Dental screenings using telehealth technology: a pilot study

J Can Dent Assoc. 1998 Dec;64(11):806-10.

Abstract

Background: This pilot study compared data obtained using traditional methods of visual dental screenings in a school setting with data obtained using an intraoral camera and transmitted to a distant location via telehealth technology.

Methods: For the study, 137 schoolchildren were screened using traditional methods. Two months later, 32 children were randomly selected and rescreened in a single day using the intraoral camera and the telehealth system. The measurement indices used were deft/DMFT.

Results: A comparison revealed no significant difference in the data collected by the two screening methods. The percentage agreement between the methods ranged from 89% to 100%.

Conclusion: In under-serviced or remote areas, the telehealth system may allow for accurate identification of oral conditions and act as a means of consultation at a distance between specialists, general dental practitioners, dental hygienists and individual patients.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Alberta
  • Child
  • DMF Index
  • Dental Care for Children / instrumentation
  • Dental Care for Children / methods*
  • Dental Hygienists
  • Humans
  • Mass Screening / instrumentation
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Random Allocation
  • Remote Consultation / instrumentation
  • Remote Consultation / methods*
  • School Dentistry / instrumentation
  • School Dentistry / methods*