Oral and Dental Needs and Teledentistry Applications in the Elderly: Real-Time Surveillance Using Google Trends

Considering the increasing need for oral and dental care in elderly, teledentistry has been proposed to improve education of elderly patients health maintenance risk factor control, identify patients’ concerns advance, facilitate monitoring, save time money. The present cross-sectional analysis Google search data through real-time surveillance with Trends aimed determine users’ interest needs applications compare volumes before after COVID-19 outbreak. Extracted CVS were qualitatively analyzed. Pearson Spearman correlation analyses performed between searches “elderly” “teledentistry”, all applications. Mann–Whitney U test compared 36 months beginning pandemic. related was diffusely medium–high, while its lower interest. Interest strongly older population, which is consistent assumption that adults represent population segment could benefit most from these tools. A positive also found “Elderly” almost typical geriatric population. Search increased significantly outbreak More information about should be disseminated increase knowledge awareness, especially among patients, indications, applications, advantages.