Implicated Guidelines of Cost-efficient Teledentistry during the COVID-19 Pandemic for a Developing Country: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Introduction: Teledentistry is a widely accepted procedure for dental practice during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Due to the nature of strict protocols that aims to prevent the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus), teledentistry is the safest and cost-efficient supplementary interaction that enables dentists to gather diagnostic materials that will lead to appropriate treatment in the Philippines. This article is aimed at providing guidelines on the usage of teledentistry to bridge gaps in the absence of protocols that will help dentists achieve cost-efficient dental services. Materials and Methods: This article employed a narrative review through an electronic search in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and ERIC databases. Result: A total of nine hundred thirty-four articles were gathered. Twenty-six articles and three websites were included for analysis. All included articles led to the formation of guidelines that were composed of step-by-step processes (screening, management, and postoperative communication). Screening procedures are vital in obtaining health information and available diagnostic materials. The analysis of collected diagnostic materials application leads to the classification of cases. Based on the classification, management of the cases is enabled through clinical scheduling or pharmacological management during the teledentistry interaction. Teledentistry postoperative communication facilitates the monitoring of the condition of the patients. Conclusion: The impact of having a cost-efficient teledentistry interaction benefits both the dentist and the patient during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines. A step-by-step guideline is an appropriate approach that will ensure cost-efficiency in a developing country.