Teledentistry Applied to Health and Education Outcomes: Evidence Gap Map

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Health Informatics
• Digital Health

Background:

• Teledentistry utilizes information and communication technologies (ICTs) for remote dental services and education.
• Its adoption has accelerated, particularly post-COVID-19, improving dental care delivery and educational strategies.
• This field encompasses information exchange, patient care, and educational initiatives across distances.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map the existing evidence on teledentistry applications in dental services and education.
• To identify gaps in current research through a systematic review of meta-analyses.
• To answer the question: What are the applications of teledentistry in dental services and dental education?

Main Methods:

• An evidence gap map (EGM) methodology was employed, based on established frameworks.
• Literature searches were conducted in Embase, PubMed, and Virtual Health Library databases.
• Systematic reviews were assessed for quality using AMSTAR2, and data were visualized using Tableau.

Main Results:

• A significant portion of studies (51%) had critically low confidence levels.
• Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) were the most frequent intervention group (36.8%).
• Education and professional training (19.6%) and patient-centered outcomes (15%) were the most common outcome areas.

Conclusions:

• This EGM provides a comprehensive overview of teledentistry's impact on patient care, services, and education.
• The findings can inform future research directions and policy decisions in teledentistry.
• It serves as a valuable resource for accessing evidence-based information on teledentistry applications.