Can we learn, teach and practise dentistry anywhere, anytime?

Abstract

Dentistry-related applications for mobile phones are becoming a popular way of accessing information for students, practitioners and patients. The aim of this article is to review the use of mobile technology, such as 'apps', within dentistry. Over time, there has been a change from desktop learning (D-learning) to mobile learning (M-learning) and this has only been possible with the aid of electronic media and the growth of the Internet. In spite of the increase in mobile applications, there is a need for any information to have a strong underlying evidence base. Several good examples of dental applications which take full advantage of this electronic medium are available. However, developers of mobile applications should provide good quality, peer-reviewed evidence to validate their material.

Available web‐based dental implants information for patients. How good is it?

“…Some patients – “online diagnosers” – check their symptoms at computer applications (Apps) in order to be able to obtain a diagnosis (Fox & Duggan; Khatoon et al. ), but most users (up to 59% of US adults) can be better described as “online health seekers”, as their intention is to gather information on health‐related topics (Fox & Duggan).…”

Smartphones and dental trauma: the current availability of apps for managing traumatic dental injuries

“…A call for developers to provide good quality, evidence-based and validated material has been made (12,13,22), and this needs to continue. There is, at present, no way to regulate the content or validity of the information in downloadable apps, and this is evident from the range in quality of the apps reviewed in this article.…”

“…Instead, smartphone users must independently verify the information provided and the extent to which information in an app is accurate and trustworthy is therefore highly variable. A call for developers to provide good quality, evidence-based and validated material has been made (12,13,22), and this needs to continue. It was reassuring to see that the Dental Trauma app (Apple iOS) and Dental Trauma First Aid app (Android OS) were endorsed by the IADT.…”

Disruption of Things: A Model to Facilitate Adoption of IoT-based Innovations by the Urban Poor

“…Jovanov and Milenkovic [38] found uses of wearable devices in providing preventive information about diseases such as diabetes to patients. Khatoon, Hill and Walmsley [39] found that a combination of IoT, cloud storage and 3D-printing was effective in providing dental-care services in remote locations. Aggregate data collected from personal wearable devices can also be used to predict the occurrence of seasonal diseases such as influenza and raise awareness about the benefits of preventive vaccinations for these diseases among the general public in a timely manner [40].…”