A Tele-detection and Referral Pathways Model for Early Childhood Caries Control

A specialized intraoral camera (C50) with fluorescence signal and selective chromatic amplification will be used to record intraoral structures in the form of videos and/or photos. The camera has four modes (Daylight, Daylight+, Perio and Caries modes) which can differentiate the color of tissues to provide a reliable diagnosis. The camera will be used in a systemic sequence to video record and capture photos of intraoral conditions in both arches. The intraoral camera will be connected to a laptop screen, and the captured videos and/ or photos will be transferred to an electronic platform.

This is a low-cost electronic system consisting of a smartphone positioned in front of the oral cavity to scan the upper and lower jaws from the cheek then the tongue sides. The smartphone camera resolution should be sensitive enough to capture the intraoral structures (at least 1000 pixels). The focus will be adjusted, and the inbuilt flash will be used to obtain clear and sharp images. The photos will be transferred to the electronic platform.

The child's parent/ legal guardian will receive financial incentives. These a are designed to cover the costs of treatment and transportation and are tied to attending the preventive dental visit. The child will receive complete dental care.

Children will be referred without providing financial incentives following the current standard of care in dental clinics in the public sector in Egypt. Care is planned by the receiving/ treating dentist, based on available resources, and hospital/ clinic policies. The screening/ sending dentist will inform the family about the oral health condition/s and planned treatment costs for which the child needs care and of available public and private facilities that offer the required care.