The COVID-19 has completely changed the way we access healthcare. One such great example is teledentistry, where now dentists across the world are offering their services remotely to patients and making it convenient for patients and doctors to connect without any location limitation.
The popularity of teledentistry is growing rapidly even after COVID-19, and patients prefer remote services more conveniently.
As per the stats, the global teledentistry market size is expected to reach $7.18 billion by 2034 with a CAGR of 15.15%. It clearly shows how fast patients are utilizing teledentistry services, especially in rural areas.
Teledentistry comes with numerous benefits and uses that people must know.
In this blog, we will understand everything about teledentistry, its types, benefits, how dentists are leveraging teledentistry platforms and its future. So, without any further delay, let’s dive in!
What is Teledentistry?
Teledentistry refers to the use of technology like video calls or messaging to provide dental care services remotely to patients. Which includes consultations, diagnosis, and follow-up care, all done through digital platforms. It’s a more convenient option for both patients and doctors to connect remotely, save time, reduce costs, and manage efficiently. The use of teledentistry includes:
- Live Video: A real-time video call between a patient and a dentist.
- Store and Forward: Patients send data like photos, videos, or X-rays to their dentist for review later.
Remote Monitoring: Dentists communicate with each other using data such as X-rays, photos, and test results without the patient being present.
Types of Teledentistry
There are mainly two types of Teledentistry:
- Synchronous: This is a real-time interaction between the patients and the dentist through a video call at a scheduled time.
- Asynchronous: This doesn’t need a scheduled appointment. Patients can send data like photos, videos, or X-rays to the dentist, and the dentist responds when it’s convenient for both.
Benefits of Teledentistry
Teledentistry can make dental care more accessible. It allows the dentists to meet patients with oral health needs in real-time. Teledentistry eliminates travel time, reduces the cost of transportation, and minimizes time off work or school. Below are just a few of the advantages that a dentist can reap from teledentistry:
Be a more creative option for the healthcare system as a whole.
In 2013, 52% of hospitals used telehealth, and another 10% began the telehealth services implementation phase.
Meet with the needs of present-day patients for new means of communication
Recent studies on the use of telehealth services have shown that 70 % of patients connect easily with their healthcare providers through text, email, or video rather than meeting them in person and 76% of patients prefer access to treatment over the need for face-to-face experiences with their healthcare providers. 30% of patients now use computers or mobile devices to search for details on medical diagnoses.
Reduce the amount of time employees spend away from the office.
Teledentistry solutions minimize the number of time workers have taken to see dental practitioners in person. While appointments may take hours out of a workday for an employee, just 17% (20 minutes) of that time is spent seeing the doctor.
Provide the same level of care to patients as in-office visits.
Research indicates that the quality of patient care and patient success rates were the same whether patients were using telemedicine or not.
1. Improves oral hygiene education
One of the key advantages of teledentistry is the opportunity to educate patients on good oral hygiene practices. Teaching children to brush and floss, helping parents understand the growth patterns of their children, and providing advice on healthy dietary choices can all be done using teledentistry.
2. Reduces cost
Seeing a patient remotely ensures that the dentist does not need to use expensive gloves, masks, equipment, and gowns or use clinical time on patient needs that can be treated without an appointment to face.
3. Reduced chair times
Teledentistry causes to decrease in the amount of time that patients spend in the chair at the dentist’s office. Consultations can be performed online so that patients do not have to sit in the dentist’s chair physically to get advice. This helps dentists to treat a larger number of patients in one day because online consultations are performed.
4. Post-op checkups
Post-op dental checkups are simpler for dentists thanks to teledentistry, as they can easily check in remotely with their patients. Dentists will interact with the patient online, who can send information to their dentist about how they can proceed after the surgery. The dentist will then concentrate on delivering care to other patients instead of wasting time on checkups.
5. Second opinions
If a dentist has any doubts or concerns about the care a patient needs, he or she can consult with a specialist via teledentistry. A dentist can get a second opinion remotely from a specialist. Teledentistry makes it easy for the dentist to contact other dental practitioners online in order to give their patients the best possible treatment.
6. Access to patients in remote locations
Dentists can treat more patients because of Teledentistry — no matter where they are located. For patients who do not have dental clinics nearby, dentists may have remote consultations.
Uses of Teledentistry
73% of dentists said it is useful in diagnosis, assessment, care, and preparation when asked about the uses of teledentistry. 20% of BDS dentists in this study said it would be useful in oral medicine and radiology. Nearly 43% of dentists in this study said it was useful in teleorthodontics.
Besides its uses of consultation and reference guides for general dental practitioners of different disciplines teledentistry system can also provide a unique way to provide long-distance clinical training and continuing education.
It promotes the link between private practices and outreach initiatives. This encourages the practice to participate in social responsibility while making it less timely
Adoption Challenges of Teledentistry
Although teledentistry has many advantages, some challenges stand in the way of the concept being adopted and put into practice by professionals. On several levels- individual, organizational, and infrastructural challenges can be seen.
The lack of direct contact with patients would be an obvious challenge, individually. Equally, IT literacy is weak in many areas. There may be a reduction in the quality of the available health information, and a rise in clinic time and workload may be too high.
More rural areas lack internet connectivity and technological support when it comes to telecommunications. For many people too, the technology may seem too complicated.
Lastly, there is a lack of reimbursement mechanisms and guidance on taxes at an organizational level. There is also a greater chance of malpractice and legal violations when teledentistry is implemented.
How Can Dentists Leverage Teledentistry?
Teledentistry allows dentists many ways to improve their patients’ care. Let’s explore some key ways:
Maintain Patient Volume
Teledentistry helps dentists stay connected with patients remotely, even in tough times like the pandemic. This platform allows dentists to connect with patients through online scheduling and virtual consultation to get care at their homes.
Reach More Patients
Teledentistry helps doctors break geographic barriers and allows dentists to offer remote consultations to those patients who can’t travel or access medical care. It will enable them to expand their reach.
Consult with Specialists
If a dentist has concerns about a patient’s treatment, then they can consult with other specialists via teledentistry. It allows for quick, remote advice without needing to meet in person.
Triangle Patients
A dental assistant can use teledentistry to assess if a visit is necessary. Dentists can also check in with patients remotely for follow-up care, saving time for both the patient and the dentist.
Conclusion
Teledentistry is changing the way we patients get dental care, and it makes it easier for dentists to offer their services across the globe without geographical barriers. We hope this guide helps you understand everything about Teledentistry, its importance, and how it is changing medical care. The future of Teledentistry is bright, and the demand will keep growing over time.
So, if you’re planning to utilize telehealth services to spread your medical services across the globe, then DreamSoft4u is a one-stop solution. We have a team of experts who can help you utilize telehealth platforms and make your services accessible around the world. Contact us today!
FAQs
Q1. What is teledentistry?
It is a platform that allows dentists to provide medical care remotely through technology like video calls or messaging.
Q2. How does teledentistry work?
It helps dentists and patients connect remotely on video calls, sending photos or X-rays, and remote monitoring by the dentist.
Q3. What are the benefits of teledentistry?
It saves time, reduces travel, and makes dental care more accessible, especially in remote areas.
Q4. Can teledentistry replace in-person dental visits?
It can’t replace all visits, but it’s suitable for consultations, follow-ups, and routine check-ups without needing a dental visit.
