The Use of Teledentistry - Thesis Example

Telemedicine is part of the larger field of telehealth that is promising to bring untold change to the health care industry and radically improve the delivery of care to patients. This paper seeks to discuss telemedicine and its immediate sub-field such as teledentistry. Tele industry involves unique techniques such as self-directing online study, streaming media, webcast, and real-time video conferencing, which are utilized to deliver dental education, either live or on-demand. These techniques have changed dental and dental hygiene education in many ways, for example; the technology in teledentistry involves a two-way communication video and audio communication-making training visual and efficient. This paper has also discussed the challenges faced by teledentistry especially those that are technologically related. Relevant information was gathered through primary and secondary methods of data collection. The primary data sought was from telemedicine and teledentistry-related books and scholarly journals as well as formal websites. Moreover, the information gathered from primary data is reflected in the literature review section. Secondary data was collected through random sampling, where students below the age of twelve were selected and both dental care and hygiene from direct observation and observation from a distance were carried out. The main aim of the observation was to compare the results between direct observation and observation at a distance after which a conclusion was drawn. Having compared the results, the figures and samples were comprehensively discussed and this brought the paper to further recommendation in case of future research. Finally, conclusions were drawn from the findings and, the future of teledentistry was mentioned.

Discussion

The purpose of the examination procedure was done as a procedure to control infection among the ten randomly chosen children below 12 years. The examination covered hard and soft tissue problems such as missing teeth, caries, and inflammations among others. For the observed dental illnesses, the patients would be referred to orthodontics, periodontics, endodontic and, surgery. The children were directly diagnosed and diagnosed using electronic telediagnosis after which results were compared. However, the results were compared in a unique way of accuracy, similarity, and differences of screening with no special software used in the analysis of the results. The findings were that the results in the table marked D1 and D2 (practitioners who directly examined the patients) and D3 to D7 (practitioners who telediagnosis patients) had little to no significant differences. D1 and D2 showed 100% match, and the variables were not tested. Additionally, in both direct and telediagnosis, patients were referred to a similar referral clinic, which was between PERIO and PEDO except for patient six whose clinic referrals differed. The final recommendation was for patients to visit a dental clinic regularly for a checkup.

Conclusion

Teledentistry uses electronic communication and information technologies to provide or support clinical dental care and education at a distance. The area of teledentistry is expanding and changing dental practice and education in many ways. Teledentistry enables dentists working in remote areas to obtain timely support from specialists located miles away in providing diagnosis and treatment for patients who otherwise would not be able to receive care.