Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background and Aims
Teledentistry is a subset of telehealth that uses live audio and video calls, plus data sharing, to deliver dental care remotely. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the scope, methods, and effectiveness of teledentistry in the diagnosis, consultation, and treatment of oral and dental diseases.
Methods
A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases on June 27, 2023, without time restrictions. Reference lists of included studies were also checked for additional records. Eligible studies included original observational and interventional research examining the use, application, benefits, or challenges of teledentistry in oral and dental healthcare. Only English‐language articles were included. Excluded items were reviews, conference abstracts, editorials, letters, books, and studies lacking empirical or outcome data. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Descriptive synthesis was performed using SPSS version 19.
Results
Out of 1352 retrieved records, 402 duplicates were removed, and 34 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were cross‐sectional (79%), conducted mainly in India (21%), and focused on tele‐diagnosis (52%). The majority employed asynchronous communication (53%) and mobile‐based platforms (44%). Oral cavity‐focused studies constituted 62% of the sample. The evidence demonstrated that teledentistry can facilitate accurate, cost‐effective, and timely diagnosis and consultation, expanding access to dental care, especially in underserved regions.
Conclusion
Teledentistry has proven to be an effective supplementary approach for diagnosing, consulting, and treating oral and dental diseases, strengthening remote access to specialized care and bridging inequalities in dental health services. The included studies exhibited methodological heterogeneity, limited geographic representation, and a predominance of cross‐sectional designs, which restricted comparative analysis and generalizability.