Teledentistry in the diagnosis of oral lesions: A systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize information on the use of teledentistry in the diagnosis of oral lesions. Materials and Methods A systematic literature search conducted in August 2018 included articles published until December 2018 in 4 databases. Two reviewers evaluated the search results separately. If they were uncertain as to whether to include an article, a third reviewer made the final decision. Studies related to the diagnosis of oral lesions using teledentistry were included. The methodological quality of the studies was analyzed using the Quality Assessment of Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy. Results Eleven articles were included in the study. The selected articles were published between 1999 and 2018, predominantly in developing countries. The professionals acting as patient examiners are dental students and dentists, as well as other health professionals. Most of the patients evaluated in the studies were from rural populations or locations distant from large centers. The tools used to obtain patient data were smartphones, videoconference, email, questionnaires, histopathological exams, and telemedicine applications and systems. Most studies concluded that there is a high level of agreement between teledentistry and clinical consultation and that the use of this resource for diagnostic purposes can reduce costs and the travel time to consult a specialist personally. Nine of the 11 studies were of good quality. Conclusions Teledentistry has the potential to improve the care quality related to diagnosis and management of oral lesions, shortening distances between patients who need specialized diagnoses and specialists.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Knowledge and Attitudes of Dentists toward Teledentistry

“…Diverse authors suggested the consideration of the use of TD as a practical and innovative strategy to support dental care under specific considerations during the pandemic period (Bizzoca et al 2020; Ghai 2020; Martins et al 2020; Talla et al 2020; Telles-Araujo et al 2020). Many authors highlight the advantages of using TD, including use in the diagnosis and treatment of oral lesions (Ines Meurer et al 2015; Estai, Bunt, et al 2016; Alabdullah and Daniel 2018; Flores et al 2020; Fortich Mesa and Hoyos Hoyos 2020); pathways to improve access to oral health care (Irving et al 2018); validity, cost, and general benefits, as well as uses in clinical practice (Daniel et al 2013; Marino and Ghanim 2013; Estai et al 2018; Teixeira et al 2018; Fortich Mesa and Hoyos Hoyos 2020); and, more recently, the use of teletriage, which is probably one of the most promising uses of TD during the current pandemic (Marino and Ghanim 2013; Ghai 2020). Coincidentally, further research is called for with a focus on the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and long-term use of TD to enable evidence-based policy decisions to be made (Estai et al 2018) without affecting the patient–doctor relationship (Fricton and Chen 2009).…”

Teledentistry—Knowledge, Practice, and Attitudes of Dental Practitioners in Saudi Arabia: A Nationwide Web-Based Survey

“…Hence, dental practitioners (DPs) can provide dental advice, make provisional diagnosis, and educate their patients over a distance [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. TD has been applied in different disciplines of dentistry, including but not limited to, preventive dentistry, endodontics, orthodontics, and oral medicine settings, with promising outcomes [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 19 studies found that TD was a very effective means for oral health improvement in terms of prevention and promotion [ 7 ].…”

“…Another systematic review of 10 studies indicated that TD can successfully be implemented in the diagnosis and detection of dental caries [ 8 ]. The key advantages of TD include cost-effectiveness, providing access to dental care in rural areas and for frail people, reducing wait times, and making referrals in an efficient way [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. In addition, TD is an opportunity for peer education and consultation through video conferencing, facilitating better dental care for patients [ 2 ].…”

Role of Teledentistry in COVID-19 Pandemic: A Nationwide Comparative Analysis among Dental Professionals

“…A dentist can deliver advice based on patients' information without real-time live contact. 3 A protective physical barrier can be created, making use of teledentistry in COVID-19 surge, a screening protocol can be established where practitioner can conduct the audiovisual examination on a stable patient via video conferencing. Implementation of such programs can be an efficient and cost-effective way to ensure the safety of patient and clinician during the pandemic.…”