Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the need to reform curriculums for digital experts in a way that include the practical and educational aspects of dental labs by determining why educational reforms are needed to comply with changes in dental technology business that are brought by the applications of digital scanning and what changes are being actually brought by the use of CAD/CAM. Methods: This study analyzed the need of education and practice in relation to CAD/CAM by using the independent sample t-test and One-way ANOVA. in accordance with the participants demographic characteristics and job-related variables and factors related to CAD/CAM, and provided only some of the analysis results that were found statistically significant. Concerning the need of education and practice in relation to CAD/CAM, the study also used the independent sample t-test to measure difference in the perception of that need within each of the three groups, or those of job performance, job efficiency and knowledge gain at the signficance level of ${\alpha}=.05$. Results: Dental technologists surveyed here were perceiving that the use of CAD/CAM would bring changes in their job performance, job efficiency and knowledge gain. They were expecting that the biggest changes would be made in work climate and product quality as sub-areas of job performance. However, they said that in terms of job efficiency, the use of CAD/CAM would change job contribution, job satisfaction and job efficiency, but not lead to staffing. These results suggest that more special programs for CAD/CAM education are needed to bring up CAD/CAM experts who are more specialized. Conclusion: Among 13 skills related to CAD/CAM, what is most needed to be educated to dental technologists was "molding the occlusal surface" (M=4.19), followed by "designing the 3-D work" (M=4.17), "final shape modification" (M=4.16), "molding the border" (M=4.15) and "checking the fit of prothesis" (M=4.14) in order.