Yes / Objectives: This research aims to explore the perception of dental officers (DOs) and dental managers (DMs) on the use of teledentistry and digital platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted among 30 DOs and 17 DMs. The study was conducted in private dental clinics, government dental clinics and the School of Dentistry and Oral Health clinic (SDOH), in the Central Division, Fiji that were selected randomly. The participants were selected using the purposive sampling method using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was collected through in-depth interviews via zoom using a self-developed semi-structure open-ended interview questionnaire. Manual thematic analysis of the data was conducted. Results: Five themes emerged from data analysis: utilization of teledentistry and media during the pandemic, usefulness of teledentistry, confidence with teledentistry and digital platforms-associated risks, digital platforms for record keeping, and teledentistry promotion and training. Teledentistry was mostly utilized by private practitioners and the oral surgery department. Practitioners were not in favour of teledentistry as they thought it was putting them at risk. Conclusion: Majority of DOs and DMs were not utilizing teledentistry except for a few private dental practitioners and the oral surgery department. Future research can be conducted in other divisions and include other healthcare professionals.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Background: Teledentistry is the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to provide oral health care services and enhance oral health care delivery to communities in geographically challenged areas. The public health services in South Africa needs to be overhauled to address the inadequacies in the current system. As an attempt to minimise or repair the inadequacies in the public health sector, South Africa has identified the use of ICT’s as a potential tool in improving the delivery of health care. However, although SA has recognised telemedicine as a potential solution to improve access to health care, teledentistry does not feature at all in the dental public health sector. Teledentistry and mobile health has the potential to eliminate or minimise the oral health disparities that exist in South Africa with the use of health information systems. Teledentistry can be initiated in an incremental approach by 'piggy-backing' on existing telemedicine sites, thus reducing ICT costs for the public health sector. Stake holders and government officials need to embrace technology to address some of the challenges that exist in the South African public health sector. This study could aid in providing evidence-based information to assist in the introduction of teledentistry in South Africa as an innovative dental screening and management tool. The most recent SA National Oral Health Survey showed that at least 80% of dental caries in children is untreated (Department of Health, 2003) and this poses a significant public health problem. To reduce the double burden of dental caries in children and human resource shortages in the public sector, the use of teledentistry as a school screening tool has been recommended. Teledentistry screening has the potential to improve access and delivery of oral health care to children in underserved and the rural areas. The aim of the study is to compare traditional dental screening versus teledentistry screening for dental caries in children. Methodology: This study consists of two parts: the first part a concordance study and the second part the determination of user satisfaction with regards to the technology used. The concordance study assessed the diagnostic agreement between traditional and teledentistry screening of dental caries in school children aged between 6-8 years old. The methodology included traditional face-to-face dental screening by two trained and calibrated evaluators, and the teledentistry screening method included the same two evaluators together with two trained and calibrated teledentistry assistants (who were of non-dental background). For the traditional face-to-face dental screenings the two evaluators examined 233 children at selected rural primary schools and scored them for DMFT. For the teledentistry screening method the teledentistry assistants captured intraoral images of the same children and web-based stored the images in corresponding eFiles. After a two week wash out period these intraoral images were then examined by the same two evaluators and scored for DMFT. To determine concordance across methods, Kappa Statistics was applied to the data and this revealed intra-examiner reliability. To determine user satisfaction levels, close-ended questionnaires were designed based on the role of the evaluators and TAs in the teledentistry screening process. Results: The intra-rater agreement and reliability across methods for evaluator one was 98.30%, and for evaluator two it revealed a result of 95.09%. Kappa statistics thus revealed that both evaluators were in agreement between a range of 95%-98.30% of the classifications, or 92.79% of the way between random agreement and perfect agreement (p=0.000). The high concordance level indicated that there was no statistical difference between the traditional dental screening method and the teledentistry screening method (intra-rater reliability), thus suggesting that the teledentistry screening method is a reliable alternative to the traditional dental screening method. For the user satisfaction part, both of the evaluators agreed with 8 of the 13 statements (62%). The statements that were agreed upon related mainly to user satisfaction on the technology which included accessing the intraoral images for screening and the ease of scoring decayed and missing teeth off the images; time and technology suggested the screening process of the images saved time; and indicated teledentistry as being an innovative and easy system to use that will save clinical time for dental professionals. The statements they disagreed with related to the clarity of the images, scoring interproximal caries off the images, and the dental screening method of choice. Both of the TAs agreed with 7 of the 11 statements (64%). They agreed upon statements related mainly to perception of children’s attitudes & behaviour which suggested the children were comfortable during the imaging process and in addition they were excited to see pictures of their teeth; they found teledentistry to be an innovative and easy system to use; they found teledentistry to be a sterile process and hence they were happy with infection control. Both TAs disagreed with the statement that suggested clear images could be captured irrespective of poor lighting. Discordant statements related mainly to user satisfaction on technology which related to ease of using the intraoral camera, ease of storing the captured images into the eFiles and ease of deleting unwanted images. Conclusion: The key findings of this study highlights the reliability of utilising teledentistry as a dental screening and diagnostic tool which can be valuable in the delivery of oral health care in South Africa. This research study further revealed valuable data on user satisfaction levels of the evaluators and TAs, and has an impact on the utilisation of the teledentistry screening system. To ensure adoption and adaptation of the screening process all users must be satisfied with the ICTs used in the teledentistry system. User friendliness can impact negatively on the adoption of teledentistry.

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar e analisar o grau de conhecimento e a fluência de docentes dos cursos de Odontologia brasileiros no uso das tecnologias de informação e comunicação aplicadas ao ensino-aprendizagem e à atenção à saúde e conhecer a infraestrutura e as iniciativas de apoio desses cursos aos seus docentes. Realizamos uma pesquisa exploratória e descritiva com a participação de 44 docentes e 40 cursos de odontologia, que responderam um questionário estruturado com 37 questões. O questionário foi aplicado aos docentes de odontologia que participaram do curso de Atualização em Teleodontologia: Capacitação Docente e Suporte às IES para a Criação de Redes de Aprendizagem e Trabalhos Colaborativos em Saúde, promovido através de uma parceria entre a Faculdade de Odontologia da USP (FOUSP) e a Associação Brasileira de Ensino Odontológico (ABENO). A sistematização dos resultados obtidos com o questionário, aponta que todos os docentes que participaram do estudo, utilizam diariamente a internet para fins pessoais e profissionais. A maioria dos professores aprendeu sozinho a utilizar novas ferramentas e acreditam na necessidade de cursos de capacitação. Os cursos de Odontologia têm aplicado as tecnologias de informação principalmente no ensino e em atividades administrativas. Ainda é incipiente a aplicação das tecnologias de informação e comunicação em atividades de atenção à saúde no conjunto de cursos de Odontologia brasileiros que participaram deste estudo. / The aim of the current study was to identify and evaluate the level of knowledge and fluency of professors of Brazilian dental undergraduate courses, concerning the use of information and communication technology (ICT) applied to the processes of teaching/learning, teleassistance, as well as to know the infra-structure knowledge and support initiatives offered by these courses to their lecturers. The research was an exploratory study comprising 44 professors of 40 dental courses, who answered a 37-question questionnaire. This was applied as part of the submission of dental professors to the course of \"Teledentistry: Training and suport to Professors for the Use of ICT , social network and collaborative research in the health field\". A partnership between the Dental School of Universidade de São Paulo (FOUSP) and Brazilian Dental Education Association (Associação Brasileira de Ensino Odontológico - ABENO was responsible for offering the course. The systematization of the results obtained in this study leads us to conclude that all teachers participating in the study use the internet daily for personal and professional purposes. Most teachers learned by themselves to use new tools and believe in the necessity of training courses. Courses in dentistry have applied ICT especially in teaching and administrative activities. The application of ICT in health care activities is still incipient in the set of Brazilian Dentistry courses taken into account this study.

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar e analisar o grau de conhecimento e a fluência de docentes dos cursos de Odontologia brasileiros no uso das tecnologias de informação e comunicação aplicadas ao ensino-aprendizagem e à atenção à saúde e conhecer a infraestrutura e as iniciativas de apoio desses cursos aos seus docentes. Realizamos uma pesquisa exploratória e descritiva com a participação de 44 docentes e 40 cursos de odontologia, que responderam um questionário estruturado com 37 questões. O questionário foi aplicado aos docentes de odontologia que participaram do curso de Atualização em Teleodontologia: Capacitação Docente e Suporte às IES para a Criação de Redes de Aprendizagem e Trabalhos Colaborativos em Saúde, promovido através de uma parceria entre a Faculdade de Odontologia da USP (FOUSP) e a Associação Brasileira de Ensino Odontológico (ABENO). A sistematização dos resultados obtidos com o questionário, aponta que todos os docentes que participaram do estudo, utilizam diariamente a internet para fins pessoais e profissionais. A maioria dos professores aprendeu sozinho a utilizar novas ferramentas e acreditam na necessidade de cursos de capacitação. Os cursos de Odontologia têm aplicado as tecnologias de informação principalmente no ensino e em atividades administrativas. Ainda é incipiente a aplicação das tecnologias de informação e comunicação em atividades de atenção à saúde no conjunto de cursos de Odontologia brasileiros que participaram deste estudo. / The aim of the current study was to identify and evaluate the level of knowledge and fluency of professors of Brazilian dental undergraduate courses, concerning the use of information and communication technology (ICT) applied to the processes of teaching/learning, teleassistance, as well as to know the infra-structure knowledge and support initiatives offered by these courses to their lecturers. The research was an exploratory study comprising 44 professors of 40 dental courses, who answered a 37-question questionnaire. This was applied as part of the submission of dental professors to the course of \"Teledentistry: Training and suport to Professors for the Use of ICT , social network and collaborative research in the health field\". A partnership between the Dental School of Universidade de São Paulo (FOUSP) and Brazilian Dental Education Association (Associação Brasileira de Ensino Odontológico - ABENO was responsible for offering the course. The systematization of the results obtained in this study leads us to conclude that all teachers participating in the study use the internet daily for personal and professional purposes. Most teachers learned by themselves to use new tools and believe in the necessity of training courses. Courses in dentistry have applied ICT especially in teaching and administrative activities. The application of ICT in health care activities is still incipient in the set of Brazilian Dentistry courses taken into account this study.

Objectives: Dental Monitoring® (“DM,” Dental Monitoring, Paris, France), is a cloud-based software that allows orthodontists to track patients’ treatment remotely. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of the software in making linear measurements. Methods: Patients took intraoral photographs using the DM application, immediately followed by impressions for plaster models. Intercanine and intermolar width and arch depth measurements were made by DM and compared to measurements made on the plaster models. Data was analyzed using two one-sided t-tests for equivalence with equivalence bounds of +/-0.5mm. Significance level was set at 0.05. Results: Thirty sets of measurements were compared. The intercanine and intermolar measurement differences were on average 0.17mm and -0.02mm, respectively, and were deemed equivalent. The arch depth measurements had an average difference of -0.54mm and were deemed not equivalent. Conclusion: The monitoring software seems to provide an accurate assessment of linear tooth movements.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of teledentistry versus in-person examination for dental caries diagnosis. Methods: This is a systematic review and meta-analysis studies comparing the effectiveness of teledentistry versus in-person examination for dental caries diagnosis. The eligibility criteria were peer-reviewed studies published in English between January 2013 through December 2021 that reported diagnostic parameters (specificity and sensitivity) for caries detection in primary and permanent dentition. Articles were extracted using search strategies from PubMed and CINAHL databases. Articles were screened using PRISMA guidelines, following a review for quality assessment using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklists. Meta-analysis was conducted in R using the mada package. A descriptive analysis of the sensitivity, specificity, DOR, and confidence intervals were performed with respective forest plots. Heterogeneity was assessed using Cochrane Q and Higgin’s I2 tests. Univariate measures of diagnostic accuracy were performed based on the DerSimonian-Laird random effect, and the summary diagnostic odds ratio reported. Results: A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed and meta-analyzed. The range of diagnostic parameter were sensitivity (45.6-88.3%), specificity (55.2-98.3%), PPV (79-92%), NPV (48-97%), accuracy (70-96%), and kappa (0.46-0.89) in teledentistry modalities. Test for equality of sensitivities and specificities were significant (p-value = <2e-16). The studies were not heterogenous with Cochran's Q: 14.502 (p = 0.206) and Higgins' I2 of 24% The multivariable analysis of the univariate measures showed a diagnostic odds ratio based on DerSimonian-Laird random effect t was 35.14. This implies that the odds of caries detected via tele dentistry is 35 times true positive than the odds that it is false positive. Conclusions: Diagnosis of caries via teledentistry effective and comparable to in-person diagnosis. Remote assessments are consistent in diagnostic accuracy for caries. Further research should establish a definitive threshold for the diagnostic parameters in detecting caries. / Oral Biology

A Atenção Primária em Saúde (APS), que é base para o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), tem dois componentes fundamentais que são a integralidade e a educação em saúde. Compreender as moléstias crônicas em seu contexto social e familiar é dever dos profissionais que atuam nas equipes de Saúde da Família (eSF). Neste cenário, a incorporação dos profissionais da área de Saúde Bucal (SB) à Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) trouxe novas necessidades de conhecimento e prática para os trabalhadores da equipe de Saúde da Família executarem suas tarefas especialmente no atendimento domiciliar. Portanto, há necessidade de criação de materiais educacionais em Teleodontologia que sejam adequados às necessidades de informação e que respeitem o conhecimento prévio dos trabalhadores sobre Saúde Bucal (SB). Assim, é importante saber o que os profissionais da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) conhecem e como aplicam os conceitos da promoção em Saúde Bucal (SB). Esta pesquisa procura saber o quanto cada categoria de profissionais de uma equipe de Saúde da Família (eSF) do Município de Platina, SP, conhecem e praticam Saúde Bucal (SB) e aplicam em suas atividades diárias. Para isso, foi elaborado um questionário aberto de livre adesão e os respondentes emitiam, com total e irrestrita liberdade, as suas observações, avaliações e sugestões relativas às suas experiências pessoais no seu trabalho na eSF a que pertencem. A coleta de dados contemplou uma única equipe, o que permitiu trabalhar com dados confiáveis. A partir das respostas tabuladas, analisadas qualitativamente e com percentuais de frequência, verifica-se que há necessidade dos trabalhadores se instrumentalizarem para as tarefas de ensinar e supervisionar o conjunto dos membros das famílias atendidas, quanto aos procedimentos de prevenção, de manutenção e promoção da saúde bucal, tornando a integralidade e conhecimento com educação em saúde bucal uma consequência efetiva na saúde geral de cada cidadão e da comunidade / The Primary Health Care (APS), the basis of the Unified Health System (SUS), has two main components: completeness and health education. Understanding the chronic diseases in their social and family environment is the duty of the professionals who work in the Family Health Teams (eSF). In this context the incorporation of professionals from the oral health area (SB) into the Family Health Strategy (ESF), brought new needs of knowledge and practice to the agents of the Family Health Teams (eSF) to perform their tasks especially in home care. Therefore, it is necessary to create educational materials on Teledentistry that are appropriate to the information needs, respecting the prior knowledge of the Oral Health agents (SB). Thus, it is important to know what the professionals of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) know and how they apply the concepts of promotion in Oral Health (SB). This research has the objective of knowing how much each category of professionals from the Family Health Team (eSF) in the municipality of Platina, SP, knows and practices Oral Health (SB) and apply it in their daily activities. In this regard, we designed an open free adhesion questionnaire where the responders had full and unrestricted freedom to issue their comments, evaluations and suggestions about their personal experiences in their work with the eSF they belong. Data collection included a single team. This allowed the work with reliable data. From the quantitatively tabulated responses, including the percentage of frequency, it appears that there is a need of the agents to prepare themselves to the task of teaching and supervising all the members of the families as to the procedures of prevention, maintenance and oral health promotion. All this makes the completeness and knowledge about oral health education an effective result in the overall health of every citizen and the community

A Atenção Primária em Saúde (APS), que é base para o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), tem dois componentes fundamentais que são a integralidade e a educação em saúde. Compreender as moléstias crônicas em seu contexto social e familiar é dever dos profissionais que atuam nas equipes de Saúde da Família (eSF). Neste cenário, a incorporação dos profissionais da área de Saúde Bucal (SB) à Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) trouxe novas necessidades de conhecimento e prática para os trabalhadores da equipe de Saúde da Família executarem suas tarefas especialmente no atendimento domiciliar. Portanto, há necessidade de criação de materiais educacionais em Teleodontologia que sejam adequados às necessidades de informação e que respeitem o conhecimento prévio dos trabalhadores sobre Saúde Bucal (SB). Assim, é importante saber o que os profissionais da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) conhecem e como aplicam os conceitos da promoção em Saúde Bucal (SB). Esta pesquisa procura saber o quanto cada categoria de profissionais de uma equipe de Saúde da Família (eSF) do Município de Platina, SP, conhecem e praticam Saúde Bucal (SB) e aplicam em suas atividades diárias. Para isso, foi elaborado um questionário aberto de livre adesão e os respondentes emitiam, com total e irrestrita liberdade, as suas observações, avaliações e sugestões relativas às suas experiências pessoais no seu trabalho na eSF a que pertencem. A coleta de dados contemplou uma única equipe, o que permitiu trabalhar com dados confiáveis. A partir das respostas tabuladas, analisadas qualitativamente e com percentuais de frequência, verifica-se que há necessidade dos trabalhadores se instrumentalizarem para as tarefas de ensinar e supervisionar o conjunto dos membros das famílias atendidas, quanto aos procedimentos de prevenção, de manutenção e promoção da saúde bucal, tornando a integralidade e conhecimento com educação em saúde bucal uma consequência efetiva na saúde geral de cada cidadão e da comunidade / The Primary Health Care (APS), the basis of the Unified Health System (SUS), has two main components: completeness and health education. Understanding the chronic diseases in their social and family environment is the duty of the professionals who work in the Family Health Teams (eSF). In this context the incorporation of professionals from the oral health area (SB) into the Family Health Strategy (ESF), brought new needs of knowledge and practice to the agents of the Family Health Teams (eSF) to perform their tasks especially in home care. Therefore, it is necessary to create educational materials on Teledentistry that are appropriate to the information needs, respecting the prior knowledge of the Oral Health agents (SB). Thus, it is important to know what the professionals of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) know and how they apply the concepts of promotion in Oral Health (SB). This research has the objective of knowing how much each category of professionals from the Family Health Team (eSF) in the municipality of Platina, SP, knows and practices Oral Health (SB) and apply it in their daily activities. In this regard, we designed an open free adhesion questionnaire where the responders had full and unrestricted freedom to issue their comments, evaluations and suggestions about their personal experiences in their work with the eSF they belong. Data collection included a single team. This allowed the work with reliable data. From the quantitatively tabulated responses, including the percentage of frequency, it appears that there is a need of the agents to prepare themselves to the task of teaching and supervising all the members of the families as to the procedures of prevention, maintenance and oral health promotion. All this makes the completeness and knowledge about oral health education an effective result in the overall health of every citizen and the community