First-year dental students showed a greater preference for distance learning than their senior counterparts, likely due to the curriculum's focus on conceptual theory vs. practical application. Although more efficient, distance learning posed challenges in communication and learning satisfaction, suggesting a blended approach may be ideal for future dental education.

The study was funded by Universitas Indonesia, where the authors are affiliated. This could introduce a potential bias, although there's no explicit evidence of it influencing the results.

This study provides valuable insights into dental students' perceptions of distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. While it has some limitations, particularly regarding generalizability and the reliance on self-reported data, the study's methodology is sound overall, and the findings contribute meaningfully to the literature. The potential conflict of interest due to university funding is noted, but it does not appear to have significantly impacted the results. Thus, the study deserves a rating of 4.