AI Article Synopsis
- * Out of 385 identified publications, only 11 studies met the criteria for inclusion, revealing that most focused on clinical efficacy, particularly in areas like paediatric dentistry and orthodontics, while few addressed economic impacts.
- * Although there is promising evidence for teledentistry's efficacy, there's insufficient conclusive data on its overall effectiveness and cost-effectiveness to support solid policy decisions at this time.
Article Abstract
Objective This review is designed to inform future decisions about the benefits of integrating teledentistry into routine health services, by presenting an overview of the evidence for the effectiveness and economic impact of teledentistry. Methods Two reviewers searched PubMed, EMBASE and CINAHL databases through November 2016 to identify published peer-reviewed studies in English. Teledentistry studies were included if they were; (a) controlled (randomised or non-randomised) assessment studies; and (b) compared outcomes of a teledentistry intervention in terms of clinical or economic evaluation with the outcomes of traditional clinical alternatives. The quality of the studies was evaluated using a quality appraisal tool that considered study performance and design. Results This review identified 385 publications, of which 217 full-text articles were retrieved for further inspection. Of these, only 11 articles met the inclusion criteria. Nine of the included articles showed some clinical outcomes; the other two were primarily economic analyses. The balance of these studies assesed the efficacy of teledentistry interventions rather than their effectiveness. Four studies (36%) achieved higher quality scores and have greater potential to influence health-care decision-making. To date, the most convincing published evidence regarding the efficacy of teledentistry was provided by studies on paediatric dentistry, orthodontics and oral medicine. The economic analysis referred only to cost-minimisation, suggesting that the use of teleconsultation in dentistry can be cost-saving when compared to a conventional consultation. However, high-quality economic studies on teledentistry are rare. Conclusion There is emerging evidence supporting the efficacy of teledentistry. However, there is not yet enough conclusive evidence, particularly for its effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and long-term use, to make evidence-based policy decisions on teledentistry.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1357633X16689433 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
"Teledentistry" using a mobile app (Telesmile) to improve oral health among the visually impaired and hearing-impaired populations in Saudi Arabia: a randomized controlled study.
Front Oral Health
December 2024
Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
Objective: To assess the efficacy of a "teledentistry" method using a mobile app (Telesmile) in enhancing knowledge of oral health conditions and oral hygiene practices among the blind and deaf populations in Jazan Province in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A randomized parallel design controlled study was conducted among 50 blind and 50 deaf subjects between the ages of 12-18 years, randomly chosen from blind and deaf schools. The participants were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Estimating the Benefits of Oral Cancer Screening: Challenges and Opportunities.
Cancers (Basel)
December 2024
Melbourne Dental School, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Carlton, VIC 3010, Australia.
Screening is widely believed to facilitate early detection and improve health outcomes; however, recent evidence questions its overall benefits, highlighting the need for a critical assessment of cancer screening programs. The simplicity of clinical oral examination and the easy accessibility of the oral cavity make oral cancer a suitable candidate for opportunistic screening. Despite this uniqueness, studies that solidly assess the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of oral cancer screening are scanty, and the only large randomized trial undertaken so far shows limited evidence of mortality reduction through population screening.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImpact of behavior and mood of people with specific needs on quality and feasibility of teledentistry: A five years retrospective study.
Digit Health
September 2024
CEPEL, CNRS, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
Background: The e-DENT program, initiated by Montpellier University Hospital's Department of Dentistry, seeks to enhance dental care access for individuals with special needs through teledentistry. This five-year retrospective study focuses on the program's impact, particularly assessing patients' mood and behavior during telemedicine dental examinations and the influence of these factors on diagnostic quality and feasibility.
Methods: This retrospective, multicentric observational study analyzed data from January 1, 2018, to April 24, 2023, involving residents of medico-social institutions who participated in the e-DENT program.
Accuracy of Dental Symptom Checker Web Application in the Singapore Military Population.
Int Dent J
August 2024
Cork Dental School and Hospital, University College Cork, Wilton, Cork, Ireland.
Purpose: Symptom checkers (SCs) are virtual health aids to assist laypersons in self-assessing dental complaints. This study aimed to investigate the triage performance, clinical efficacy, and user-perceived utility of a prototype dental SC, Toothbuddy, in assessing unscheduled dental complaints in Singapore.
Methods: A pilot trial was conducted amongst all unscheduled dental attendees to military dental facilities in Singapore from January to May 2023.
Dental clinicians' perceptions on the use of tele-dentistry consultations during COVID-19 within public dental clinics in Sydney, Australia.
Aust Dent J
December 2023
Oral Health Services, Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.
Background: Although well accepted by clinicians and patients, teledentistry is not currently a widely used model of care within Australian public oral health services. This qualitative study aimed to review and evaluate dental clinicians' perceptions, by determining the acceptability and appropriateness of teledentistry as a model of care.
Methods: A purposive sample of 12 public dental practitioners employed by a Local Health District in Sydney, and who had participated in teledentistry consultations, were recruited to participate in focus groups.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!