Going to the dentist can be intimidating for many people–and is often avoided over going to your primary care physician. Not only is your overall health important to pay attention to, but so is your dental health too—but finding the right dentist can also be tricky, or life can get in the way and it’s hard to schedule an appointment. With the COVID-19 pandemic, lots of things became more easily accessible through your cell phone, including doctor’s appointments and teledentistry as well.
Teledentistry is using digital communication to provide the necessary dental care that you need right from your phone or computer. For whatever your circumstance may be, teledentistry is a simple and easy way to talk to a dentist about a routine visit or any issues or concerns you are having, without leaving home.
Remote appointments have become the norm, but knowing more about teledentistry, how it works, and even how efficient it is can help you decide if it’s right for you!
A Deep Dive Into Teledentistry: What Exactly Does it Entail?
There are a ton of people who opt for teledentistry, but understanding what it is and why they may choose this option is important!
Our lives can be extremely busy at times and it’s hard to keep up with what is most important–ourselves. It’s important to get regular check ups from the doctor and even twice a year to see a dentist, but the traveling and time it takes can be a lot. Teledentistry is a game changer when it comes to remote check ups that can easily be accessed through your cell phone or computer.
What Exactly is Teledentistry?
Teledentistry is exactly how it sounds–being able to digitally communicate with your dentist regarding your oral health. It has become a popular way for people to access care for their teeth by interacting virtually through your cell phone or a computer. Patients can talk to their doctor face to face through a screen to receive a consultation, diagnoses, and even treatment without having to appear in-person.
What Types of Services are Offered Through Teledentistry?
There are a number of services that are offered through teledentistry, even though you are not being seen in person. While you don’t have a dental hygienist or a dentist scraping away plaque, cleaning your teeth, or providing a fluoride treatment, there are other essential services that teledentistry can offer for those who may be in a pinch.
Some common services provided at teledentistry appointments 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
- Schedule follow-up appointments
Who Typically Attends Teledentistry Appointments?
Those who are capable of going to see their dentist twice a year for routine cleanings and fluoride treatments should continue to do so, but there are many circumstances where it can be difficult for someone. There are exceptions for specific people where a teledentistry appointment can be a better option for them due to their overall health, lack of transportation, and even for time purposes.
Some people who would typically opt for a teledentistry appointment and the reasoning are as follows:
- Individuals who live in remote areas
- Rural areas with limited dentists
- Patients with disabilities or limited mobility
- Individuals with financial issues
- Those with busy schedules with travel limitations
- People recovering from other medical procedures
- Individuals with dental phobias or anxieties
- During public health crises
Does Every Dentist Offer Teledentistry Appointments?
Maybe you have a dentist that you already go to, but they don’t offer teledentistry options. This is completely normal as many dentists don’t offer these services for a number of reasons. Most dentists believe that coming and physically seeing their patients twice a year is crucial to get an up-close look at how their oral health is and gain more insight into how they are doing with their hygiene routine.
Teledentistry is definitely gaining traction and there are a number of dentists offering these services to those who are physically unable to, due to a busy schedule, or for convenience. The reason why many dentists may not be participating in these services could be due to state regulations and even individual practice decisions. While individual practices may not participate in teledentistry, there are also many online platforms that specifically cater to these services if needed.
Pros and Cons of Teledentistry: Is it the Best Way to Examine Your Oral Health?
Your oral health is important to maintain, along with seeing a dentist–but is teledentistry the most efficient way to do so?
Teledentistry has been a popular and convenient option for many individuals since the COVID-19 pandemic, but how efficient is it at getting a proper routine dental check? There are many pros and cons to teledentistry with many dentists recognizing how it can greatly impact the lives of people, but they may not be receiving the best care at the same time.
Pro: Convenience and Time-Saving
There are a number of reasons why teledentistry has taken off since 2020, and it simply comes down to being able to save time and the convenience of it. Speaking to a dentist from the comfort of your own home through your cell phone or computer is as easy as it gets, and it can help save money for transportation and travel and even reduce scheduling hassles.
Con: No Hands-On Procedures
The main reasons why many dentists don’t recommend or practice teledentistry is due to the lack of ability to be more hands-on with their patients. Being able to look at your patient’s teeth through a cell phone or computer camera is one thing, but it doesn’t allow for a close-up view of their teeth to see if there is excessive plaque build-up, gum irritation, or even cavities. Routine cleanings can’t be performed, neither can cavity fillings, root canals, crowns, or even extractions.
Pro: Can Help Provide Treatment to Those in Remote Areas
For many remote or rural areas around the country, it can be difficult to find a dentist that is close by to be able to get proper dental inspections and cleanings. To help save time and money, many opt for teledentistry for its convenience and to overall improve access to care for everyone. Teledentistry overcomes geological barriers because dentists can provide advice and suggestions and even prescribe medications when necessary, but for more extreme cases, they can also recommend treatments and procedures to have done in-person.
Con: Potential for a Misdiagnosis
One of the major reasons why many dentists don’t recommend teledentistry is simply because of a potential misdiagnosis. While one patient’s symptoms and potential issues that they are having with their teeth or gums can be one thing, it could also be something far worse. Not being able to physically look into a patient’s mouth to determine a proper diagnosis, could lead to a misdiagnosis.
The Verdict: Is Teledentistry Here For Good?
Teledentistry has its benefits, but many dentists still recommend scheduling an in-person appointment for routine cleanings!
Dentists play a large role in helping you to maintain your pearly white smile through their professional advice, routine cleanings and check-ups, proper diagnoses made in-person, and performing correct procedures and treatments when necessary. While teledentistry is a more convenient option for those to consider when they are in a pinch, most dentists will continue to recommend in-person appointments, but it is also a good first step if you are experiencing any issues.
Seeing your dentist in-person can give you better insight on your brushing techniques, reminders on proper oral hygiene, and even help diagnosis and remedy any issues that you may be having. Teledentistry can be great to ask questions and get a recommendation on a particular issue or concern that you may have, but many dentists will continue to support in-person appointments to avoid misdiagnosing their patients and provide them with the correct treatment.
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!
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.
