SEARCHSYSTEMATIC_REVIEWsystematic review, pediatrics

systematic_review·systematic review, pediatrics, public health, clinical trial, research methods·PMC10512118

The Use of Patient-Oriented Mobile Phone Apps in Oral Health: Scoping Review

JMIR mHealth and uHealth · 6 authors, 1 centre

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TL;DR

This scoping review of 45 studies found that mobile apps are increasingly used in oral health, primarily for oral health promotion and behavior management in children and adolescents. The evidence indicates some apps can help reduce dental plaque and improve gingival health.

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A scoping review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology, searching PubMed and Scopus for studies published between January 2000 and June 2021. The review identified 45 eligible studies, with 23 (51%) being randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The majority of studies (69%) focused on oral health promotion, and more than half (51%) were conducted in Asian countries. Regarding specific outcomes, 39% of the RCTs reported a significant reduction in dental plaque, and 26% reported significant improvement in gingival health. For dental anxiety management, 13% of RCTs reported a significant decrease in mean heart rate. The review notes that most studies targeted children and adolescents, with limited evidence on diagnostic and remote consultations (teledentistry). Limitations include restricting to English-language studies and only two databases. The findings suggest potential for apps to improve oral hygiene knowledge and behavior, but more research is needed in neglected areas.

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systematic_review

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systematic review

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AI pipeline

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ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10512118

The Use of Patient-Oriented Mobile Phone Apps in Oral Health: Scoping Review

JMIR mHealth and uHealth

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ABSTRACT

Abstract Background Oral health is a significant part of general health. Poor oral health can influence an individual’s appearance, self-esteem, eating, and speaking. The use of mobile phone apps has been growing in the field of medicine, including dentistry. However, to date, there is no evidence related to the availability of mobile apps focusing on various branches of dentistry. Objective The aim of this study was to review the scientific literature on the use of patient-oriented mobile phone apps in oral health and summarize the key findings. Methods A scoping review of published scientific literature on the use of patient-oriented mobile phone apps in oral health was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute. A search was performed in PubMed and Scopus for studies published between January 2000 and June 2021 that were written in English. All study types except for those reporting developmental protocols were included in this review. In total, 2 reviewers independently screened the studies using the eligibility criteria. The study protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework registries in June 2021. Results The initial search yielded a total of 977 studies, 45 (4.6%) of which met the inclusion criteria. All the studies (45/45, 100%) were published after 2009. Most studies (31/45, 69%) concerned oral health promotion using mobile phone apps, followed by behavior management (5/45, 11%). More than half (23/45, 51%) of the included studies were conducted in Asian countries. Overall, 31% (14/45) of the studies focused on adolescents. A total of 51% (23/45) of the studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Approximately 39% (9/23) of the included RCT studies reported a substantial reduction in dental plaque, and 26% (6/23) of the studies reported significant improvement in gingival health. Regarding dental anxiety management, 13% (3/23) of the RCT studies reported a significant decrease in mean heart rate and lower Facial Image Scale scores. Conclusions According to the literature, the use of mobile apps in oral health is increasing among patients, mainly children and adolescents. Many studies that have used mobile apps have focused on promoting oral health. However, other areas such as diagnostic and remote consultations (teledentistry) have until recently been neglected despite their great potential. Keywords: oral health, dentistry, mobile apps, mobile health, mHealth, mobile phone

CITATION EXPORT

Elina Väyrynen, Sanna Hakola, Anniina Keski-Salmi et al.. The Use of Patient-Oriented Mobile Phone Apps in Oral Health: Scoping Review. JMIR mHealth and uHealth. (2023). https://doi.org/10.2196/46143

AUTHORS

6 · 1 CENTRES

Elina Väyrynen, Sanna Hakola, Anniina Keski-Salmi, Hannaleena Jämsä, Raija Vainionpää, Saujanya Karki

1Research Unit of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland