JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Teledentistry is a field that comprises information and communication technologies (ICTs) actions applied to Dentistry, involving the exchange of clinical information, patient care promotion and the use of educational strategies over remote distances.

Objective:

This evidence gap map presents a prospect of systematic reviews that addressed the variety of Teledentistry applications and its effects.

Methods:

The methodology developed by the Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences Information based on the 3iE evidence map was applied. The EMBASE, PubMed and Virtual Health Library databases, using the MeSH and DeCS terms for Teledentistry associated to e-health, dental education and oral health care have been used. AMSTAR2 was used for the analysis. Tableau was used to graphically display the confidence level, number of reviews, health outcomes, and intervention effects.

Results:

The confidence level obtained by the criteria were proven high for 19 studies, moderate for 4, low for other 10, and critically low for 35 studies. 68 systematic reviews were characterized, distributed in a matrix containing 8 intervention groups (combined interventions; e-learning and teleducation; teleconsultation and teleservice; telemonitoring; telediagnosis; telescreening; information and communication technologies; and artificial intelligence) and 8 outcome groups (diagnosis accuracy; education and professional training; user behavior; clinical practice; patient-centered outcomes; clinical outcomes; health services management; and access to health services). Most of the studies reported positive or potentially positive effects on Teledentistry applications; however, have failed to meet some of the AMSTAR2 quality standards. 494 associations between Teledentistry and health and education outcomes were found. Among the interventions, the ICT group stands out with 182 associations (37%), followed by interventions with e-learning and Teleducation (96 associations), telediagnosis (67 associations) and combined interventions (53 associations); while most of the outcomes were aimed at education and professional training (97 associations), patient-centered outcomes (74 associations) and health services management (60 associations).

Conclusions:

This evidence gap map presents an overview of contributions of Teledentistry in patient care, health services, clinical practice and education, and it is directed to researchers, health professionals and policy makers focused on improving the Dentistry field through the use of ICTs. This information may be useful to guide new research and to serve as an easy virtual tool to access valuable evidence-based information on Teledentistry.