Is dental technology in Bulgaria digital or analog?
Medical Review (Med. pregled), 2025, 61(4), 35-43.
Sv. Angelova1, B. Borisov1, E. Kostova2, B. Tornyova3
1 TS Dental Technology, Medical College, Medical University of Varna
2 TS X-Ray Laboratory Assistant, Medical College, Medical University of Varna
3 Vice Dean of Scientific Research Affairs, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Plovdiv
Abstract. Digital transformation is a necessary process for the technological development in order to establish conditions for business innovation and growth, an increase in the efficiency or the workforce, and to ensure high standards for citizens. In the last 20 years, the development of dental technologies for the production of dental prosthetic structures has been characterized by exceptionally fast growth. The introduction of CAD/CAM systems in the dental design industry has led to the exclusion of a multitude of manual operations, resulting in an increase of the accuracy of the structures and a reduction of the time needed for their manufacture. The aim of this study is to establish the degree of digitalization in Bulgarian dental technology laboratories in 2025 by studying the ratio between conventionally and digitally manufactured medical devices, as well as to search for the reasons for the lag of diѝgitally manufactured removable prostheses compared to fixed ones. Materials and Methods: The information was collected through a direct individual anonymous survey published online in two professional social networks in the December 2024-January 2025 period, and included 113 respondents who were practicing dental technicians in Bulgaria. The results were processed by SPSS (version 22) using variance, comparative, and correlation analyses and were assessed as statistically significant when the p-value < 0.05. The profile of respondents was composed on the basis of the following characteristics: gender, age group, and place of residence (large city, district center, or small town). Results: The majority of the surveyed dental technicians (76.1%) use digital software and the relevant equipment for the manufacturing of prostheses, and 23.9% use analog methods and technologies only. Of all types of dental prosthetic constructions, the smallest share is that of digitally produced complete dentures. First among the reasons indicated for the lag in digitalization is “scanning inaccuracy” (48.7%); the second one is “expensive equipment” (31.0%), followed by “lack of digital skills” (16.8%); “other reasons” are indicated by 3.5%. Conclusions: 1. The results of the Chi-square test for hypothesis testing show that gender and age do not influence the use of digital software by dental technicians. 2. Digital software is used mainly by dental technicians in large cities – Sofia, Varna, and Plovdiv (56.6%). 3. Despite the wide variety of methods and protocols for manufacturing dental prosthetic constructions, a trend toward full digitalization on the process is observed.
Key words: dental technology, digital, analog, 3D printing, 3D milling, dental articulator
Address for correspondence: Svetlana Peneva Angelova, e-mail: