Oral health & preventive dentistry | 2021
Contributions and Concerns about the Use of Teledentistry in Clinical Orthodontics.
Abstract
PURPOSE\nTeledentistry uses computer-based technology to render remote healthcare-related therapy and/or consultation. The purpose of this study was to review the contributions and concerns about the use of teledentistry in clinical orthodontics.\n\n\nMATERIALS AND METHODS\nThe focused question was What are the benefits and limitations of the use of teledentistry in clinical orthodontics? PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, Google-Scholar and ISI Web of knowledge databases were searched up to and including February 2021 using the following key words: 1. teledentistry; 2. teleorthodontics; 3. ethics; 4. orthodontics; 5.\n\n\nSCOPE\nThe inclusion criteria were: (a) clinical studies; (b) case reports; and (c) case series. Studies on animal models, in vitro and/or ex vivo studies, letters, commentaries, and narrative and systematic reviews were not included in the search. The design of the \ufeffstudy was tailored to \ufeffrecapitulate the relevant information.\n\n\nRESULTS\nFour clinical studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were processed for data extraction. All studies had been performed after \ufeffobtaining \ufeffinformed consent from the participants. Three studies reported that teledentistry was useful in clinical orthodontics. In one study, a clear conclusion could not be \ufeffdrawn regarding the benefits of teledentistry in clinical orthodontics. Two out of the four studies did not obtain prior approval from an institutional review board or ethics committee. Three studies did not report any measures that were undertaken to safeguard the electronic transfer of patient-related health information.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nTeledentistry is a useful tool \ufefffor initial patient assessments; however, it is not a reliable alternative for in-office clinical orthodontic practice.