Teledentistry: a key component in access to care

Area of Science:

• Oral health
• Public health
• Health informatics

Background:

• Information and communication technologies, including teledentistry, offer significant potential to enhance global oral health services.
• Teledentistry can expand access to primary, secondary, and tertiary oral healthcare.
• Current evidence is insufficient to definitively compare teledentistry with standard procedures regarding effectiveness, cost, and impact on oral health and quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the merits of teledentistry for delivering oral care.
• To discuss the potential of teledentistry in addressing oral health needs.
• To highlight the need for further research into teledentistry's efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• This article synthesizes existing literature on teledentistry.
• The review examines the efficacy and effectiveness of teledentistry interventions.
• Potential barriers to the widespread adoption of teledentistry are identified.

Main Results:

• Teledentistry appears to be a viable option for extending oral health services.
• The technology holds potential for reaching underserved populations.
• Further studies are required to build a robust evidence base.

Conclusions:

• Teledentistry presents a promising approach to delivering oral health services.
• It is particularly beneficial in areas with a shortage of dental professionals.
• Establishing a stronger evidence base is crucial for supporting teledentistry practices.