What Is Teledentistry?
When it comes to oral healthcare, many Americans nowadays face challenges when finding the right doctor – whether it’s because of the costs of dental services or the lack of providers in their area. Teledentistry is one of the best solutions to these problems, and it has gained a lot of popularity in recent years, especially after the pandemic started.
Teledentistry is the use of telehealth technologies to provide dental services. In other words, it’s an approach to dentistry where a healthcare provider uses communication technologies to talk to their patient. There are a few forms of teledentistry:
- Live video - An interaction between the patient and the medical professional in real time
- Store-and-forward - Sending videos, photos, X-rays, and other medical information to a dentist who reviews it and comes up with a treatment plan for a patient.
- Remote patient monitoring - Collecting data from a remote location in order to monitor signs and changes in conditions
What Are the Benefits of Teledentistry Services?
Teledentistry comes with numerous advantages. It allows dental service providers to triage patients and reserve office visits for those who need them the most. Virtual appointments are especially beneficial for those who live in areas where there are shortages of dental services, such as rural areas.
If you have an inflexible schedule or simply fear visiting dental offices, this approach to dentistry can be a great solution. Last but not least, teledentistry can save you money – it’s more affordable than a traditional visit to the dentist due to savings in time and resources.
