"Teledentistry" using a mobile app (Telesmile) to improve oral health among the visually impaired and hearing-impaired populations in Saudi Arabia: a randomized controlled study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the efficacy of a "teledentistry" method using a mobile app (Telesmile) in enhancing knowledge of oral health conditions and oral hygiene practices among the blind and deaf populations in Jazan Province in Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A randomized parallel design controlled study was conducted among 50 blind and 50 deaf subjects between the ages of 12-18 years, randomly chosen from blind and deaf schools. The participants were selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. An innovative teledentistry platform named Telesmile, a mobile application for the Apple iOS App Store and Google Play Store, was developed. Multimedia Arabic dental sign language oral hygiene instructional videos were created and uploaded in the Telesmile mobile application under the

SUBMITTER: Fageeh HN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11652368 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature