Abstract

Background: Children in rural and underserved communities face persistent barriers to oral health care, including limited access to providers. Teledentistry may offer a scalable strategy to improve access, education, and treatment adherence. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of teledentistry interventions in improving oral health outcomes, treatment compliance, and educational engagement among pediatric populations in low-access settings. Design: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Eleven studies published between 2011 and 2025 were included, comprising randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and school-based implementations. Interventions included synchronous video consultations, asynchronous data transmission, mobile apps, and social media-based education. Results: Teledentistry interventions improved treatment adherence (66.7%–96.9%), reduced plaque and bleeding indices in orthodontic patients, and enhanced access to screening and referrals in schools. Mobile-based education promoted better hygiene behavior. Most studies reported high satisfaction and minimal technological issues. However, variability in intervention types and outcome measures precluded meta-analysis. Conclusion: Teledentistry is a feasible and effective tool for addressing pediatric oral health disparities in underserved settings. It supports prevention, education, and early intervention. Future studies should emphasize standardized outcomes, long-term impact, and cost-effectiveness. Trial Registration: This systematic review is registered in PROSPERO under the registration number CRD420251066189. © 2025 BSPD, IAPD and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.