TELEDENTISTRY : A REVIEW

Abstract

Teledentistry is a combination of telecommunications and dentistry involving the exchange of clinical information and images over remote distances for dental consultation and treatment planning. Teledentistry has the ability to improve access to oral healthcare, improve the delivery of oral healthcare, and lower its costs. It also has the potential to eliminate the disparities in oral health care between rural and urban communities. Teledentistry is a rapidly forming subset of telehealth, a field that already has considerable impact on the healthcare industry. Technologies currently available are beginning to change the dynamics of dental care delivery. As teledentistry evolves, it will offer new opportunities to improve the level of patient care and reshape current business models.This article reviews the origin, rationale, scope, basis, and requirements for teledentistry, along with the current evidence that exists in the literature. This article also reviews the ethical and legal issues related to the practice of teledentistry and the future of this alternative and innovative method of delivering dental care.