The Development of Dental Informatics as a Major Research Tool in Oral Pathology

Abstract

Background Dental informatics is a relatively new field that has great potential to support clinical care. Most dentists are not aware of what dental informatics is, what its goals are, what it achieves and how they can get involved in it.

Methods The authors conducted a literature review and several roundtable discussions with dental informatics experts to discuss previous issues surrounding dental informatics.

Results Dental informatics is the application of computer and information sciences to improve dental practice, research, education, and management. Many applications have been developed that support clinical care, education, and research. Dental informatics is beginning to show the characteristics of a specialty: basic literature, trained specialists, and educational programs.

Conclusions Dental informatics offers potential solutions to many long-standing problems in dentistry, but it also faces significant obstacles and challenges. Its maturity will depend as much on the efforts of people as on the collective efforts of the profession.