Open AccessApplications of teledentistry in a French inmate population: A one-year observational study
Author(s) -
Camille Inquimbert,
Ioan Balacianu,
Nicolas Huyghe,
Joao Pasdeloup,
Paul Tramini,
Fadi Meroueh,
Sylvie Montal,
Sompop Bencharit,
Nicolas Giraudeau
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0247778
Subject(s) - medicine , oral health , observational study , protocol (science) , medical emergency , family medicine , population , health care , dentistry , environmental health , alternative medicine , pathology , economics , economic growth
Teledentistry oral examination protocol was evaluated for one year at the Villeneuve-lès-Maguelone Correctional Facility. The aim of the study was to simplify the obligatory dental consultation protocol at the entrance visit for new detainees. 1051 detainees were enrolled and 651 of them (58.9%) accepted an oral examination by teledentistry throughout the entire year of 2018. Only 1 inmate did not need treatment and 88.06% of those who have been examined had at least one untreated cavitated carious lesion. Forty-four percent of people who received a teledentistry check-up were referred to a dentist with a dental emergency. The use of teledentistry at the entry visit in a detention facility may facilitate the oral health screening without wasting the dentist’s time, and may allow an optimization of the inmate’s oral healthcare.