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. 2022 Oct 3;12(10):1640.
doi: 10.3390/jpm12101640.

Evaluation of Tele-Dentistry and Face-to-Face Appointments during the Provision of Dental Services in Poland

Klaudia Migas  1 , Remigiusz Kozłowski  2 , Aleksandra Sierocka  1 , Michał Marczak  1
Affiliations

Evaluation of Tele-Dentistry and Face-to-Face Appointments during the Provision of Dental Services in Poland

Klaudia Migas et al. J Pers Med. .

Abstract

Tele-dentistry is a rapidly growing field, especially in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remote services are of increasing interest to both patients and dental personnel. They allow for reduced person-to-person contact and thus a reduced risk of transmission of the SARS-CoV2 virus. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the functioning of all areas of life, including dental treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the possibility of using tele-dentistry for dental services and analyse the attitudes of patients and dentists towards this solution. The period analysed was between March 2019 and February 2021 in five healthcare entities in Cracow in Central Europe. The study's retrospective analysis shows a positive attitude of patients towards tele-dentistry at every stage of treatment, from diagnosis through postoperative care, and a significant reluctance of dentists in the majority of dental specialties towards tele-dentistry. Consequently, a significant percentage of patients were invited to dental offices for a face-to-face appointment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The negative attitude of dental personnel towards tele-dentistry compared with the positive attitude of patients towards tele-dentistry is somewhat worrying in view of the possibility of a further pandemic. At the same time, it provides important information about the need to educate and support dental personnel in tele-dental solutions and improve solutions for the future. Taking into account the potential reduction in dental care costs for patients and countries after the implementation of tele-dentistry solutions, this is an important topic, while current studies do not comprehensively address the attitudes of patients and dental personnel towards tele-dentistry. In other parts of the world, a similar approach to tele-dentistry is used by patients and dentists.

Keywords: COVID-19; dentistry; remote consultation; telemedicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Chart 1
Chart 1
A diagram of the procedure in the dentist’s office.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Change in the number of online consultations during lockdown compared to the pre-pandemic period.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Change in the number of face-to-face appointments during the pandemic period from the prepandemic period.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Change in the number of face-to-face patient follow-up appointments during the pandemic period from the prepandemic period.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Change in the number of dental surgery appointments during the pandemic period from the prepandemic period.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Change in the number of dentures appointments during the pandemic period from the prepandemic period.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Change in the number of dental crown appointments during the pandemic period from the prepandemic period.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Change in the number of root canal treatment appointments during the pandemic period from the prepandemic period.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Change in the number of tooth filling appointments during the pandemic period from the prepandemic period.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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