As an adult, it’s important to take care of yourself no matter how crazy life gets. From the stress of everyday endeavours, crazy work life schedules and trips, and trying to handle everyday responsibilities, it can be hard to do the simple things. Scheduling necessary doctors and dentist appointments is crucial to stay on top of your health and also to spot any concerns that are deemed necessary to fix–which makes teledentistry a great option for busy people!
Teledentistry has become very popular due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but it continues to be a useful option for those who need a second opinion about a toothache and for those who can’t see their dentist due to medical reasons or because the office is far away. There are many benefits to teledentistry and virtual appointments are easy to set up to receive the necessary care you need.
Learn more about the benefits of teledentistry, what it actually is, and the type of people that it can help!
What is Teledentistry and What Services Can it Provide?
A necessary deep dive into what teledentistry entails is crucial to see if it’s the right option for your dental needs!
A teledentistry appointment can be beneficial for people who are frequently traveling and for those unable to come to a physical dental location. Image courtesy of CVS.
Teledentistry can help many groups of people with appointments that are easy to set up and attend. Virtual appointments provide many necessary services for patients who are unable to attend in-person where you can contact a teledentistry-only business, or your usual dental practice can even provide them for your convenience.
What is Teledentistry?
Virtual appointments have become common over the years and teledentistry is the ability to be able to log onto one and connect with a dentist to voice any issues or concerns you may have about your dental health. Using a laptop or your cell phone, you can connect with a dentist for a consultation, formal diagnosis, and receive treatment–such as prescriptions and follow-up appointments–in one simple online appointment.
Teledentistry can provide the necessary dental treatment that many people need without having to attend in-person. Teledentistry can work great for people who are always on-the-go and for those who are unable to attend in-person due to medical complications or their age.
When Did Teledentistry Get its Start?
Technology is ever-advancing and while it’s a surprise that teledentistry didn’t become popular sooner, it became more widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Since many dentist offices shut down to avoid the widespread cases of COVID-19 and prevent more people from becoming sick, teledentistry became a more popular option to help those who needed to be seen when in-person visits weren’t available.
Although the pandemic has passed, teledentistry is still a popular option for many people to choose due to its cost-effectiveness and accessibility. It remains a convenient way to be seen by a dentist without having to worry about appearing in-person when someone is unable to.
Who Offers Teledentistry Appointments?
If you’re interested in scheduling a teledentistry appointment, it’s important to first contact your home dental office to see if these accommodations are offered. Many dentist offices are now offering virtual appointments for their patients who are traveling or are unable to attend in-person due to medical reasons.
There are also other dedicated platforms–such as Teledentistry.com–that only provides virtual appointments for those seeking them out. The platform can connect you to licensed dentists who are able to provide you care 24/7 for your dental needs and consultations.
What Services Can Teledentistry Provide?
Teledentistry is a great option for those who have a toothache or a change in their dental health. While dentists aren’t able to physically look inside your mouth to look for any cavities, plaque build-up, or any other concerns in a teledentistry appointment, there are many other services that they can provide.
Some of the services that can be provided while at a teledentistry appointment include the following:
- Provide dental consultations and assessments of patient’s teeth
- Monitor any concerning oral health conditions
- Teach patients more about proper oral hygiene practices (brushing, flossing, mouthwash, in-person cleanings, etc.)
- Assist with minor dental procedures through home care
- Prescribe medication when necessary
- Offer professional opinions about overall health and encourage treatment in-person
- Schedule follow-up appointments
What Are the Benefits of Teledentistry?
There are many reasons that teledentistry can be beneficial for someone with its convenience and cost-effectiveness!
Many people are interested in teledentistry because of its convenience, cost-effectiveness, and its increased patient and provider acceptance. Anyone can request a virtual dental appointment to get a consultation of their dental health when and where it is convenient for them, plus there are many other benefits to receiving these services.
Accessibility for Patients in Rural Areas
Not everyone lives in a major city or a suburban area where dentists are readily available for your sudden toothache that has just started. Lots of people live in rural areas of the country where it is necessary to make a day trip out of driving to go to a doctor’s appointment to receive a check-up. One of the biggest benefits about teledentistry is that it provides care to underserved areas, such as rural parts of the United States so everyone can receive the proper consultation, diagnoses, and treatment when they need it.
Save Time From Long Drives and Convenience
Another reason why so many people opt for teledentistry appointments is simply because of its convenience. Going to a physical dental appointment requires proper planning beforehand, such as driving or taking public transportation to ensure that you are able to get there and on time. Teledentistry appointments can be convenient to avoid spending time driving, plus it’s a convenient method to receive the dental care that you need in the comfort of your own home.
Reduce Anxiety For Those With Dental Phobias
Something that not a lot of people like to talk about is dental phobia–the fear of any type of procedures or treatments involving your oral health. Whether it’s the tools that they use to scrape plaque build-up off of your teeth, or even drills to fill in a cavity, many people are petrified of going to the dentist. Physically being in the dental office can be terrifying for many people, so instead a teledentistry appointment can be in their best interest as not to cause any unnecessary anxiety and stress.
More Affordable Option
Teledentistry appointments can be a great way to save money because not only is it a more affordable option because you’re not physically in-person to receive treatment, but it can also help reduce traveling., This can be a great money-saving option for many people because you don’t have to use gas to drive there and you’re not paying any copays or out-of-pocket fees
Great For Those Traveling and With Medical Conditions
There are many types of people that can benefit from teledentistry appointments, including those who travel a lot for work or other reasons, and even people who have medical conditions who can’t attend in-person. It can be difficult for people with disabilities to travel due to having to have someone potentially drive them or for other reasons. With teledentistry appointments, it helps to open the door to allow everyone to receive the dental treatment that they need without having to sacrifice their health in the process. Even for those who travel, dentists are readily available whenever you have a sore spot in your mouth, or need a quick consultation to make sure that you are doing well.
Consider Choosing Teledentistry For Your Next Dental Appointment When You Can’t Be In-Person
There are tons of benefits of teledentistry and it can truly make a difference in your life and the upkeep of your dental health. By offering easy access to a virtual appointment in the comfort of your own home, teledentistry can help people who live in rural areas, those with disabilities, and even for people who are in another state or out of the country and can’t attend their usual dentist office.
Consider checking out teledentistry’s benefits and find out how it can make your life just a bit easier!
If you’re in the Washington, PA area and are interested in an in-person appointment that can provide a ton of insight into the status of your oral health––consider contacting Elizabeth L. Wakim—exceptional smiles start here!
Main image courtesy of the ADA News.
Dr. Elizabeth Wakim, DDS, is the founder of Enhanced Wellness. She’s a compassionate and highly-regarded dentist with her own practice in Washington, Pennsylvania, known for providing modern, comprehensive dental care, botox and facial aesthetics with a focus on patient comfort and anxiety reduction, serving general, cosmetic, and pediatric dentistry needs.
