Teledentistry: Application to Pediatric Dentistry during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

To date, the various international and local health agencies have published recommendations, regulations and protocols for dental care during the COVID-19 pandemic, adjusted to the different stages of the pandemic.

The Latin American Association of Pediatric Dentistry, in its mission to support and bring the best available information to all Latino colleagues, has published practical guides and support documents that are easy to use and share with all dental personnel working in hospital settings, government clinics, educational institutions and private clinics, that provide care for children, adolescents and patients with disabilities.1-3

During the COVID-19 pandemic containment stage, dental treatment should be performed exclusively on patients presenting to emergency and urgent care, deferring all elective treatment.1,4-7

However, as the stages of the pandemic evolve in different countries, care protocols change and priority dental care programming becomes possible and dental care is progressively resumed.8,9

As a first step in care, an important change recommended for professional practice arises, which is the inclusion of remote care or Telemedicine, in the case of Pediatric Dentistry: Teleodontology, 10 involving telephone care, by digital means or virtual platforms, using all available technology to make the diagnosis, therapeutic guidance, monitoring of cases, and determine the situations that require face-to-face care.

The following recommendations are linked to the exceptional situation of the pandemic and may differ from usual clinical practices. These recommendations are intended to provide guidance to the clinician to efficiently screen the consultation, to guide the conduct of virtual consultation with tele-dentistry, to determine the best route of care according to the need and feasibility of face-to-face care, and to keep appropriate records of follow-up. It is not an exhaustive clinical protocol of all possible treatments.

This information constitutes an orientation guide, without replacing local regulations, specific protocols, or laws in force in each country, and is susceptible to evolution and change depending on the health situation. We urge professionals to follow up on updates.