Innovative oral health app helps with diagnosis, treatment
(HealthDay)—The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) has released an innovative app as part of its national oral health curriculum, Smiles for Life, according to a report published by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
The STFM app is intended to provide real-time support to help family physicians formulate diagnoses and management plans for oral health issues. Based on a patient's concern or a physical examination finding, physicians can select an algorithm; the decision tool will present a series of questions in order to help formulate a diagnosis and a plan for treatment. The tool also includes an extensive photo gallery of tooth and oral soft tissue findings.
The oral health app expands the national oral health core curriculum of the Smiles for Life program, which currently consists of eight online modules. Each module includes downloadable materials for self-study or presentation to others, and takes about 45 minutes to complete. The entire curriculum has been endorsed by 15 professional societies, including the AAFP; additional endorsements have been received by some modules specific to certain patient populations.
The AAFP supports a new model for delivering preventive oral health care as a component of routine medical care and enhancing partnerships between primary care and dentistry. Furthermore, the AAFP has supported the American Academy of Pediatrics' Campaign for Dental health and has sponsored a member interest group for family physicians interested in promoting oral health.
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