Utilization of teledentistry in rural areas: a scoping review

Rural areas have a shortage of dental care resources and geographical remoteness, which is a major issue. Teledentistry, a new technology, provides dental care remotely and can reduce the care gap between rural and urban areas. However, the utilization of teledentistry has not been fully understood in rural settings. This study reviewed the current status and potential of dental care services for teledentistry in rural areas.

We searched for papers in MEDLINE/PubMed and CENTRAL published up to May 2024 with keywords of "rural" and "teledentistry" and conducted a scoping review based on the contents of the papers. Literature was limited to original articles, and conference abstracts, letters, editorials, and review papers were excluded. The target populations were subjects living in rural areas. Studies that compared the application with non-application of teledentistry and the remote approach with face-to-face approach were eligible.

Thirteen eligible papers were identified and divided into four categories of utilization. Four of the papers studied dental screening (checkups), five of pathological diagnoses, two of oral health support, and two of referrals to specialists. These papers covered studies in populations with a wide range of ages, from children to the elderly. The time reduction for access to services, acceptable satisfaction, and potential cost reduction were partly described. Overall, it was determined that teledentistry could indeed be useful.

The current review demonstrates the useful applications of teledentistry in rural areas. Although the introduction of teledentistry may be considered suitable for dental care services in rural areas, further studies are required to establish it. With the development of photography, artificial intelligence, and communication systems, teledentistry will be a future challenge.