The COVID-19 pandemic brought significant changes. While we’re slowly getting back to the point where we can live life more-or-less normally, some changes are here to stay. Thankfully not all these changes were for the worst. The requirements that drove our attempts to prevent its spread meant that traditional medical care visits were hard to maintain. However, consistent medical and dental care was still necessary to preserve our overall health. The dental industry was ready to adapt and did, by further implementing teledental options to their practices. Even as the COVID pandemic seems to be fading, these changes will likely remain.
How Teledentistry Has Improved Access To Dental Care
The most notable change with teledentistry was greater access to care. Dentists realized that removing the need to clean and sterilize care rooms between visits made more time for patient care. Patients were often on time, and the dentists met their needs quickly. Without the need to sterilize the room, there was no delay in moving from one patient to the next. This meant more patients were able to be seen each day.
Further, the scheduling options that came with teledentistry were incredible. Patients no longer had to account for driving to the clinic, taking whole days off work, or the return commute. Your dentist could handle everything quickly and easily via teledentistry.
- Teleorthodontics – This form of dentistry allowed patients to receive orthodontic care through clear aligners. Rather than coming into the office for a dental impression, the dentist would send a mail-in kit to the dentist. Once received, your dentist would use it to create a treatment plan and the clear aligners needed to achieve the desired goal. You could accomplish all of this without visiting the office.
- Telefollow-ups – Most follow-ups to the dentist never really required a visit to the office. Your dentist merely needed to check in and determine how you were recovering from your procedure. In the case of teleorthodontics, they needed feedback on how the adjustment was proceeding. This type of follow-up has probably saved the most time at dental offices.
- Teledentistry – General teledentistry is possible for certain types of visits. If you’re having concerns with a painful tooth, the dentist can ask some general questions to get you started. This can be very helpful in the case of infection and abscess. These concerns require that the infection be suppressed before they can do further work. The dentist can prescribe antibiotics and have you come in once the infection has passed.
These are just some options that have made teledentistry the superior option for many forms of dental care.
Ask Your Dental Provider About Teledental Options
If you’d like to benefit from your care provider’s availability of teledental options, reach out to their office today. They’ll let you know what kinds of teledentistry they offer and how they can apply it to your care. Call them today to schedule your next teledental visit!
