Teledentistry: A Scoping Review of Current Knowledge

Abstract

Introduction Teledentistry is not a new concept, and one of the earliest teledentistry projects was initiated by the US military in 1994 to serve US troops worldwide. Teledentistry (a subunit of telehealth along with telemedicine) is the remote version of clinical dental care to facilitate diagnosis, guidance, education, and treatment via the use of information technology rather than direct contact with patients. The aim of the review is to show the state-of-the-art on teledentistry. Methods An online search was performed using the keywords “telehealth, telemedicine, telediagnosis, teledentistry, remote dentistry.” Database searches reported 514 articles screened using established criteria. Included studies were original research or review articles (including reviews, meta-analyses, and systematic reviews). Results The author followed the “Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses” (PRISMA) for scoping review criteria. Discussion To date, teledentistry has proved to be beneficial for remote dental screening, diagnosis, consultation, and treatment plans. It is found to be comparable to real-time consultations in areas with limited access to facilities, including schools and long-term healthcare facilities. Conclusion Considering new technologies and innovations, many drawbacks still exist in the use of teledentistry in everyday practice.