Effectiveness of using an intra-oral photography application for dental hygiene education

Objectives: In this study, we sought to develop and evaluate a mobile application for use with intra-oral photography and to assess its educational potential among dental hygiene students. Methods: The study included 29 dental hygiene students. Participants’ skills and self-efficacy were evaluated before and after using the application for intra-oral photography. Statistical analyses, including paired t-test and Friedman test, were performed to assess performance and self-efficacy changes. Results: Use of the application significantly improved the students’ photography skills (p<0.05), with the largest improvements found in the mandibular occlusal view (25.7%), right buccal view (14.7%), and left buccal view (14.6%). Self-efficacy also increased significantly (p<0.001), particularly in terms of the ability to perform accurate clinical intra-oral photography. User satisfaction was high, particularly regarding photo storage and management (4.88±0.21) and tutorials available (4.86±0.44). Conclusions: The mobile application developed here enhanced students’ intra-oral photography skills and self-efficacy. This application has good potential as a self-directed learning tool for dental hygiene education, helping students to improve their clinical proficiency.