Teledentistry today
Featured Products Promotional FeaturesPosted by: Dental Design 20th November 2024
Teledentistry has long felt like an inevitability. The concept is less sci-fi than it sounds; it is the use of electronic information and communication technologies that support dental care delivery, diagnosis, consultation and treatment.[i]
Today, the definition feels in line with many current workflows, but back in 2000 – when just 75% of physicians in the United Kingdom, Canada and United States used the internet on a daily or weekly basis – there were concerns regarding “cyberdentists” that would solely provide consultations online.[ii] Many were also worried about the verifiable nature of sources available to patients.ii
The latter problem has certainly become a reality. It’s not uncommon for patients to have their own diagnosis prepared by the time they enter the practice – around 21% of general health practitioners experienced patients presenting information they found online in one review.[iii] Whether they are well-informed or otherwise depends on the case.
However, the avoidance of “cyberdentists” that may be unqualified to provide treatment or do so in an unsafe manner is essential. Clinicians must take action to prevent it from becoming a significant issue in teledentistry. It’s inarguable that the digital landscape is something that dental professionals must be actively prepared to work with, and find ways to do so effectively.
An online advantage
Dental professionals must provide ethical care, and treatments cannot be compromised through the use of teledentistry. Where results or patient safety may diminish, it must be avoided.
However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of the Chief Dental Officer England stated that remote risk assessment/triage/consultation opportunities should be explored as part of the patient journey.[iv] Teledentistry would understandably be beneficial should healthcare activity be stunted subject to another similar pandemic.
Given the proliferation of video-communication programmes such as Zoom, and video call features inbuilt to most modern smartphones, teledentistry is now accessible for most of the population. Where it is used in everyday care, healthcare disparities may be eliminated and patients may have improved access to professional advice.v Patients in rural areas or struggling to access a local dentist could benefit from fewer geographical limitations for professional care.
It is recognised that teledentistry offers benefits when patients need to contact their dentist in an emergency, especially from a remote location. Clinicians could evaluate a problem in detail and prescribe medicine where appropriate, saving both parties time and expense, whilst patients avoid potentially unnecessary trips to a hospital or practice.[v]
Teledentistry also allows patients to seek a second opinion from a clinician, despite geographical obstacles.v For patients who have developed a strong, trusting relationship with a specific clinician, this could bring reassurance in cases of emergency.
The use of smartphone images has also been found to be helpful when diagnosing dental caries, identifying dental erosion and recognising oral lesions.[vi] Apps have been developed to aid the diagnosis of dental trauma injuries too.vi These may each support the high-quality dental care that is performed remotely.
Progress to be made
Clinicians and patients must be aware of the limitations of teledentistry, and current stances towards it within the field.
Firstly, informed consent is integral to the relationship between patient and clinician.v Any teledental appointment must cover the conventional consent requirements, but patients should also be made aware of the risk of misdiagnosis and/or treatment due to technological failure, and the potential for patient data to be intercepted, since it must be transmitted electronically.v
The General Dental Council notes that for all dental interventions, a face-to-face interaction should take place at the beginning of every patient consultation prior to any treatment beginning. This enables clinicians to carry out any and all clinical assessments, and address underlying issues, whilst providing patients with a further opportunity to ask questions about their care.[vii]
Effective digital solutions
One thing about teledentistry is certain – clinicians need effective digital solutions to ensure optimal care is delivered. This will include cameras and audio equipment that allow for clear communication, and may already be a part of an in-practice computer or laptop set-up.
An effective system for managing patient appointments, patient data, and communication is also paramount. Sensei Cloud, a Sensei product from Carestream Dental, is an optimal solution. Clinicians can seamlessly schedule patient appointments across multiple practices, and it allows for important information to be accessed on the go. With the addition of Patient Bridge and its latest upgrade, Patient Portal, patients can book appointments online, and forms can be completed and signed digitally, including those for medical history, treatment plans, and consent. Patient bridge also secures all patient data with NHS audited and accredited solutions.
Teledentistry still has time to develop a greater role in future patient care, and clinicians must be prepared to implement it effectively. Face-to-face interactions will always be essential, but this new workflow could offer brilliant benefits for clinicians and patients alike.
For more information on Sensei Cloud visit https://gosensei.co.uk/
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[i] Goffin, G., Carter, N., Sari Widyarman, A., Erri Astoeti, T., Kabir Bulbul, H., Puplampu, P., … & Trong Hung, H. (2024). Role of teledentistry in enabling improved oral care outcomes. British Dental Journal, 236(3), 162-168.
[ii] Clark, G. T. (2000). Teledentistry: what is it now, and what will it be tomorrow?. Journal of the California Dental Association, 28(2), 121-126.
[iii] Farnood, A., Johnston, B., & Mair, F. S. (2020). A mixed methods systematic review of the effects of patient online self-diagnosing in the ‘smart-phone society’on the healthcare professional-patient relationship and medical authority. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 20, 1-14.
[iv] Office of Chief Dental Officer England, (2020). A Prompt to Prepare. (Online) Available at: https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/covid-19/a-prompt-to-prepare-cdo.pdf?sfvrsn=3ebc4e7f_2 [Accessed July 2024]
[v] Islam, M. R. R., Islam, R., Ferdous, S., Watanabe, C., Yamauti, M., Alam, M. K., & Sano, H. (2022, August). Teledentistry as an effective tool for the communication improvement between dentists and patients: an overview. In Healthcare (Vol. 10, No. 8, p. 1586). MDPI.
[vi] Gupta, R., Tomer, A. K., George, M., Saurabh, S., Chandaran, A. V., Krishnakumar, K., … & Modinagar, G. (2023). Smartphones: The Future of Smart Dentistry.
[vii] General Dental Council, (2020). Providing dental care remotely. (Online) Available at: https://www.gdc-uk.org/news-blogs/news/detail/2020/02/24/providing-dental-care-remotely [Accessed July 2024]
