Orapuh Journal | Journal of Oral & Public Health
Awareness and use of teledentistry among dental health care professionals at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AEFUTH), Abakiliki, Nigeria
Orap J Vol 2 Issue 2 2021
PDF

Keywords

Awareness, teledentistry, dental health care professionals

How to Cite

Ngwu, C. C., Fadare, A. S., Ene, C. K., & Adamu, V. (2021). Awareness and use of teledentistry among dental health care professionals at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (AEFUTH), Abakiliki, Nigeria. Orapuh Journal, 2(2), e816. Retrieved from https://orapuh.org/ojs/ojs-3.1.2-4/index.php/orapj/article/view/63

Abstract

Introduction

Teledentistry is an emerging model of practice with immense potential in clinical practice and public health delivery. It is the combination of telecommunications and dentistry, involving the exchange of clinical information and images over a distance for consultation, treatment planning, and treatment purpose.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the awareness and use of teledentistry among dental health professionals at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakiliki (AEFUTHA), Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Materials and methods

A self-structured 16-item questionnaire designed with four-point Likert scale ideals was duplicated and distributed among 60 dental health care professionals (42 male, 18 female) in the study context. The questionnaire bore relevant domains, which were designed to elicit accurate and honest responses from the professionals, including demographic data, knowledge of teledentistry, the usefulness of teledentistry for the patient, the usefulness of teledentistry in dental practice, and the potential of teledentistry to improve practice and existing concerns about the use of teledentistry.

Results

All the questionnaires distributed were returned (100% response rate). Results indicated that none of the DHCPs surveyed provided services using teledentistry (0.00%). 68.33% have never heard about teledentistry. The awareness of the respondents concerning the usefulness of teledentistry for the patient and dental practice was very low (Mean = 1.9).

Conclusion

Awareness of the use of teledentistry should be intensified among all dental health care professionals to promote optimal uptake of its services to the benefit of oral health consumers.

PDF

References

Al-Abdullah, J. H., & Daniel, S. J. (2018). A systematic review and Validity of Teledentistry. Telemed J.E Health. 24(8), 639-48. 10.1089/tmj.2017.0132.

Berndt, J., Leone, P., & King, G. (2008). Using teledentistry to provide interceptive orthodontic services to disadvantaged children. AM J Orthod. Dentofacial Orthop. 134, 700-6.

Boringi, I. M., Waghray, S., Lavanya, R., Babu, D. B., Badam, R. K., & Harsha, N. (2015). Knowledge and awareness of teledentistry among dental professionals - A cross-sectional study. J Clin Diagn Res, 9, ZC41–4. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2015/13303.6320.

Bradley, M., Black, P., Noble, S., Thompson, R., & Lamey, P. J. (2010). Application of teledentistry in oral medicine in a community dental service, N. Ireland. Br. Dent. J. 209, 399 - 404.

Clark, G. T. (2000). Teledentistry: What is it Now, and What Will it be Tomorrow?. J Calif Dent. Assoc. 28, 121-7.

Daniel, S. J, Kumar, S. (2014). Teledentistry: a key component in access to care. J Evid Based Dent Pract, 14(Suppl), 201–208.

Estai, M., Kruger, E., & Tennant, M. (2016). Perceptions of Australian dental practitioners about using telemedicine in dental practice. Br Dent J., 220(1), 25–9. 10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.25

Fricton, J., & Chen, H. (2009). Using teledentistry to improve access to dental care for the underserved. Dent. Clin North AM. 53, 537-48.

Heale, R. (2018). Communication Technology and Healthcare. Evidence-Based Nursing. 21(2), 36-7. 10.1136/eb-2018-102893.

Jampani, N. D., Nutalapati, R., Dontula, B. S. K., & Boyapati, R. (2011). Applications of teledentistry: A literature review and update. http://www.jispcd.org on 21st May, 2021.

Mandall, N. A., O'Brien, K. D., Brady, J., Worthington, H. V., & Harvey, L. (2005). Teledentistry for screening new patient orthodontic referrals. Part 1: A randomized controlled trial. Br Dent J. 199(10), 659–62, discussion 3. 10.1038/sj.bdj.4812930

Nagarajappa, R. T. D. (2013). Knowledge and attitude among dentists in Udaipur, India. Journal of Oral Health and Dental Management, 12(3), 138-44.

Park, W., Lee, H. N., Jeong, J. A., Kwon, J. H., Lee, G. H., Kim, K. D. (2012). Protocol for teleconsultation with a cellular phone for dentoalveolar trauma: An Invitro Study. Imaging Sci Dent. 42, 71-5.

Summer Felt, F. F. (2011). Teledentistry assisted, affiliated practice for dental hygienists: An innovative oral health workforce model. J Dent Education. 75, 733-42.

Torres Pereira, C., Possebon, R. A., Simoes, A., Bortoluzzi, M. C, Leao, J. C., & Giovanini, A. F. (2008). Email for Distance Diagnosis of Oral Diseases- A preliminary Study of Teledentistry. J Telemed Telecare. 14, 435-8.

Wheeler, T. (1999). Smile for the camera: telemedicine comes to your local dentist's office. Telemed. Today. 7(1), 14-5, 42. Paid: 10350936.

Wood, E. W., Strauss, R. A., Janus, C., Carrico, C. K. (2016). The Use of Telemedicine in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 74(4), 719–28. 10.1016/j.joms.2015.11.026

Younai, F. S & Messadi D. V. (2000). Email-based oral medicine consultation. J Calif Dent Assoc., 28, 144-51.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.