Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Telemedicine in Postoperative Follow-Up Care After Dental Implant Surgery. A Pilot Study

J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2024 Feb;16(Suppl 1):S463-S465. doi: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_726_23. Epub 2023 Nov 7.

Abstract

Aim: Telemedicine has emerged as a potential solution to enhance postoperative follow-up care after dental implant surgery, offering the convenience of remote monitoring and reduced need for in-person visits.

Materials and methods: Participants were randomly assigned to either the telemedicine group (n = 15) or the in-person group (n = 15). In the telemedicine group, patients received remote follow-up care through virtual consultations, during which they could communicate their concerns and share images of the surgical site. The in-person group received standard in-person follow-up visits. Patient satisfaction was measured using a standardized survey, with responses collected on a Likert scale.

Results: Telemedicine group exhibited comparable levels of patient satisfaction (mean satisfaction score ± standard deviation: 4.6 ± 0.3) to the in-person group (4.7 ± 0.2). Moreover, clinical outcomes, including wound healing assessment, were similar between the two groups. No significant differences were observed in the incidence of postoperative complications or the need for additional interventions.

Conclusion: In conclusion, this pilot study demonstrates that telemedicine is an effective alternative to traditional in-person follow-up care for postoperative dental implant surgery patients. It offers comparable patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes while proving to be more cost-effective.

Keywords: Dental implant surgery; patient satisfaction; postoperative follow-up care; telemedicine.