Teledentistry during COVID-19 pandemic

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2020.06.029Get rights and content

Highlights

  • The suspended dental practice during COVID-19 era needs novel changes to resume function without increasing infection risk.

  • Teledentistry is the remote facilitating of dental treatment via information technology rather than face-to-face contact.

  • Teledentistry can complement the existing compromised dental system during the current pandemic.

Abstract

Background and aims

Dentistry involves close face-to-face interaction with patients, hence during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has mostly been suspended. Teledentistry can offer an innovative solution to resume dental practice during this pandemic. In this review, we provide a brief overview of applications of teledentistry.

Methods

Articles on teledentistry, relevant to this review, were searched and consulted from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane database.

Results

Teledentistry is the remote facilitating of dental treatment, guidance, and education via the use of information technology instead of direct face-to-face contact with patients. Teleconsultation, telediagnosis, teletriage, and telemonitoring are subunits of teledentistry that have important functions relevant to dental practice. There are many challenges for acceptance of teledentistry by the dentists as well as patients, which need to be addressed urgently.

Conclusion

Teledentistry can offer a novel solution to resume dental practice during the current pandemic, hence, the need of the hour is to incorporate teledentistry into routine dental practice. If not fully replace, at least teledentistry can complement the existing compromised dental system during the current pandemic.

Keywords

Teledentistry
Telehealth
Telemedicine
COVID-19
Coronavirus

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