Teledentistry and Dental Caries Detection - A Scoping Review

Abstract

Dental caries pose a significant global health challenge, impacting millions worldwide. Timely identification is crucial for effective management. Teledentistry is effective for early dental caries detection, particularly in underserved populations. Our scoping review assessed existing literature to examine the evidence regarding dental caries detection through teledentistry. Our scoping review, spanning PubMed, Wiley Library, Science Direct, and Google Scholar, included 18 studies out of 1322, employing the store-and-forward teledentistry method via smartphones, digital cameras, and intraoral cameras. Teledentistry emerged as a reliable tool for remote caries detection in diverse settings, including schools, juvenile detention centres and elderly care facilities. However, it showed limitations in accurately detecting initial and moderate caries lesions. Future research should focus on dedicated diagnosis classification suited for teledentistry and standardized protocols for intraoral photographs.

Keywords: Dental caries; Tele-dentistry; Teledentistry; Telehealth.