Objective: The primary objective of this cross-sectional national study was to investigate the status of digital dental technology (DDT) adoption in Saudi Arabian undergraduate dental education. A secondary objective was to explore the impact of dental schools’ funding sources to incorporate digital technologies. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to the chairpersons of prosthetic sciences departments of the 27 dental schools in Saudi Arabia. If any department chairman failed to respond to the survey, a designated full-time faculty member was contacted to fill out the form. The participants were asked about the school’s sector, DDT implementation in the curriculum, implemented level, their perceptions of the facilitators and challenges for incorporating DDT. Results: Of the 27 dental schools (18 public and 8 private), 26 responded to the questionnaire (response rate: 96.3%). The geographic distribution of the respondent schools was as follows: 12 schools in the central region, 6 in the western region, and 8 in other regions. Seventeen schools secure and preserve patients’ records using electronic software, whereas nine schools use paper charts. Seventeen schools (64,4%) implemented DDT in their curricula. The schools that did not incorporate DDT into their undergraduate curricula were due to not being included in the curriculum (78%), lack of expertise (66%), untrained faculty and staff (44%), and cost (33%). Conclusions: This national study showed that digital components still need to be integrated into Saudi Arabian dental schools’ curricula and patient care treatment. Additionally, there was no association between funding sources and the DDT implementation into the current curricula. Consequently, Saudi dental schools must emphasize the implementation and utilization of DDT to align with Saudi Vision 2030 for healthcare digitization and to graduate competent dentists in digital dental care.

Background/Objectives: Infection prevention and control (IPC) is essential to ensure the safety of dental personnel and patients. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and compliance of dental undergraduate students, interns, and postgraduate students with IPC measures in prosthodontic procedures. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the College of Dentistry, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, involving 216 participants selected using stratified random sampling. A validated questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and compliance. Statistical analyses, including the Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis test, were conducted to explore factors influencing knowledge and compliance levels. Results: Participants demonstrated a high level of IPC knowledge, with 93.55% correctly identifying the goal of infection control. However, gaps were noted, such as only 41.23% recognizing the recommended handwashing duration. Sex differences in knowledge were marginally statistically significant (p < 0.05), while academic level showed no significant association. Compliance was high in some areas, such as handwashing after treating patients (81.11%), but lower in others, such as disinfecting digital equipment between patients (36.87%). Higher self-confidence was significantly associated with greater knowledge scores (p < 0.05), while self-satisfaction with knowledge did not correlate with knowledge levels. Conclusions: This study highlights strong IPC measures knowledge and compliance during prosthodontic procedures among dental personnel, with some gaps in understanding and practice. Addressing these gaps through targeted training and standardized guidelines can further enhance safety and infection control in clinical settings, benefiting both patients and healthcare providers.

Tooth impaction is a common developmental dental anomaly that may lead to significant clinical complications. Although several studies have investigated the prevalence of impacted teeth in Saudi Arabia, the available evidence is heterogeneous and varies considerably according to study design and population characteristics. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of impacted permanent teeth in Saudi Arabia, evaluate tooth-specific impaction rates, and compare prevalence estimates between general and orthodontic populations. A systematic search of MEDLINE, Scopus, and EMBASE databases was conducted up to January 1^st, 2025, following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Descriptive cross-sectional studies reporting the prevalence of impacted permanent teeth in Saudi Arabia were included. Study selection, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment were performed independently by two reviewers using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to estimate pooled prevalence, and subgroup analyses were conducted to explore sources of heterogeneity. Twenty studies encompassing a pooled sample of 80,029 patients were included. The estimated pooled prevalence of a permanent tooth impaction was 7% (95% confidence interval: 4%–11%), with considerable heterogeneity across studies. Mandibular third molars were the most frequently impacted teeth (15.9%), followed by maxillary third molars (6.2%) and maxillary canines (3.2%). Subgroup analysis showed no significant difference in the overall prevalence of tooth impaction between general and orthodontic populations. However, maxillary canine impaction was significantly more prevalent among orthodontic patients compared to the general population (p < 0.05). Permanent tooth impaction affects approximately one in 14 patients attending dental clinics in Saudi Arabia, with third molars and maxillary canines being most commonly involved. These findings provide a comprehensive nationwide epidemiological reference and emphasize the need for early detection and targeted clinical assessment, particularly for maxillary canine impaction.