A 35-item electronic survey compared preclinical and clinical students across opinions, practices, attitudes and barriers. Respondents generally perceived teledentistry as useful for access to oral care and patient monitoring.
Key findings
- Intention was associated with prior familiarity (V=0.162), perceived cost-effectiveness (V=0.118), interest in digital examinations (OR 2.17), belief that teledentistry will become standard (OR 2.01) and improved underserved-area availability (OR 1.83).
Why this matters globally
Preparing a digitally capable workforce is globally relevant, especially where dental access is limited. Education should cover technology, ethics, privacy and the limits requiring in-person examination.
Thai researcher contribution
The Chulalongkorn University-linked team surveyed students across 16 schools, providing broader national coverage than a single-institution study.
Limitations to consider
Volunteer self-reporting may limit representativeness, binary responses reduce nuance, and attitudes are not competence or behaviour. Cross-sectional regression does not establish causality.