Search Results (20)

Teledentistry enhances access to oral healthcare by enabling remote consultations, diagnosis, and patient management. This paper explores its applications, benefits, challenges, and impact on modern dentistry. A comprehensive review of existing literature and case studies was conducted to examine the effectiveness of teledentistry. Key aspects analyzed include digital imaging, AI (artificial intelligence)-assisted diagnostics, and cloud-based patient records, which facilitate early disease detection, reduce wait times, and minimize unnecessary visits. The review also highlights how teledentistry improves collaboration among dental professionals for better treatment planning. Challenges include legal barriers, data security concerns, and limited digital infrastructure. Standardized protocols and professional training are essential for effective implementation. Future advancements in AI and telecommunication technologies will further integrate teledentistry into standard practice, improving accessibility and efficiency in oral healthcare. Full article

Aim: This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) in pediatric dentistry, comparing it with other restorative techniques, analyzing material performance, assessing cost-effectiveness, and exploring the long-term success in managing dental caries. Background: ART is a minimally invasive approach that removes decayed tissue using hand instruments and restores teeth with adhesive materials like glass ionomer cement (GIC). ART is particularly valuable in pediatric dentistry due to its simplicity, reduced discomfort, and suitability for resource-limited settings. It eliminates the need for anesthesia and expensive dental equipment, making it accessible in remote and underserved areas. Studies have shown its effectiveness in providing durable restorations while improving patient comfort. Materials and Methods: This systematic review follows the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for studies published in the last ten years. The inclusion criteria included in vivo studies on children, randomized controlled trials, and case–control studies assessing ART’s effectiveness. Quality and risk of bias were evaluated using the ROBINS-I tool. Results: Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. ART effectively managed dental caries, especially with high-viscosity GIC. Comparisons with the Hall Technique and Papacarie showed that ART remains a viable, cost-effective option. Conclusions: ART is a reliable, minimally invasive technique for pediatric restorative dentistry. Its accessibility and cost-effectiveness make it suitable for low-resource settings. High-quality materials and technique modifications further enhance restoration longevity. Full article

Background and aim: The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic led to significant changes in health service delivery. Despite the risk in high-exposure environments, frontline workers such as dental staff were expected to continue delivering essential services. This study specifically sought to explore the experiences of dental staff in New South Wales and determine their perceptions of dental care delivery during a pandemic. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to recruit twenty-four dental staff from two local health districts. A deductive framework, as described by Braun and Clark, was used to analyse the transcripts. Four major focus areas were identified: responding to protocol changes, adapting to the impact of changes in policy and protocol, modifying dental treatment planning and recommendations for training and implementation of policies. Results: Dental staff reported that management staff were doing all they could and were most supported working in a team. Reduced contact with patients and personal protective equipment helped staff feel safe when seeing patients. Mental health and remote dentistry services could be more supported. Conclusions: Unique challenges were experienced by dental staff and their management during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Future considerations include improved support for staff and further investigation into the effectiveness of options such as teledentistry. Full article

A structural and organizational redesign of the dental care system is necessary today due to current trends in the demographic process and the accompanying changes in the population’s healthcare needs. The purpose of this article is to review the literature, analyzing those trends that today represent useful tools for the oral health of pediatric patients, with particular reference to teledentistry and all the supports it uses to reach remote territories or patients who, for various reasons, cannot have access to dental care. An independent literature search was conducted in three electronic databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and the COCHRANE library. Thirty-one articles were considered. Reported findings highlight that teledentistry has been used in pediatrics to educate and promote oral health and to provide remote diagnosis and monitoring through mobile health applications, smartphone cameras and apps, intraoral cameras, websites and search engines, and telephonic communications. Specifically, teledentistry has been beneficial in providing dental care in remote locations with difficult access to pediatric dentists, conducting remote diagnostic and screening programs, monitoring patients between appointments, promoting children’s oral health through dental education, and providing behavioral counseling prior to office visits. Future research should further investigate the long-term use, additional applications, and cost-effectiveness of teledentistry in children. Full article

Considering the increasing need for oral and dental care in the elderly, teledentistry has been proposed to improve the education of elderly patients in oral health maintenance and risk factor control, identify patients’ concerns in advance, facilitate monitoring, and save time and money. The present cross-sectional analysis of Google search data through real-time surveillance with Google Trends aimed to determine Google users’ interest in oral and dental needs and teledentistry applications in the elderly, and to compare search volumes before and after the COVID-19 outbreak. Extracted CVS data were qualitatively analyzed. Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were performed between searches for “elderly” and “teledentistry”, and all the oral and dental needs and teledentistry applications. The Mann–Whitney U test compared search volumes in the 36 months before and after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Google users’ interest in the elderly and related oral and dental needs was diffusely medium–high, while teledentistry and its applications were of lower interest. Interest in teledentistry and its applications was strongly related to interest in the older population, which is consistent with the assumption that older adults represent the population segment that could benefit most from these tools. A positive correlation was also found between searches for “Elderly” and searches for almost all oral and dental needs typical of the geriatric population. Search volumes increased significantly after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. More information about teledentistry should be disseminated to increase knowledge and awareness, especially among older patients, about its indications, applications, and advantages. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the transfer of traditional on-site educational activities to the online environment. This study aimed to evaluate the perception and acceptance of remote learning among fixed prosthodontic students attending the Faculty of Dental Medicine of “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Iasi, Romania, and to analyze the feedback regarding their experience with the new online methods, the perceived quality thereof and suggestions for improvement. An observational cross-sectional, online study based on 22 questions was conducted with 259 students. The general opinion of online education was good or very good (40.15%); regarding its efficiency, 28.57% found it efficient while 34.36% found it inefficient or very inefficient; regarding the pleasure of learning online, 45.95% of students enjoyed online learning, while 36.64% did not enjoy it. The problem that was most cited by respondents was that of keeping all students motivated and involved (65.6%). Sixty-two percent of the respondents believe that online dental education should not exist, or just to a small extent, a result justified by the practical nature of the profession. The general opinion was that health risks should be managed and mitigated by using a hybrid system that would allow students to do on-site clinical training with direct contact with patients. Full article

The present paper reviews the applications of Raman spectroscopy in dentistry in the past two decades. This technique is considered a highly promising optical modality, widely used for the chemical identification and characterization of molecular structures, providing detailed information on the structural arrangement, crystal orientations, phase, and polymorphism, molecular interactions and effects of bonding, chemical surrounding environment, and stress on samples. Raman spectroscopy has been appropriate to investigate both organic and inorganic components of dental tissues since it provides accurate and precise spectral information on present minerals through the observation of the characteristic energies of their vibrational modes. This method is becoming progressively important in biomedical research, especially for non-invasiveness, non-destructiveness, high biochemical specificity, low water sensitivity, simplicity in analyzing spectral parameters, near-infrared region capability, and in vivo remote potential by means of fiber-optics. This paper will address the application of Raman spectroscopy in different fields of dentistry, found to be the most relevant and prevalent: early recognition of carious lesions; bleaching products performance; demineralizing effect from low-pH foods and acidic beverages; and efficiency of remineralization agents. Additionally, this review includes information on fiber-optic remote probe measurements. All described studies concern caries detection, enamel characterization, and assessment indicating how and to what extent Raman spectroscopy can be applied as a complementary diagnostic method. Full article

Late detection and specialist referral result in poor oral cancer outcomes globally. High-risk LRMU populations usually do not have access to oral medicine specialists, a specialty of dentistry, whose expertise includes the identification, treatment, and management of oral cancers. To overcome this access barrier, there is an urgent need for novel, low-cost tele-health approaches to expand specialist access to low-resource, remote and underserved individuals. The goal of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of remote versus in-person specialist visits using a novel, low-cost telehealth platform consisting of a smartphone-based, remote intraoral camera and custom software application. A total of 189 subjects with suspicious oral lesions requiring biopsy (per the standard of care) were recruited and consented. Each subject was examined, and risk factors were recorded twice: once by an on-site specialist, and again by an offsite specialist. A novel, low-cost, smartphone-based intraoral camera paired with a custom software application were utilized to perform synchronous remote video/still imaging and risk factor assessment by the off-site specialist. Biopsies were performed at a later date following specialist recommendations. The study’s results indicated that on-site specialist diagnosis showed high sensitivity (94%) and moderate specificity (72%) when compared to histological diagnosis, which did not significantly differ from the accuracy of remote specialist telediagnosis (sensitivity: 95%; specificity: 84%). These preliminary findings suggest that remote specialist visits utilizing a novel, low-cost, smartphone-based telehealth tool may improve specialist access for low-resource, remote and underserved individuals with suspicious oral lesions. Full article

Tele-dentistry is a rapidly growing field, especially in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remote services are of increasing interest to both patients and dental personnel. They allow for reduced person-to-person contact and thus a reduced risk of transmission of the SARS-CoV2 virus. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the functioning of all areas of life, including dental treatment. The aim of the study was to assess the possibility of using tele-dentistry for dental services and analyse the attitudes of patients and dentists towards this solution. The period analysed was between March 2019 and February 2021 in five healthcare entities in Cracow in Central Europe. The study’s retrospective analysis shows a positive attitude of patients towards tele-dentistry at every stage of treatment, from diagnosis through postoperative care, and a significant reluctance of dentists in the majority of dental specialties towards tele-dentistry. Consequently, a significant percentage of patients were invited to dental offices for a face-to-face appointment during the COVID-19 pandemic. The negative attitude of dental personnel towards tele-dentistry compared with the positive attitude of patients towards tele-dentistry is somewhat worrying in view of the possibility of a further pandemic. At the same time, it provides important information about the need to educate and support dental personnel in tele-dental solutions and improve solutions for the future. Taking into account the potential reduction in dental care costs for patients and countries after the implementation of tele-dentistry solutions, this is an important topic, while current studies do not comprehensively address the attitudes of patients and dental personnel towards tele-dentistry. In other parts of the world, a similar approach to tele-dentistry is used by patients and dentists. Full article

Industries are increasing their adoption of digital twins for their unprecedented ability to control physical entities and help manage complex systems by integrating multiple technologies. Recently, the dental industry has seen several technological advancements, but it is uncertain if dental institutions are making an effort to adopt digital twins in their education. In this work, we employ a mixed-method approach to investigate the added value of digital twins for remote learning in the dental industry. We examine the extent of digital twin adoption by dental institutions for remote education, shed light on the concepts and benefits it brings, and provide an application-based roadmap for more extended adoption. We report a review of digital twins in the healthcare industry, followed by identifying use cases and comparing them with use cases in other disciplines. We compare reported benefits, the extent of research, and the level of digital twin adoption by industries. We distill the digital twin characteristics that can add value to the dental industry from the examined digital twin applications in remote learning and other disciplines. Then, inspired by digital twin applications in different fields, we propose a roadmap for digital twins in remote education for dental institutes, consisting of examples of growing complexity. We conclude this paper by identifying the distinctive characteristics of dental digital twins for remote learning. Full article

The ‘Focal Infection Era in Dentistry’ in the late 19th and early 20th century resulted in widespread implementation of tooth extraction and limited the progress of endodontics. The theory proposed that bacteria and toxins entrapped in dentinal tubules could disseminate systemically to remote body parts, resulting in many types of degenerative systemic diseases. This theory was eventually refuted due to anecdotal evidence. However, lately there has been increased interest in investigating whether endodontic disease could have an impact on general health. There are reviews that have previously been carried out on this subject, but as new data have emerged since then, this review aims to appraise the available literature investigating the dynamic associations between apical periodontitis, endodontic treatment, and systemic health. The available evidence regarding focal infection theory, bacteraemia and inflammatory markers was appraised. The review also collated the available research arguing the associations of apical periodontitis with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, adverse pregnancy outcome and autoimmune disorders, along with the effect of statins and immunomodulators on apical periodontitis prevalence and endodontic treatment prognosis. There is emerging evidence that bacteraemia and low-grade systemic inflammation associated with apical periodontitis may negatively impact systemic health, e.g., development of cardiovascular diseases, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and diabetic metabolic dyscontrol. However, there is limited information supporting the effect of diabetes mellitus or autoimmune disorders on the prevalence and prognosis post endodontic treatment. Furthermore, convincing evidence supports that successful root canal treatment has a beneficial impact on systemic health by reducing the inflammatory burden, thereby dismissing the misconceptions of focal infection theory. Although compelling evidence regarding the association between apical periodontitis and systemic health is present, further high-quality research is required to support and establish the benefits of endodontic treatment on systemic health. Full article

Redressing the maldistribution of the health workforce in regional, rural, and remote geographical areas is a global issue and crucial to improving the accessibility of primary health care and specialist services. Geographical classification systems are important as they provide an objective and quantifiable measure of access and can have direct policy relevance, yet they are not always consistently applied in rural health research. It is unclear how research focusing on the graduate health workforce in Australia has described, measured, and analyzed place of practice. To examine approaches used, this review systematically scopes Australian rural studies focusing on dentistry, medicine, nursing, and allied health graduates that have included place of practice as an outcome measure. The Joanna Brigg’s Institute Scoping Review Methodology was used to guide the review. Database searches retrieved 1130 unique citations, which were screened, resulting in 62 studies for inclusion. Included studies were observational, with most focusing on the practice locations of medical graduates and predicators of rural practice. Variations in the use of geographical classification approaches to define rurality were identified and included the use of systems that no longer have policy relevance, as well as adaptations of existing systems that make future comparisons between studies challenging. It is recommended that research examining the geographical distribution of the rural health workforce use uniform definitions of rurality that are aligned with current government policy. Full article

COVID-19 abruptly changed dental education, forcing educators out of their comfort zones and into using new technologies and teaching approaches. At the University of Washington School of Dentistry, a task force evaluated the curricular changes that resulted from COVID and made recommendations for the future predoctoral dental curriculum. This manuscript reports the process employed, the findings of the task force, and how these findings will impact the curriculum. A knowledge-based governance (KBG) approach was employed. KBG focuses on gathering all relevant information and identifying all choices. It separates dialogue from deliberation. Information was gathered via literature review, focus group interviews, electronic surveys, and other metrics. The task force evaluated: (1) delivering didactic content remotely; (2) administering assessments remotely; (3) duplicating preclinical simulation lab courses due to social distancing; and (4) the conversion from a numerical to a credit/no credit grading scale. Key recommendations resulted from focus groups and electronic surveys that allowed any student or faculty member an opportunity to provide input. Some topics were relatively non-controversial and strong recommendations were evident. The most controversial issue was which grading scale should be utilized. A KBG approach is an effective means to address mega issues in the dental school environment. Full article

Introduction: At the beginning of 2020, the worldwide infection of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) changed many aspects of human lives. The controlled lockdown was not only an obligatory lifestyle change to communities across the globe, but it was also an emotional struggle. The aim of the presented study was to identify and compare the main difficulties that final-year students (both Polish and foreigners) of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze Medical University of Silesia had to cope with during the first wave of the pandemic. Application of the biographical method in the form of essays written was done. Authors discussed the following issues: possible losses and benefits subjectively felt by individuals due to the COVID-19 pandemic, adaptation to online type of studying, students’ opinions regarding change of habits, and psychological impact of the lockdown. Students’ responses varied between groups in the aspect of what they considered as the biggest struggle of the pandemic time period. Adaptation to e-learning was easier for the group of foreign students. The Polish group considered it as a serious stress factor. Foreigners were much more worried about not being able to help their families in comparison to Polish students. Polish students’ fear was related to the fear of virus transmission to their older relatives. Both groups were aware of how serious the situation was and of the possible impact of lack of practical classes on their future internships. As benefits of that situation, both groups listed development of new hobbies and increased sport activities. The Polish group emphasized improvement of interpersonal bonds during the lockdown in their families. The main conclusion proved an awareness of the seriousness of the situation in which students of medical, especially dental faculties found themselves. Concerns were related to the form of further studies and the possibility of taking up employment after graduation. Polish students declared more intense concerns about e-learning and remote study than foreign-language students who were more familiar with this form of communication. A particularly valuable form of teaching for students may be increased numbers of online consultations, since even though they cannot replace practical classes, they may still be helpful in explaining doubts and simply “being there”. Encouraging young people to discover constructive benefits of the pandemic can also be one of a task-oriented strategies of help. Full article

Robotics is a disruptive technology that will change diagnostics and treatment protocols in dental medicine. Robots can perform repeated workflows for an indefinite length of time while enhancing the overall quality and quantity of patient care. Early robots required a human operator, but robotic systems have advanced significantly over the past decade, and the latest medical robots can perform patient intervention or remote monitoring autonomously. However, little research data on the therapeutic reliability and precision of autonomous robots are available. The present paper reviews the promise and practice of robots in dentistry by evaluating published work on commercial robot systems in dental implantology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, prosthetic and restorative dentistry, endodontics, orthodontics, oral radiology as well as dental education. In conclusion, this review critically addresses the current limitations of dental robotics and anticipates the potential future impact on oral healthcare and the dental profession. Full article