The use of teledentistry in pediatric dental practice amidst COVID-19 lockdown: A literature review

Abstract

The recent spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has caused widespread public health concerns. All the countries of the world are taking necessary measures to prevent the community spread of this disease. In doing so, many countries have imposed lockdowns to restrict the movements of its citizens within the country. Realizing the severity of outcomes associated with this disease, dentists who were estimated to be at high risk of acquiring the disease rendered only emergency treatments to their patients. However, due to nationwide lockdown, it was difficult for the patients to visit the clinics for routine check-ups. This was overcome by the recent advancements in the field of technology. Today, in the age of smartphones, clinical data exchange was facilitated with the help of mobile cameras and video conferencing applications. These types of virtual consultations formed the basis of teledentistry. Teledentistry is a combination of telecommunications and dentistry, involving the exchange of clinical information and images for dental consultation and treatment planning. This technology served as a boon for the pediatric dentists to manage dental health concerns of children during the lockdown period. This review discusses about teledentistry and its applications in pediatric dental practice among the COVID-19 lockdown.