Applications of Teledentistry during the COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak

Abstract

Health organizations and health care providers implemented public safety measures that reduced movements within the affected communities. This resulted in the postponement of elective treatments around the world. Oral health care facilities were among the affected facility that suspended elective treatments. As health care providers look for alternative methods that will assist in the reduction of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission, telemedicine was applied in some affected countries. The potential safety measure of distant health care gave health care providers a secure way to provide health care for patients. The impact of the 2020 pandemic outbreak of coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) in dental medicine is considered significant. Teledentistry, the equivalent method to telemedicine in dental medicine, was also applied in some affected countries. Implementation by various oral health organizations showed that teledentistry is one of the methods used during the outbreak. This review article shows a summary of the potential application of teledentistry during the 2020 pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 and future pandemic outbreaks.