Competency-related constructs of digital dental technology in dental hygiene: a scoping review of studies retrieved from Korean databases

Objectives: This scoping review mapped digital dental technologies and competency-related constructs investigated in dental hygiene-related studies retrieved from Korean databases, and identified provisional candidate domains and research gaps relevant to future digital competency frameworks. Methods: The RISS, KISS, DBpia, and National Assembly Library were searched for studies published between January 2016 and July 2026 without language restrictions. Of 454 records, 257 were screened, 51 full-text records were retrieved, and 20 studies were included. Frequency analysis and multiple-response coding were used in this study. Results: Of the 20 included studies, 12 (60.0%) were published between 2024 and 2026, and 13 (65.0%) employed a survey design. Intraoral scanners/digital impressions (75.0%) and CAD/CAM/digital workflows (60.0%) were the most common. The percentages were based on all 20 studies and represent literature coverage rather than direct competency evidence. Digital skills/utilization-related measures were identified in 60.0%, and knowledge and understanding in 10.0%. Skill/proficiency and utilization/experience were coded separately. Attitude/acceptance/self-efficacy (70.0%) and awareness/perception (65.0%) were predominant, whereas evidence for objective performance, communication/collaboration, and ethics/safety/data security was limited. Conclusions: Six domains were identified as provisional candidate domains, and not as a validated competency framework. Perceptual/personal and educational/contextual factors should be assessed separately. Expert consensus, content validity assessments, and psychometric validation are required before formal use.