Oral soft tissue diagnosis as a novel teledentistry framework for the post-pandemic era: A systematic review

Abstract

Background/purpose: Teledentistry has emerged as a promising alternative to conventional care. This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of teledentistry in diagnosing and managing oral soft tissue diseases compared to traditional consultations, explores clinical outcomes, technological challenges, and implications for future research and policy, and digitally advanced countries. Materials and methods: A review registered in Prospero with CRD42024626432 used CINAHL, Embase, ProQuest, and ScienceDirect databases following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eligibility was based on population, intervention, comparison, outcome, and study design (PICOS) with inclusion and exclusion criteria, focusing on rural populations, teledentistry interventions for oral soft tissue conditions, comparative models, and clinical outcomes. Bias risk was assessed using the Risk of Bias Tool for Nonrandomized Studies. Results: Fourteen eligible studies were included. Most demonstrated improved diagnostic accuracy of oral soft tissue lesions, patient satisfaction, and follow-up compliance in teledentistry-supported care. Modern platform diagnostics were commonly used. The comparative analyses showed that teledentistry was at least equivalent to traditional consultations. Conclusion: Teledentistry shows strong potential as a cost-effective, accessible solution for managing oral soft tissue conditions. Its integration into mainstream healthcare could bridge disparities in oral health service delivery in underserved regions.

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