Teledentistry Mobile Photos Versus Conventional Clinical Examination for Dental Caries Diagnosis

Reliability Of Teledentistry Mobile Photos Versus Conventional Clinical Examination for Dental Caries Diagnosis in A Group of School Children: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study

Teledentistry is an intervention that can boost chances for the new primary healthcare paradigm, bringing service delivery and accessibility to new levels. Evidence-based studies have reported that Teledentistry improves access to dental care in rural, inaccessible areas to disadvantaged populations.

The advantage of choosing Teledentistry as a dental caries screening tool is its viability in increasing oral health care to underserved areas, increasing equity, and reducing oral disease burdens in children. Furthermore, photographic images and prints of children's carious teeth can be used to motivate parents/guardians to seek dental treatment and institute preventive care. Only a teledental assistant is needed for the imaging, eliminating the need for highly skilled professional human resources. Instead, dental professionals can be better utilized in dental hospitals/clinics.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Children between 6-12 years old (mixed dentition)
2. Medically free from systematic conditions

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Uncooperative children
2. Children with orthodontic appliances at time of treatment