Background Intraoral scans (IOS) provide three-dimensional images with approximate true colors representing a possible tool in teledentistry for remote examination. The aim of the present cross-sectional validation study was, therefore, to evaluate the levels of agreement between remote diagnoses derived from IOS and diagnoses based on clinical examinations for assessing dental and periodontal conditions. Methods The test sample comprised 10 patients representing different clinical conditions. Following the acquisition of IOS (Trios, 3Shape), a full-mouth dental and periodontal examination was done and periapical radiographs were taken. Ten dentists were asked to perform dental and periodontal scorings for each of the ten patients on a tablet computer presenting the IOS. Scores included diagnosis of gingivitis/periodontitis, and evaluated presence as well as amount of plaque and calculus, and presence of teeth exhibiting gingival recession, furcation involvement, erosion, tooth wear, stain, and non-carious cervical lesion, as well as presence of decayed, filled, and crowned teeth and implants. In a second round of assessments, the periapical radiographs were provided and the dentists were able to change the scores. The time for the remote assessment was recorded. The agreement between remote and clinical scorings (reference) was then analyzed descriptively. Results The mean time for the tele assessment was 3.17 min and the additional consultation of the radiographs accounted for another 1.48 min. The sensitivity and specificity values were 0.61 and 0.39 for gingivitis and 0.67 and 0.33 for periodontitis, with no relevant changes when radiographs were provided for the diagnosis of periodontitis (0.72 and 0.28). The agreement for dichotomized dental and periodontal indices ranged between 78 and 95%. With the provision of radiographs, the remote examiners were able to detect existing filled teeth, crowned teeth, and implants, whereas the detection of decayed teeth (70%) was not improved. Conclusions The remote examination using IOS was effective in detecting dental findings, whereas periodontal conditions could not be assessed with the same accuracy. Still, remote assessment of IOS would allow a time-efficient screening and triage of patients. Improvement of the image quality of IOS may further allow to increase the accuracy of remote assessments in dentistry. According to the Swiss Regulation this investigation is not a clinical trial and therefore no registration in a WHO-registry is needed.

Background: Intraoral scans (IOS) provide three-dimensional images with approximate true colors representing a possible tool in teledentistry for remote examination. The aim of the present cross-sectional validation study was, therefore, to evaluate the levels of agreement between remote diagnoses derived from IOS and diagnoses based on clinical examinations for assessing dental and periodontal conditions.Methods: The test sample comprised 10 patients representing different clinical conditions. Following the acquisition of IOS (Trios, 3Shape), a full-mouth dental and periodontal examination was done and periapical radiographs were taken. Ten dentists were asked to perform dental and periodontal scorings for each of the ten patients on a tablet computer presenting the IOS. Scores included diagnosis of gingivitis/periodontitis, and evaluated presence as well as amount of plaque and calculus, and presence of teeth exhibiting gingival recession, furcation involvement, erosion, tooth wear, stain, and non-carious cervical lesion, as well as presence of decayed, filled, and crowned teeth and implants. In a second round of assessments, the periapical radiographs were provided and the dentists were able to change the scores. The time for the remote assessment was recorded. The agreement between remote and clinical scorings (reference) was then analyzed descriptively.Results: The mean time for the tele assessment was 3.17 minutes and the additional consultation of the radiographs accounted for another 1.48 minutes. The sensitivity and specificity values were 0.61 and 0.39 for gingivitis and 0.67 and 0.33 for periodontitis, with no relevant changes when radiographs were provided for the diagnosis of periodontitis (0.72 and 0.28). The agreement for dichotomized dental and periodontal indices ranged between 78 and 95%. With the provision of radiographs, the remote examiners were able to detect existing filled teeth, crowned teeth, and implants, whereas the detection of decayed teeth (70%) was not improved.Conclusions: The remote examination using IOS was effective in detecting dental findings, whereas periodontal conditions could not be assessed with the same accuracy. Still, remote assessment of IOS would allow a time-efficient screening and triage of patients. Improvement of the image quality of IOS may further allow to increase the accuracy of remote assessments in dentistry.Trial registration: BASEC-Nr. Req-2019-01277

Background: Intraoral scans provide three-dimensional images with approximate true colors, representing possible tool in teledentistry for remote screening.Aim: To evaluate the levels of agreement between scorings derived from intraoral scans (IOS) and scorings derived from clinical examinations for assessing dental and periodontal conditions. Material and Methods: The sample included 10 patients in need of a restorative treatment. Following an intraoral scan, a full-mouth dental and periodontal examination was performed and periapical radiographs were taken. The intraoral scans were transmitted from the intraoral scanner to a cloud server. Ten examiners were asked to perform dental and periodontal assessments solely based on the intraoral scans. The scans were presented to the examiners on a tablet computer using the IOS-specific viewer app. Thereafter, the periapical radiographs were added and the examiners asked to do provide a second round of assessments. The remote scoring was compared to the clinical scoring derived from the clinical examination. The time for the remote assessment was recorded. The agreement between remote and clinical scorings was then analyzed descriptively.Results: Conclusion: The remote screening was effective in detecting patients in need for a clinical examination and was time-efficient. Further improvement of the image quality of intraoral scans may allow increasing the accuracy of remote assessments.

Background: Intraoral scans (IOS) provide three-dimensional images with approximate true colors representing a possible tool in teledentistry for remote examination. The aim of the present cross-sectional validation study was, therefore, to evaluate the levels of agreement between remote diagnoses derived from IOS and diagnoses based on clinical examinations for assessing dental and periodontal conditions.Methods: The test sample comprised 10 patients representing different clinical conditions. Following the acquisition of IOS (Trios, 3Shape), a full-mouth dental and periodontal examination was done and periapical radiographs were taken. Ten dentists were asked to perform dental and periodontal scorings for each of the ten patients on a tablet computer presenting the IOS. Scores included diagnosis of gingivitis/periodontitis, and evaluated presence as well as amount of plaque and calculus, and presence of teeth exhibiting gingival recession, furcation involvement, erosion, tooth wear, stain, and non-carious cervical lesion, as well as presence of decayed, filled, and crowned teeth and implants. In a second round of assessments, the periapical radiographs were provided and the dentists were able to change the scores. The time for the remote assessment was recorded. The agreement between remote and clinical scorings (reference) was then analyzed descriptively.Results: The mean time for the tele assessment was 3.17 minutes and the additional consultation of the radiographs accounted for another 1.48 minutes. The sensitivity and specificity values were 0.61 and 0.39 for gingivitis and 0.67 and 0.33 for periodontitis, with no relevant changes when radiographs were provided for the diagnosis of periodontitis (0.72 and 0.28). The agreement for dichotomized dental and periodontal indices ranged between 78 and 95%. With the provision of radiographs, the remote examiners were able to detect existing filled teeth, crowned teeth, and implants, whereas the detection of decayed teeth (70%) was not improved.Conclusions: The remote examination using IOS was effective in detecting dental findings, whereas periodontal conditions could not be assessed with the same accuracy. Still, remote assessment of IOS would allow a time-efficient screening and triage of patients. Improvement of the image quality of IOS may further allow to increase the accuracy of remote assessments in dentistry.According to the Swiss Regulation this investigation is not a clinical trial and therefore no registration in a WHO-registry is needed.