UWA researchers approve new remote dental screening app by CSIRO

In response to the COVID-19 restrictions on healthcare, CSIRO has developed an app to remotely screen children’s teeth by dental professionals. 

The University of Western Australia, in collaboration with the Telethon Kids Institute and Joondalup Health Campus, recently passed the feasibility study of the app.

Less Invasive Dental Screening

During the study, 42 families from WA’s Origins Project were asked to take good-quality photos of their children’s mouths, which were uploaded to the app and transferred to dental professionals via a server. The Origins Project follows the health of 10,000 families across a decade, making it the largest project of its kind. Dr Somy Azimi, one of the researchers who led the feasibility study, commented on the app’s benefits for families wanting less invasive dental screening for their children.

“It has the potential to prioritize dental needs, mainly where dental care access is limited, and to reduce waiting times for consultation and travel times to dental clinics,” said Dr Azimi, from UWA’s School of Human Sciences.

“It may also lead to better determining the urgency of the need for treatment and the nature of treatment required, as well as potentially reducing the complications of untreated tooth decay, such as dental infection.”

Incorporating Artificial Intelligence

The study was published in the International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry and funded by the WA Department of Health through a Future Health and Research Innovation grant.

Artificial intelligence will be incorporated into the research’s next step to hasten evaluation and referral even more. By enabling dental practitioners to prioritize dental requirements, shorten consultation wait times, and cut down on travel time to dental clinics, this invention may benefit distant and lower socioeconomic areas with limited access to dental treatment.

The feasibility study concluded that the app was a success, and its continued potential to enable remote dental screening and the prioritization of dental needs may usher in a new age in dental care.