Teledentistry: A New Evolution in Dentistry

Abstract

Teledentistry is a new field that combines telecommunication to advanced dental care. Most of the dentists are not aware about the goals, advantages of teledentistry and how it can be used to improve the delivery of oral healthcare and lower its costs. It also has the potential to eliminate the disparities in oral health care between rural and urban communities. In dentistry, it can be used by specialists in various branches and can serve the general dentist too. Some barriers still exist for teledentistry practice, which includes legal, educational and insurance issues. In spite of these barriers, telemedicine and teledentistry have showed tremendous growth in recent years . This article places emphasis on how teledentistry can be a cost effective answer to the dentists and their patients.