Due to the pandemic, several companies and industries have had to develop effective ways to provide products and services to customers while working to keep their employees and clients safe. This is why many businesses have found digital methods to not only market their services, but to actually provide these services to customers. Many doctor's offices are offering virtual appointments, and dentists are exploring the benefits of teledentistry. While a dentist appointment typically happens in person, dental practices are finding ways to evaluate patients and recommend suitable treatments.
If your practice is considering teledentistry, here are a few things you should know.
What Is Teledentistry?
Several dental practices in the US have delayed elective treatments and non-emergency dental services to avoid excessive contact with patients in an effort to protect the health of these patients and keep staff members safe. Virtual dental appointments help to reach patients who have dental issues and need professional advice for caring for their teeth and gums at home. After the virtual appointment, the dentist will decide if the patient needs to schedule an in-person appointment.
Teledentistsry has been especially beneficial for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. This technology allows individuals to meet with the dentist without risk of exposure. Virtual appointments can also save patients time since many teledentists will only recommend that patients come to the office in person for dental emergencies.
Post-Pandemic Teledentistry Benefits
Before the start of the pandemic, some dental offices were experimenting with virtual appointments. This was mainly to ensure that patients in rural communities could maintain regular dental appointments. Now that several other dental practices are starting to practice virtual dentistry, online appointments could become more commonplace which could be increasingly beneficial for dentists and patients.
Teledentistry to increase access to dental care so that home-bound individuals and those who live in rural areas can receive assistance for their dental issues and arrange a time to come in for extensive procedures.
Virtual dentistry can also lower the cost of dental care. When a patient has the option of booking an appointment remotely, the dental practice won't have to use items like gloves and mask and other medical supplies to see the patient. The staff also won't have to spend time or resources sanitizing the area for the next patient.
When patients can see the dentist virtually, more disadvantaged individuals and families are able to receive the care they need. Children in rural and urban areas are often underserved when it comes to medical care. Virtual dentistry allows dentists to assist patients through community programs, at-home appointments, and in-school services that will help underserved communities maintain the oral health of their families.
Another advantage of teledentistry is that it gives patients more access to dental specialists since some specialists only practice in or near metropolitan areas. These medical professionals can create informative lectures and interviews for patients to view and offer treatment recommendations online.
For some patients, an online dental appointment may be less overwhelming. Some people are very anxious about going to the dentist and speaking with a dentist in the comfort of their own homes could make the appointment more manageable.
Additional Benefits
When virtual dental visits are an option for individuals and families, it may be easier for people with disabilities to keep up with their dental care. Patients with accessibility issues are particularly underserved in the dental industry and virtual dentistry could make it easier for disabled individuals and their caregivers to schedule regular appointments.
When a dental office provides virtual appointments, the staff members have more time to complete clinical work. Many of the patients who schedule online appointments have minor issues that don't require in-person treatment. This allows staff members more time to treat in-house patients with urgent dental matters.
With teledentistry, dental professionals can record helpful videos concerning oral hygiene for patients to consume. Providing verified information and practical education to patients could help then avoid serious dental problems in the future.
Many dental practice owners may also want to implement virtual dentistry because it reduces time away from work. Individuals in the US lose several work hours annually to attend dental appointments. Tele-appointments cut down on the time patients have to spend away from work which can increase the chances that patients will remain employed and able to afford regular dental appointments.
What to Expect In the Future
In the coming years, the people who are most likely to benefit from virtual dentistry are the elderly, disadvantaged children, disabled individuals, and those living in rural or urban communities. Many of these patients will conduct their appointments on public computers in schools, libraries, or community centers. The dentist will be able to clearly see the patient's dental issues on camera and recommend in-person assessments and treatments as needed.
Final Thoughts
It is important to note that many dental practices may choose to start treating patients traditionally as cases of COVID-19 start to decline. However, many dentists are continuing to offer virtual appointments for patients with busy schedules or those who have anxiety associated with visiting the dentist. Working with your team to provide a comprehensive and relaxing experience for patients could make teledentistry a worthwhile part of your practice.
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