PENGETAHUAN DAN SIKAP MAHASISWA KEDOKTERAN GIGI DI UNIVERSITAS HASANUDDIN TERHADAP PROSTODONTI DIGITAL: STUDI BERBASIS KUESIONER STUDI = KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES OF DENTAL STUDENTS AT HASANUDDIN UNIVERSITY TOWARD DIGITAL PROSTHODONTICS: A QUESTIONNAIREBASED STUDY

Background: The field of prosthodontics is currently undergoing a transformative shift from conventional to digital workflows, utilizing technologies such as Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) and Intraoral Scanners (IOS). Despite global integration, the readiness of dental students in Indonesia specifically at Hasanuddin University to adopt these innovations remains largely undocumented. Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, evaluate attitudes and perceptions, identify differences between pre-clinical and clinical students, and determine the perceived adequacy of current dental education regarding digital prosthodontics. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, Hasanuddin University, in December 2025. A validated questionnaire was distributed to 155 undergraduate students (84 pre-clinical and 71 clinical) who had completed the prosthodontics curriculum block. Data were analyzed using frequency distributions and Chi-square tests to determine statistical significance between academic levels. Results: The findings revealed a "Knowledge-Attitude Gap." While general awareness was nearly universal for CAD/CAM (96.8%) and IOS (97.4%), objective technical proficiency was limited, with significant deficits in material science and system mechanics. Conversely, attitudes were overwhelmingly positive (89.0%), and 87.7% of students expressed a high likelihood of integrating digital tools into their future clinical practice. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in knowledge (p = 0.6056) or attitudes (p = 0.1114) between pre-clinical and clinical cohorts, suggesting a knowledge plateau during clinical rotations. Conclusion: Students at Hasanuddin University demonstrate high psychological readiness but lack sufficient technical competence for independent digital practice. The reliance on extracurricular self-learning indicates that the current formal curriculum is insufficient. To maintain global competitiveness, a longitudinal integration of digital dentistry bridging pre-clinical theory and mandatory clinical application is an imperative necessity.