Virtual Oral Health across Canada: A Critical Comparative Analysis of Clinical Practice Guidances during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Pascaline Kengne Talla (), Nora Makansi, Pierre-Luc Michaud, Robert Durand, Paul J. Allison and Elham Emami
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Pascaline Kengne Talla: Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, Canada
Nora Makansi: Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, Canada
Pierre-Luc Michaud: Department of Dental Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 1W2, Canada
Robert Durand: Faculty of Dental Medicine, Université de Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
Paul J. Allison: Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, Canada
Elham Emami: Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1G1, Canada

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: During the COVID-19 pandemic, teledentistry was suggested as a cost-effective and promising approach to improve access to oral health care. In response, Canadian provincial and territorial dental regulatory authorities (DRAs) published teledentistry-related clinical practice guidances (TCPGs). However, an in-depth comparison between them is needed to understand their gaps and commonalities so as to inform research, practice, and policy. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of TCPGs published by Canadian DRAs during the pandemic. A critical comparative analysis of these TCPGs published between March 2020 and September 2022 was conducted. Two members of the review team screened the official websites of dental regulatory authorities (DRAs) to identify TCPGs and performed data extraction. Among Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, only four TCPGs were published during the relevant time period. There were some similarities and differences in these TCPGs, and we identified gaps pertaining to communication tools and platforms, and measures to safeguard patients’ privacy and confidentiality. The insights from this critical comparative analysis and the unified workflow on teledentistry can aid DRAs in their development of new or an improvement to existing TCPGs or the development of nationwide TCP guidelines on teledentistry.

Keywords: teledentistry; clinical practice guidances; dental regulatory authorities; oral care (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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