Despite the link between oral health and general health being clearly understood and supported by many global bodies, oral diseases are still very common all around the world.

To effectively tackle the pain and suffering many people feel because of poor oral health, a more pragmatic approach is needed.

A preventative attitude to oral health is the best option.  Many people do not have regular access to oral care services and therefore miss the necessary care and specific preventative education that will help to keep their mouth and body healthy.  This is especially true for populations in remote and rural areas, low socio-economic groups of people with little access to dental care, and patients with both physical and mental disabilities or mobility issues which could make visiting a dental practice more difficult.

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In a new opinion paper on the role of teledentistry in enabling improved oral care outcomes, we define the major barriers to accessing oral healthcare and review the most recent publications on teledentistry projects.  We also comment on the outcomes and suggest opportunities for evidence-based oral health advice that can be delivered by implementing specific teledentistry models, thus helping to improve access to dental care.

Key findings of the major barriers to dental access

The global taskforce identified several major barriers to oral healthcare. These include:

• A reduced dental workforce.

• Health inequalities affecting the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, including people on low incomes, people living with disabilities, older people living alone or in care homes, those living in remote and rural communities, and people from minority groups.

• Financial constraints on dental care teams to deliver services, and on patients to travel and afford dental treatment.

• Long waiting times to get an appointment.

• Impaired mobility and emotional barriers, such as fear of going to the dentist.

Funding for the development of these guidelines was provided by Unilever to the Oral Health Foundation. No editorial control, apart from ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory considerations/requirements, has been exercised by Unilever.

Summary of teledentistry benefits

The ‘opinion paper on the role of teledentistry in enabling improved oral care outcomes’ is supported by the best evidence and consensus from key international experts.

It concludes that teledentistry can be an effective method for dental referrals, early detection of disease, treatment planning and compliance, and treatment viability, especially where access to dental professionals is limited or not equitably spread over a country or region.

Improved access to a specialised workforce: Preventive messages, early intervention procedures, recording of oral health status, and selection of patients in terms of urgency for in-person treatment can be performed by trained personnel in health centres or even at home in remote areas. Address oral health inequalities: Several teledentistry models have been shown to impact the oral health of specific population groups that find it difficult to access existing dental centres or practices.  Teledentistry will be part of future dentistry, especially in countries where inequalities are a big problem. Reduce financial constraints: Recent teledentistry models have shown that this form of provision can reduce not only travel costs but often limit the number of appointments with a dental practice further reducing the costs.

Expanding access to dental care is recognised as one of the advantages of teledentistry.

A simple check-up or early diagnosis through video communication may limit the worsening of the disease and eventually reduce extra visits to the practice.

Telehealth and teledentistry services are considered to be value-based activity, but longer-term research on a larger scale, with standardised methodologies and analysis are needed to fully exploit the opportunities that teledentistry can offer for optimal oral health by bridging the gap between the underserved population and dental care professionals.

Resources

Last updated: March 2023

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Acknowledgments

Funding for the development of these guidelines was provided by Unilever to the Oral Health Foundation. No editorial control, apart from ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory considerations/requirements, has been exercised by Unilever.