Effect of an initial synchronous teledentistry visit on the efficiency of dental treatment initiation for pediatric patients

Objectives: Teledentistry has emerged as a potential care modality to improve access to dental care, especially for children facing geographic, financial, and structural barriers. While prior studies have shown that teledentistry may support diagnostic accuracy and follow-up attendance, its efficiency in initiating dental treatment remains underexplored. This study examined the efficiency of an initial synchronous teledentistry visit in preparing pediatric patients for treatment at a subsequent in-person visit. Specifically, it evaluated whether treatment initiation at the second encounter differed between children initially seen via teledentistry and those seen in person. A secondary aim was to assess whether the type of asynchronously submitted diagnostic information (radiographs, intraoral photos, or both) influenced treatment initiation outcomes. By focusing on the second encounter as a critical point of care, this study sought to determine whether teledentistry can function as a reliable entry point into pediatric dental treatment without delaying care and to identify factors that may enhance or hinder its efficiency in clinical settings.