Abstract
Objective The present study was aimed at assessing the impact of teledentistry, its application, and trends in uplifting dental practice and clinical care around the world. Material and Methods. The present observational study comprised of an electronic survey distributed among dental professionals around the globe. The validated survey form consisted of a total 26 questions with 5-point Likert scale response. The questionnaire used was divided into four domains: usefulness of teledentistry for patients, its usefulness in dental practice, its capacity to improve the existing practice, and the concerns attached to its use. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS-25. ANOVA test was used to assess the effect of independent variables on dependent variables. A p value of ≤0.05 was taken as statistically significant. Results A total of 506 dental professionals participated in the study with the response rate of 89.39%. More than half of the participants (50-75%) endorsed that teledentistry is a useful tool for improving clinical practice as well as patient care. Two-thirds of the participants (69.96%) considered that teledentistry would reduce cost for the dental practices. On the other hand, about 50-70% of dental professionals expressed their concerns regarding the security of the data and consent of patients. The most preferred communication tool for teledentistry was reported to be videoconference followed by phone. The majority of participants recommended the use of teledentistry in the specialty of oral medicine, operative dentistry, and periodontics. There was a significant difference between the age, experience of dentists, and their qualifications with domains of teledentistry. Conclusions The overall impact of dental professionals towards teledentistry was positive with adequate willingness to incorporate this modality in their clinical practice. However, the perceived concerns pertaining to teledentistry are significant impediments towards its integration within the oral health system. An in-depth study of its business model and cost-benefit needs of time, especially in the context of developing countries, in order to avail the optimum benefits of teledentistry.
Highlights
Since the advent of telehealth technology decades ago, the fields of medicine and dentistry have seen substantial scientific advances
Teledentistry is a novel field with a massive potential for uplifting clinical care and dental education with its innovative approach [2]
The term TD was formally used for the first time in the literature by Cook in 1997
Summary
Since the advent of telehealth technology decades ago, the fields of medicine and dentistry have seen substantial scientific advances. The use of telehealth-associated modalities has transfigured diagnosis, therapies, and surgery in the field of dentistry [1]. Teledentistry (TD) is a form of telehealth utilizing a combination of telecommunications and dentistry, which involves the exchange of clinical information and relevant imaging over remote distances for consultation and treatment planning. According to the American Dental Association, TD comprises of four basic modalities that include synchronous, asynchronous, remote patient monitoring, and mobile health. The synchronous modality utilizes virtual video call in order to facilitate real-time interaction between the dental practitioner and patient, while the asynchronous approach deals with diagnosis and examination through the transfer of data via videos, radiographs, and intraoral imaging [6]
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