Evaluation of Smartphone Applications for Dental Trauma Management

BACKGROUND/AIM: Traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) represent an important public health problem, and immediate access to accurate information is critical for their effective management. With the growing use of smartphones, mobile applications may serve as accessible tools for providing guidance during dental emergencies. This study aimed to evaluate the content and quality of smartphone applications available for the management of TDIs. METHODOLOGY: A systematic search was performed in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store using relevant keywords related to dental trauma and dental emergencies. Applications providing information on the management or prevention of TDIs were included. The quality and content of the applications were assessed using the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) and recommendations from the International Association of Dental Traumatology guidelines. RESULTS: Out of 124 identified applications, seven met the inclusion criteria (four iOS and three Android). All applications were free and mainly targeted patients. Most apps focused on the management of traumatic injuries to permanent teeth and provided guidance for various dental trauma emergencies. Among the evaluated applications, ToothSOS demonstrated the highest quality scores and the greatest adherence to IADT guidelines. CONCLUSION: Smartphone applications related to dental trauma management show variability in their content and educational value. Among the available applications, ToothSOS was identified as the most comprehensive and reliable resource for managing traumatic dental injuries.