Teledentistry: A literature review of evolution and ethicolegal aspects

Teledentistry is about delivering data from one point (spoke site) to another point (hub site) using telecommunications technology. Teledentistry is a relatively new field that combines telecommunication technology and dental care. It provides new opportunities for education and delivery of care that offers much potential and challenges. Teledentistry is also useful in long-distance clinical training and continuing education, screening, and dentist laboratory communication. In rural areas, where there is a shortage of specialists, lack of comprehensive and sophisticated health-care teledentistry can extend care to remote patient populations at a reasonable cost as well as ease the problem of a shortage of specialized dental consultants.