Knowledge and Attitude of Recent Dental Graduates towards Smart/Bioactive Dental Composites

Aims: The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge and attitude of dental interns vs newly graduated dentists (NGD) towards recently introduced smart/bioactive dental resin composites (SDCs). Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Restorative Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from March 2018 to June 2018. Methodology: An online questionnaire was distributed among randomly chosen interns and NGDs in multiple countries (n= 164). The questionnaire was formulated using Google Forms. Statistical analysis of the results was conducted using percentages and frequencies and compared using Chi-square test (P<0.05). Results: 59.15% of all respondents expressed interest in perusing restorative dentistry as a specialty.  A statistically significant lower proportion of NGDs compared to interns reported a good understanding of dental restorative materials (P=.022), hearing of SDCs (P=.033), or ever using SDCs (P=.006). 50% of NGDs reported thinking that SDCs effectively regenerate dental hard tissue was significantly (P=.016) lower than interns (70.5%). 97.6% of NGDs and 96.7% of interns reported willingness to attend a training workshop and/or a continuing education course about SDCs. Conclusion: Interns showed a significantly higher positive attitude towards SDCs use. Knowledge and effective use of SDCs by interns and NGDs could be improved by more training such as that offered in workshops/courses.