COVID-19 Pandemic and applicability of teledentistry in primary health care based on international experiences: integrative review

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In the COVID-19 pandemic context, teledentistry can play a fundamental role in oral health treatment, especially in early identification and priority determination of urgent and emergency cases. Through it, it is possible to diagnose and provide care to people infected with SARS-CoV-2 without putting the team of professionals who will provide the services at risk of infection. Objective: To analyze international experiences in the use of teledentistry in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its applicability in Primary Health Care, highlighting possible difficulties in its implementation, as well as its potential and limitations. Methodology: An integrative review was conducted through the six recommended phases of the elaboration process. Searches were performed in the PubMed, Lilacs, Bireme, SciELO, Paho, Cochrane and Wholis databases, from July 14 to 20, 2020. Articles that addressed international experiences, in the public or private sphere, of the use of teledentistry in dental care protocols were selected. Results: Six studies were analyzed. The review of the articles highlighted the importance of teledentistry as an alternative health tool to anticipate diagnoses and reduce needs in oral health, in addition to contributing to the control of viral spread in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: The application of teledentistry during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazilian Primary Health Care is still a challenge, due to the structural and financial limits that its Unified Health System presents. However, from this integrative review and international experiences studied here, we observe that there is feasibility of implementing teledentistry in Brazilian Basic Health Units.

Keywords: Teledentistry. Primary Health Care. Coronavirus. Integrative review. Oral health.