Teledentistry
Telehealth: What’s there to talk about?
Chances are, you or someone you know has used Teladoc and appreciated it. Telehealth has become a familiar term as part of the “new normal”. Even if you haven’t used it, you probably know some of the key benefits; skipping the waiting room, speaking to your doctor directly from the privacy of your own home, and having prescriptions sent straight to your pharmacy.
You may be thinking, that’s neat, but what else is there to know? What’s so impressive?
Well, did you know according to GlobeNewswire, Telehealth is a 475.5 billion dollar industry that is becoming more robust by the day? Spanning across most health service disciplines, including dentistry, counseling, physical therapy, home health, disease monitoring and management, healthcare organizations are investing heavily in “improving the patient experience.”
Mobile technology, with the ability to store data in the Cloud, is the gamechanger for increasing Telehealth convenience. Not only will patients and their doctors be able to meet virtually anywhere, high definition cameras and home health diagnostic kits are on the immediate horizon, which will increase the comprehensiveness of virtual visits beyond anything previously imaginable.
Therapy delivered via home health devices will be a mainstay. Doctors performing minimally invasive surgeries via augmented reality will be the norm. The race to provide convenience with the latest and greatest will lead to healthcare being continuously reimagined and improved.
To that end, dentistry via Telehealth is tremendously exciting--specifically in the realm of pediatrics, where prevention is at the core. Pediatric dentists currently have the ability to remotely provide parents valuable care through education, such as counseling new parents about the do’s and don’ts of bottle and pacifier use. Problems can already be prevented before they begin with a qualified opinion being merely a phone call away. Pediatric dentists are able to diagnose, coach, encourage, educate and provide urgent care, such as antibiotic prescriptions, directly from smart phones…and that same mobile technology is the gateway to the future, where dentists we will be able to utilize information from home health kits and use AI learning to detect changes in tooth surfaces, prescribe preventive treatments and arrange for clear orthodontic aligners remotely. Pediatric dentists will be able to remotely plan what treatment is required and provide care with robotics and augmented reality! Gee, that sure sounds convenient!
Here at my office, we have already jump-started our mission to be on the cutting edge of the digital realm by partnering with GoodCheckup, the front-runner in Pediatric Teledentistry. Our intent is to take the lead on embracing digital health. We have already seen the benefits of Telehealth in improving the patient experience for our young patients, who are anxious about dental visits in a traditional setting. The power of a simple meet and greet cannot be underestimated!
I hope that what I’ve shared has sparked your interest in Telehealth and its exciting future. I’d love to hear what you feel would “improve the patient experience.”
