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Patient Comfort With Smartphone-Based and Intraoral Camera Imaging in Teledentistry: Observational Cross-Sectional
Martha B Lucas1, Boyen Huang1, Ryan Hl Ip2
1Department of Primary Dental Care, School of Dentistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
Online Journal of Public Health Informatics
|August 5, 2026
Summary
Smartphone imaging and intraoral cameras offer comparable patient comfort in teledentistry. Smartphone use showed a marginal advantage, particularly for adults, suggesting potential for enhanced patient experience in remote dental care.
Area of Science:
- Dental imaging technologies
- Teledentistry patient experience
- Oral health assessment tools
Background:
- Smartphone imaging shows promise for teledentistry applications.
- Patient comfort with smartphone imaging versus intraoral cameras in teledentistry is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare self-perceived patient comfort during oral evaluations using smartphones versus intraoral cameras within a teledentistry framework.
Main Methods:
- 192 participants (≥6 years) underwent smartphone and intraoral camera examinations.
- Comfort was measured using a 7-point Likert scale before and after each procedure.
- Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistical tests.
Main Results:
- Intraoral camera use led to decreased comfort in 15% of participants (P=.001), unlike smartphone imaging (P=.52).
- A marginal difference favored smartphone imaging (P=.05) in comfort change.
- Youths and individuals without tooth wear reported reduced comfort with smartphone imaging more frequently than adults and those with tooth wear, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Smartphone imaging and intraoral cameras provide comparable comfort levels in teledentistry, with a slight preference for smartphones.
- Further research is needed to explore broader applications of smartphone imaging in teledentistry.
- Policy alignment and education are crucial for integrating smartphone imaging to improve patient experience.