attitudes and practices across different educational levels and the need for curriculum integration to
enhance practical application. Students in the earlier years of study tend to be more open to adopting teledentistry, while those in
advanced years exhibit greater caution. Thus, we show the gap in understanding dental students' knowledge, attitudes and practices
regarding teledentistry, which is crucial for its effective integration into clinical practice.