Clinical usefulness of teleradiology in general dental practice

Abstract

PurposeThis study was performed to investigate the clinical usefulness of teleradiology in general dental practice.Materials and MethodsTwo hundred and seventy five cases were submitted for inquiry to the case presentation board of the website of The Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology for a 5 year periods. The diagnosis results of those cases were analyzed according to the disease classification, the correlation with the patient's chief complaint, the necessity of additional examinations or treatments, the image modalities, and the number of dentists inquiring.ResultsDifferential diagnoses of normal anatomic structures were the most frequently submitted cases, covering 15.6% of all cases. Among 275 cases, 164 cases required no additional treatments or examinations. Panoramic radiographs were the most frequently submitted images, accounting for 248 inquiries. The 275 cases were submitted by 96 dentists. Fifty-two dentists wrote one inquiry, and 44 inquired 2 or more times. The average inquiry number of the latter group was 5.0 cases.ConclusionA teleradiology system in general dental practice could be helpful in the differential diagnosis of common lesions and reduce unnecessary costs.

Effectiveness of Telemedicine and Teledentistry after the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Advantages are also gained by improving interpersonal communication, such as obtaining second opinions or inquiring about cost approvals from health insurers or payers. Although it is widely used in medicine, teleradiology as an essential part of telemedicine until now has not really been established in dentistry [ 24 ]. Given the huge number of dental radiographs acquired in the world each year, this potential has yet to be explored.…”

“…Given the huge number of dental radiographs acquired in the world each year, this potential has yet to be explored. The introduction of a teleradiology system in general dental practice could be helpful for the differential diagnosis of oral lesions and the reduction of costs [ 24 ]. Telemedicine can also offer solutions in various dental disciplines, such as endodontics, e.g., by using images after a prepared access cavity (after trepanation/opening of the tooth for root canal treatment) to identify the pulp chamber floor and thus root canal entrances [ 25 ].…”

The aplication of teleradiology in dentomaxillofacial radiology

“…10 licensed and trained to operate and supervise the teleradiological system. 1,13 Deficiencies in the diagnostic accuracy…”

“…Teleradiology system has been widely used in the medical field which has also been now getting more advanced to mobile phone interpretation without any distance limit. 1 The aim of this paper is to give information to dentists about the use of teleradiology in the field of dentistry to be used as a means of communication to access remote area between dentomaxillofacial radiologists and colleagues using teleradiology system.…”

Teleradiology: current perspectives

“…For example, Choi 21 recently investigated the clinical usefulness of teleradiology in general dental practice. In the study, 275 cases were submitted for inquiry to the case presentation board of the Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology.…”