A lot of dentists are still hesitant to make a move towards the digitalization of their clinical practice. However, the increasing importance and use of teledentistry is encouraging and shows a lot of promise to develop the field of dentistry. It has shown a significant use in networking, consultations, dental records sharing, and aiding in para clinical procedures.
2. Teledentistry
A lot of dentists are still hesitant to make a move towards the digitalization of
their clinical practice. However, the increasing importance and use of teledentistry
is encouraging and shows a lot of promise to develop the field of dentistry. It has
shown a significant use in networking, consultations, dental records sharing, and
aiding in para clinical procedures.
3. Teledentistry advantages
Reduced costs for both the patient and the dentist
Time-saving
Ability to connect with any specific dentist or any specialist in a particular field
irrespective of time zones or locations. This is especially useful when the patient lives
far from the dentist or is in a location where such experts are not present.
Documented / recorded consultations
Privacy and comfort of home
Reduced risk of exposure to infections
Avoiding repeated, unnecessary trips to the dentist
Providing a comfortable environment for kids who need dental consultations.
4. Practicing teledentistry
Practicing teledentistry would involve the use of the internet, computers, and
mobile phones. In addition to these, some already available computerized
systems that involve teledentistry are
5. OralCdx
Where oral lesions are imaged and biopsies can be digitally analyzed. An oral
pathologist can then use teledentistry to obtain these records and give you an
opinion without having to be physically present.
6. Digital radiographs
Any oral radiographs can be sent to your dentist using teledentistry to get an
opinion and suggest further treatment.
7. Specialist digital opinions
In the case of a diagnosis or procedure requiring an opinion from a specialist
who is not available in the clinic, sending the dental records and photographs
digitally and obtaining an opinion is easy and convenient. Such advice is also
already documented and avoids any additional efforts taken to physically store
these data.
8. CAD/CAM systems
In the event, a prosthesis needs to be planned, expert opinion can be obtained
to determine esthetics, clear procedural doubts, design 3D models, and share
digital records between the dental lab, specialist, and the dentist.
9. Digital Methods
Clinical management using digital methods: Fixing appointments, video
consultations, text queries, reminders about appointments or reviews, sharing of
useful dental tips and dental clinic offers, etc. It can be achieved with ease.
Digital payments: Clinics can tie up with third party financing institutions and
banks to ensure easy and quick payments. The facility to pay dental costs in
installments can also be given when the clinics are in tie-up with the relevant
companies.
10. Digital consultations and review
Often, patients have basic queries that do not need a complete dental
examination at the dental clinic. These patients can be consulted via
teledentistry and appointment can be given just for the actual procedure if
needed. Similarly, a dental patient would require a dental review visit after most
procedures. These reviews can be carried out using teledentistry in the absence
of any symptoms.
11. Dental education
Dental education and awareness can be passed on to children and their parents,
elderly adults, or those with disabilities using teledentistry. Pre and post-
procedural instructions can also be given in this way and would also ease
apprehensive patients before the dental visit.
Continued dental education can be achieved by organizing and attending
seminars or e-conferences using teledentistry.
12. Curie Health
Therefore, dentists have several reasons why they should consider using a
teledentistry platform such as curie.health. Curie health helps in assisting
you with setting up a flawless teledentistry platform, that is user friendly and
affordable.
For a free trial or demo, visit https://curie.health/ or call on +91-87788
26667 to know more.