Manuscript Title:

HEALTH INFORMATICS IN DENTAL CARE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF CLINICAL, OPERATIONAL, AND PATIENT REPORTED OUTCOMES

Author:

SALEH OBAID AL GHADEER, NIZAR MOHAMMED AL SHAMMARI, HASAN MASHY AL SHAMMARI, AHMED SALEH ALRASHEIDI, AMMASH WUDHAYH ALSHARARI, NOUF SAAD ALQAHTANI, HAYA MASOUD ALDOSSRI

DOI Number:

DOI:10.5281/zenodo.17598323

Published : 2025-10-23

About the author(s)

1. SALEH OBAID AL GHADEER - Health Informatics, National Guard Hospital.
2. NIZAR MOHAMMED AL SHAMMARI - Health Informatics, National Guard Hospital.
3. HASAN MASHY AL SHAMMARI - Health Informatics, National Guard Hospital.
4. AHMED SALEH ALRASHEIDI - Health Informatics, National Guard Hospital.
5. AMMASH WUDHAYH ALSHARARI - Health Informatics, National Guard Hospital.
6. NOUF SAAD ALQAHTANI - General Dentist, National Guard Hospital.
7. HAYA MASOUD ALDOSSRI - Dental Assistant, National Guard Hospital.

Full Text : PDF

Abstract

Digital health tools are increasingly embedded in dental care to enhance prevention, treatment efficiency, and access. This systematic review synthesized original studies evaluating health informatics interventions in dentistry across clinical, operational, and patient reported outcomes. We included nine original studies: randomized trials and quasi experimental designs assessing smartphone tooth brushing applications, AI enabled remote monitoring during orthodontics, tele dentistry service models, SMS appointment reminders, web assisted e referrals for smoking cessation, and AI chatbot education. Across orthodontic settings, smartphone or chatbot interventions generally improved plaque and gingival indices or patient knowledge, while an AI remote monitoring platform reduced plaque, lesion progression in short term follows up; one clear aligner study found no meaningful difference between remote and conventional monitoring in malocclusion improvement. SMS reminders and tele dentistry pathways supported attendance and service reach, and e referrals increased engagement with cessation support. Patient reported outcomes favored digital modalities for satisfaction, perceived convenience, and acceptability. Heterogeneity in outcomes, follow up length, and fidelity limited meta-analysis; consistent signals suggest that well designed informatics tools can improve oral hygiene behaviors and streamline care. Future research should standardize outcome sets, extend follow up, and evaluate equity, costs, and implementation fidelity.


Keywords

Teledentistry; Mhealth; Orthodontics; AI Chatbot; Remote Monitoring; Appointment Reminders; Oral Hygiene.