Malpe Medhavi, Choudhari Sonali G, Nagtode Nikhilesh, Muntode Gharde Pramita
Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research, Wardha, IND.
Cureus. 2024 Jun 13;16(6):e62286. doi: 10.7759/cureus.62286. eCollection 2024 Jun.
Teledentistry, a blend of dentistry and telecommunications used to provide dental care from a distance, holds great promise in enhancing public health, especially in reaching communities with limited access. However, putting it into practice has its own set of obstacles and background variables. It is frequently difficult to obtain dental treatment, especially in rural or economically underdeveloped areas. By removing geographical constraints and offering virtual consultations and diagnostics, teledentistry provides a solution. The quick development of technology, such as portable electronics and high-speed internet, has increased accessibility and efficiency in communication, which has aided in the acceptance of teledentistry. Getting traditional dental care can be costly, particularly for people without insurance. As an affordable substitute for traditional dental care, teledentistry may lower overhead expenses related to physical dental offices. Early interventions and preventive care can greatly enhance oral health results and lessen the need for later, more invasive procedures. There are disparities in the availability of digital gadgets and internet connectivity. The laws that control telehealth services might differ greatly between nations and areas. While teledentistry can help with remote consultations and triage, it might not be able to do thorough examinations or other diagnostic treatments that need in-person attendance. Delivering dependable, top-notch telemedicine services in developing areas can pose challenges. Certain dentists might hesitate to utilize teledentistry due to concerns about the quality of care, liability issues, or potential impacts on their traditional practice models. It could be difficult to get patients to accept and use teledentistry services. This review is undertaken to assess the effectiveness of teledentistry in public health as well as legal and regulatory considerations for practicing teledentistry. Teledentistry might be the future of the oral health sector, thus fully capitalizing on this enormous opportunity to change how oral therapies are administered. Patients, dentists, and the dental community at large will need to have highly open minds. For the community's well-being and to gain its trust, ethical considerations are crucial. The outcomes of teledentistry can be attained by overcoming the obstacles and using comprehensive methods and approaches. It was noted that teledentistry is a potential strategy that combines dental care with telecommunication technology to enhance patient outcomes, reduce healthcare inequalities, and expand access to oral health services. The delivery of oral healthcare is being revolutionized by teledentistry, especially in light of contemporary issues including geographic restrictions, lack of access to dental treatment, and the ongoing global health crisis.
远程牙科是牙科与电信技术的融合，用于远程提供牙科护理，在改善公众健康方面具有巨大潜力，尤其是在服务那些难以获得牙科护理的社区时。然而，将其付诸实践存在一系列障碍和背景变量。获得牙科治疗往往很困难，尤其是在农村或经济欠发达地区。远程牙科通过消除地理限制并提供虚拟咨询和诊断，提供了一种解决方案。便携式电子设备和高速互联网等技术的迅速发展，提高了通信的可及性和效率，有助于远程牙科的接受度。接受传统牙科护理可能成本高昂，尤其是对于没有保险的人来说。作为传统牙科护理的一种经济实惠的替代方案，远程牙科可以降低与实体牙科诊所相关的运营成本。早期干预和预防性护理可以极大地改善口腔健康状况，并减少后期进行更具侵入性手术的必要性。数字设备的可用性和互联网连接存在差异。各国和各地区控制远程医疗服务的法律可能差异很大。虽然远程牙科可以帮助进行远程咨询和分诊，但它可能无法进行需要现场就诊的全面检查或其他诊断治疗。在发展中地区提供可靠、高质量的远程医疗服务可能会面临挑战。由于担心护理质量、责任问题或对其传统执业模式的潜在影响，一些牙医可能会犹豫是否使用远程牙科。让患者接受并使用远程牙科服务可能会很困难。本综述旨在评估远程牙科在公共卫生方面的有效性以及开展远程牙科实践的法律和监管考量。远程牙科可能是口腔健康领域的未来，因此要充分利用这一巨大机遇来改变口腔治疗的实施方式。患者、牙医以及整个牙科界都需要有非常开放的心态。为了社区的福祉并赢得其信任，道德考量至关重要。通过克服障碍并采用全面的方法和途径，可以实现远程牙科的成果。有人指出，远程牙科是一种将牙科护理与电信技术相结合的潜在策略，可改善患者治疗效果、减少医疗保健不平等现象并扩大口腔健康服务的可及性。远程牙科正在彻底改变口腔医疗保健的提供方式，尤其是鉴于当前的一些问题 —— 包括地理限制、难以获得牙科治疗以及持续的全球健康危机。
