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Article
The Role of Telemedicine for Symptoms Management in Oral Medicine: A Retrospective Observational Study.
BMC Oral Health (2022)
  • Alessandro Villa
  • Z. Alsafwani
  • C. Shiboski
Abstract
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has had devastating effect on access to care in many specialties and dental services including oral medicine. Following the shelter-in-place orders in March 2020, we implemented Tele(oral)medicine practices for the diagnosis and management of some oral medicine conditions.
Objectives: To assess the role of telemedicine visits with respect to managing pain among patients affected by oral diseases.
Methods: A retrospective chart review for all the new patients seen at their first visit via telemedicine between April 2020 and December 2020. The patient-reported pain score was recorded at each visit using a 0-10 scale. Differences in oral pain from the first fist to the follow-up visit of the patients were evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.
Results: A total of 137 new patients were included with a median age of 56 years. If seen in person, patients would have travelled a median distance of 65 miles. The most common oral conditions seen were reactive/inflammatory lesions. There was a 3-point median pain reduction from the first video visit to the first follow-up (p < 0.05) and a self-reported 65% median improvement of oral symptoms.
Conclusion: Tele(oral)medicine was an effective method for symptoms management of oral medicine conditions.
Keywords
  • Telemedicine,
  • Symptoms,
  • Management,
  • Orla Medicine,
  • Retrospective Observational Study
Publication Date
March 27, 2022
DOI
10.1186/s12903-022-02133-1
Citation Information
Alessandro Villa, Z. Alsafwani and C. Shiboski. "The Role of Telemedicine for Symptoms Management in Oral Medicine: A Retrospective Observational Study." BMC Oral Health Vol. 22 Iss. 1 (2022) p. 92 ISSN: 1472-6831
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/alessandro-villa/7/