Assessment of a Pediatric Population Using Telehealth Training in Predoctoral Dental Education

ABSTRACT

This article aims to increase dental workforce and quantify outcomes of telehealth curriculum by integrating predoctoral dental students in the delivery of asynchronous teledentistry. Preliminary data from the quality improvement process suggests that over 90% of recommended treatment plans coincided between onpremise and off-premise, second-year predoctoral dental students. This initial data establishes a quantitative measurement for telehealth and supports the incorporation of teledentistry into predoctoral dental curriculum for its use in clinical practice.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Analia Tahir

Analia Tahir, BS, is a DMD 2021 candidate in the College of Dental Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences with an interest in community-based and clinical research.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported for any of the authors.

Krystle P. Rapisura

Krystle P. Rapisura, DMD, MS, is an assistant professor and assistant dean for community patient care in the College of Dental Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences and a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. She manages the WesternU CDM school-based oral health centers and is an overseeing pediatric faculty for the college.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported for any of the authors.

T. Jamie Parado

T. Jamie Parado, DDS, is an assistant professor in the College of Dental Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences and a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. One of her key areas of interest is in interprofessional education and interprofessional collaborative practice, and she is the liaison for WesternU CDM.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported for any of the authors.

Keith R. Boyer

Keith R. Boyer, DDS, is an associate professor in the College of Dental Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences and a diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics. He was drawn into the academic environment because of his desire for continuous learning and to share that knowledge with colleagues and future dentists.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported for any of the authors.

Luis G. Robinson

Luis G. Robinson, MS, received his Master of Science in medical sciences from the Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences and is a DMD 2024 candidate in the College of Dental Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences with an interest in public health and bridging the gap in access to care.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported for any of the authors.

Marisa K. Watanabe

Marisa K. Watanabe, DDS, MS, is an associate professor and associate dean for community partnerships and access to care in the College of Dental Medicine at Western University of Health Sciences. She oversees the entire community-based dental education curriculum for the college and focuses her research on prevention and intervention for persons throughout the lifespan.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported for any of the authors.