Dentists' Self-perception on Teledentistry: The Changing Landscape Driven by Technological Booming in the 21st Century

Aim: Teledentistry has gained popularity worldwide because it is cost-effective and increase accessibility to dental healthcare. This study assessed the self-perceptions of teledentistry among dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia and examinedany gender-related differences. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and December 2017 and recruited a convenience sample of dental practitioners, whose self-perceptions of the practice-related use of teledentistry were assessed via a teledentistry survey (TDS). The TDS consisted off our sections:efficiency in patient care, cost reduction,capabilities for improving practice, and security and confidentiality. Data analyses were conducted through descriptive statistics,internal reliability tests(Cronbach's alpha), and chi-squared tests of the TDS. Results: The response rate was 620/800(78%). Most respondents were female (62%), and 58% of them worked in the public sector. The internal reliability of the TDS was 0.85 for the whole sample and 0.85 and 0.90 for males and females, respectively. Among the entire sample, 51% agreed that teledentistry reduced potential cost, and 65% reported shortened waitlists. More females (42%, p<0.001) than males (22%) agreed that teledentistry could help monitor a patient's condition. More females (35%) than males (13%, p<0.001) considered that teledentistry would require additional appointments for imaging. More females(29%, p=0.0001) than males (22%) expressed great concern about potential violations of confidentiality. Conclusion: These findings suggest that teledentistry in dental practice is well perceived by practitioners in Saudi Arabia. Gender differences in perceptions are linked to certain aspects of teledentistry.