Dental screenings using telehealth technology: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
This pilot study compared data obtained using traditional methods of visual dental screenings in a school setting with data obtained using an intraoral camera and transmitted to a distant location via telehealth technology.


METHODS
For the study, 137 schoolchildren were screened using traditional methods. Two months later, 32 children were randomly selected and rescreened in a single day using the intraoral camera and the telehealth system. The measurement indices used were deft/DMFT.


RESULTS
A comparison revealed no significant difference in the data collected by the two screening methods. The percentage agreement between the methods ranged from 89% to 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
In under-serviced or remote areas, the telehealth system may allow for accurate identification of oral conditions and act as a means of consultation at a distance between specialists, general dental practitioners, dental hygienists and individual patients.
Patterson
S
S
Department of Oral Health Sciences, University of Alberta.
Botchway
C
C
D000416:Alberta; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003756:Dental Hygienists; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011897:Random Allocation; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012571:School Dentistry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*