Perception and Attitudes of Dental Professionals on Teledentistry: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives:  This study aims to explore the beliefs and attitudes related to the adoption of teledentistry among Pakistani dental professionals, focusing on data security, practice enhancement, and patient benefits.

Material and methods:  A cross-sectional study on a 5-point Likert scale assessed four domains of teledentistry: data security and patient consent, practice improvement capabilities, usefulness for dental practice, and patient benefits, among dental professionals through electronic forms. Demographic data and items from four domains were analyzed by descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and Pearson's correlation tests, respectively, using SPSS, with a p-value of < 0.05 set as statistically significant.

Results:  A large percentage (59.8%) of the 408 dental professionals raised issues related to data security with 52% showing concerns about securing patient consent. Most professionals (61.8%) acknowledged the potential of teledentistry in reducing waiting times. Gender, age, qualifications, and work experience were found to be associated with individual perceptions of teledentistry. Females were more skeptical on teledentistry capabilities (p < 0.000) while younger, more than the older professionals had heightened worries about data security (p < 0.000). Specialists viewed teledentistry favorably compared with other professionals (p < 0.000). Professionals with more than 5 years of experience expressed optimism, on how teledentistry could improve practice efficiency and patient outcomes (p < 0.000).

Conclusion:  This report on the views and attitudes of Pakistani dental professionals toward teledentistry indicates their positive perception of teledentistry, citing its potential to enhance practice and benefit patients. Overcoming data security concerns and improving education on teledentistry benefits could foster broader acceptance and utilization of this technology.