Telehealth in geriatric dentistry: A comparative analysis of concordance between virtual and in-person examinations for hospitalized older patients.

Abstract

This study aims to assess the concordance between in-person clinical and virtual oral examinations among hospitalized older adults. A single examiner performed an in-person clinical examination, recorded systemic health history and oral health indices, clinically documented the Bedside Oral Exam (BOE), and captured photographs for subsequent analysis during a virtual examination. Following a 90-day washout period, a virtual examination was repeated by the same examiner and by a second examiner. Descriptive analysis and a Kappa test were used to compare proportions and evaluate the agreement between results. Intra-examiners presented high percentage of agreement in all domains of BOE (80%-86%), with an exception for gingiva (78%). Kappa's intra-examiners presented moderate scores in saliva, mucous membrane, gingiva and teeth/dentures domains and a strong score in the tongue domain (0.839). Inter examiners presented moderate agreement in lips and gingiva, saliva, mucous membrane, and teeth/dentures domains. Inter examiners Kappa scores were weak for lips (0.395) and gingiva (0.498) domains; moderate for saliva (0.703), mucous membrane (0.769) and teeth/dentures (0.714) domains and strong for the tongue domain (0.872). In this study, a moderate level of agreement was observed between clinical and virtual oral examinations among older hospitalized patients. These findings are encouraging and warrant further investigation about how teledentistry can be used to enhance oral health access to this vulnerable population.