Perception, Acceptance, and Utilization of Teledentistry by the Public: A Literature Review

Teledentistry demonstrates significant potential in enhancing access to, reducing costs of, and improving oral healthcare delivery, particularly in under-resourced areas and during crises, like the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite its high acceptance rate among dental professionals, the perspectives of patients and the public remain less explored. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on public perception, acceptance, utilization, and satisfaction of teledentistry globally.

A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Database, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed English articles (2010-2025) using keywords like "teledentistry," "patients," and "public." Included studies assessed patient and public perspectives on teledentistry benefits, barriers, satisfaction, and utilization. Exclusions comprised non-patient or non-English articles. Data from 21 selected studies were narratively synthesized.

Awareness of teledentistry varied widely (e.g., 64% aware in one Saudi Arabian study vs. 87.3% unaware of teledentistry in a study in Jeddah). Attitudes were generally positive, as seen with 82.4% of the cohort in a Malaysian study, where the convenience of tele-orthodontics and increased safety during COVID-19 were observed, although older adults across the studies and those with lower levels of education reported technological barriers. Acceptance rates of teledentistry were high among patients (70%-87% in Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and Malaysia), particularly when used for triage and follow-ups, but lower for complex treatments (e.g., 35.3% of patients in a Qatar study noted unresolved issues following teledentistry consultations, like pulpitis). Satisfaction was favorable across the cohorts (reaching between 72% and 94% across multiple studies) due to the benefits of reduced treatment time and lower financial cost; however, patient satisfaction declined when they faced dental conditions requiring physical intervention. Key barriers faced by patients and the public to teledentistry included limited awareness, patient concerns with diagnostic accuracy, and technical access issues.

Public perception of teledentistry is moderate, attitudes are broadly positive, and teledentistry is being increasingly accepted with high satisfaction rates for convenient, non-urgent care. However, demographic factors, such as age, education, and location, and clinical limitations for hands-on treatments limit its utilization. Teledentistry is best positioned as a complement to traditional care through hybrid models. Future efforts should prioritize targeted education, improved accessibility, and standardized teledentistry protocols to optimize equitable implementation.