title: Assessing the current state of dental informatics in saudi arabia: the new frontier.
abstract: Dental informatics is an emerging field that has the potential to transform the dental profession. This study aims to summarize the current applications of dental informatics in Saudi Arabia and to identify the challenges facing expansion of dental informatics in the Saudi context. Search for published articles and specialized forum entries was conducted, as well as interviews with dental professionals familiar with the topic. Results indicated that digital radiography/analysis and administrative management of dental practice are the commonest applications used. Applications in Saudi dental education included: web-based learning systems, computer-based assessments and virtual technology for clinical skills' teaching. Patients' education software, electronic dental/oral health records and the potential of dental research output from electronic databases are yet to be achieved in Saudi Arabia. Challenges facing Saudi dental informatics include: lack of IT infrastructure/support, social acceptability and financial cost. Several initiatives are taken towards the research in dental informatics. Still, more investments are needed to fully achieve the potential of various application of informatics in dental education, practice and research.
authors.affiliation: Dental Services, King Abdulaziz Medical city, Ministry of National Guard, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Lubna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Al-Nasser
authors.affiliation: Dental Services, King Abdulaziz Medical city, Ministry of National Guard, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Ehaideb
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mowafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Househ
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000639:trends*; D048048:Dental Informatics / Q000639:trends*; D003792:Dental Records; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000639:trends*; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000639:trends*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000639:trends*; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000639:trends*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical