JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Amid COVID-19 and other possible future infectious disease pandemics, dentistry needs to consider modified dental examination regimens that render quality care and ensure the safety of patients and Dental Health Care Personnel (DHCP).

Objective:

To assess the acceptance and usability of an innovative mDentistry eHygiene model amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

This pilot study used a two-stage implementation design to assess two critical components of an innovative mDentistry eHygiene model: virtual hygiene examination (eHygiene) and patient self-taken intraoral images (SELFIE), within the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network. Mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) were used to assess the acceptance and usability of the eHygiene model.

Results:

Eighty five patients and 18 DHCP participated in the study. Overall, the eHygiene model was well-accepted by patients [System Usability Score (SUS) 70.0±23.7], moderately accepted by dentists (SUS 51.3±15.9) and hygienists (SUS 57.1±23.8). Dentists and patients had good communication during the eHygiene examination, assessed by the Dentist-Patient Communication scale. In the SELFIE session, patients could complete tasks with minimum challenges and obtain diagnostic intraoral photos. Patients and DHCP suggest that although eHygiene has the potential to improve oral health care services, it should be used selectively depending on patients’ conditions.

Conclusions:

The study results showed promise for the two components of the eHygiene model. eHygiene offers a complementary modality for oral health data collection and examination in dental offices, which would be particularly useful during an infectious disease outbreak. Additionally, patients being able to capture critical oral health data in their home could facilitate dental treatment triage and oral health self-monitoring and potentially trigger oral health-promoting behaviors.