Practical Applicability of Teledentistry in Pediatric Patients Amidst Pandemic : A Narrative Review

Abstract

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed a situation where all healthcare facilities except emergency services remain suspended. These times generated the necessity for the implementation of a healthcare delivery system that can be accessed digitally and, thus, benefit the majority of children as well as healthcare professionals. This review aims to propose a sound model of less technique sensitive, safe and handy strategies for dental traumatic injuries, endodontic and restorative concerns, and orthodontic urgencies until complete clinical help can be sought. Five hundred thirty articles were obtained from the PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Lilacs, and Cochrane databases published from 2011 to 2021. Nineteen articles that described teledentistry in the COVID-19 era were included. Teledentistry can serve as a vital patient management strategy that can aid in triaging urgent and elective patient treatment needs, ultimately easing the burden of clinics and at the same time providing a safer means of consultation.

Teledentistry: A Comprehensive Review and Its Application in Pediatric Dental Care

“…By keeping a safe distance, this technique can be especially helpful in the pandemic crisis to reduce patient-to-patient contact. The usage of smartphones, webcams, intra-oral cameras, and Internet-connected dentistry apps minimizes the danger of exposure to dental personnel and practitioners [ 11 ].…”

Tele dentistry - Its Practical Applicability, Hurdles and Future Prospects

“…Management of orthodontic cases in pediatric patients involve removal of broken or debonded brackets, covering of impinging wires and brackets using orthodontic wax and avoid accidental swallowing of small components. 4,20 Limitations of Teledentistry: 19, 20 1. Difficulty in understanding the technology used in teledentistry as adaptability for new skill is the concern and many dentists may not be willing to comply with the advancement of technology.…”

“…In the pandemic covid 19 era the practice of teledentistry became popular as it was considered the safest mode for consultation in the medical fraternity (Figure 1). 4 Thus, owing to the difficult period of covid 19 a sound telemodel approach should be developed by synergistically applying dentistry and telecommunication to provide timely management of emergencies that can be treated at home safeguarding both the dentist and the patient. 5…”