Older adults’ oral health follow-up in primary care: A teledentistry feasibility exploratory studyABSTRACT
Teledentistry can help answer the rising demand for oral health in homebound older adults. This study aims to analyze the feasibility of teledentistry in monitoring the oral health of homebound older adults in primary care, focusing on acceptance, barriers, and system quality. It is a cross-sectional and exploratory implementation study with a quantitative approach conducted in Primary Health Care services in Southern Brazil. Twenty older individuals/their caregivers, and five dentists were intentionally selected. A dentist assessed older adults through an online telehealth system via video call. The AdEQUATE questionnaire collected data from older adults/caregivers and dentists. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Twenty older adults received the video calls. Most were women aged 80 years or older; 50% received home care; 90% had no prior home dental care. Older adults generally found teledentistry a comfortable, convenient, safe, and trustworthy care option. However, some dentists expressed skepticism about its diagnostic accuracy and infrequent use. This highlights the importance of addressing dentists’ concerns in integrating teledentistry into public health services. The study also identified challenges, including limited equipment and technical issues. Despite this, teledentistry has proven to be a viable option for timely care, particularly for those unable to attend health facilities.
KEYWORDS
Teledentistry; Primary Health Care; Homebound persons; Frail elderly; Oral health.