The Role of Teledentistry in Oral Health Care for Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care Facilities

Older adults living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) frequently have unmet oral health needs because mobility limitations, cognitive impairment, transportation barriers, and shortages of dental professionals restrict access to conventional care. Teledentistry offers a complementary approach through synchronous and asynchronous consultation, remote patient monitoring, and mobile health. This review examines the use of these modalities for oral screening, diagnostic support, triage, preventive guidance, and follow-up in LTCFs. Available evidence suggests that teledentistry may broaden access, facilitate earlier identification of oral problems, and reduce unnecessary travel. However, it cannot replace direct clinical examination or treatment. Its effectiveness is limited by variable image quality, diagnostic constraints, technology acceptance, staff training, data privacy, professional responsibility, and institutional resources. The evidence base is further limited by small samples, heterogeneous methods and service models, and insufficient long-term outcomes. This review evaluates the clinical role and limitations of teledentistry in LTCFs and identifies research and implementation priorities that may support more accessible oral health care for older adults.