Comparison of dental hygienists and dentists: clinical and teledentistry identification of dental caries in children

摘要: Rationale for Study Teledentistry is an effective and efficient means of increasing access to care screening, referral treatment. Practice restrictions the undocumented concern that dental hygienists do not have skill or knowledge identify diagnose a carious lesion impede care. Purpose This study compared identification caries by both dentists clinical teledentistry methods. Methods A sample 82 children 4–7 years age attending elementary school in Memphis, Tennessee, was selected study. Two examiners, hygienist dentist, independently examined charted existing restorations separately on children. reviewed from photographs obtained with iPhone 4S. Dental charts each child were converted decayed filled surface (DFS) score resulting four scores analyses. Results Seventy-eight met inclusion criteria. The dentist's hygienist's DFS resulted Spearman's correlation r = 0.99. Friedman's analysis examiners' found no significant difference (P > 0.10) between scores. Conclusions A can as accurately dentist setting.