The Value of Virtual Dental Care in Emergencies, Aftercare, and More

The pandemic has changed our lives. It has also increased the adoption of teledentistry. As dental offices limit accepting patients as part of the measures to stop the spread of the virus, virtual dental care has become more popular. In fact, according to this report, teledentistry is projected to reach $2.6 million by 2027. But how valuable is it? What are its benefits? Keep reading to know more. 

The Inherent Value of Virtual Dental Care 

During the pandemic, teledentistry has become valuable in helping patients fight oral conditions while allowing dentists to provide patient-centric dental care. Dentists continue to face the challenging situations associated with COVID-19. Thus, there’s the need to continue implementing this approach to dentistry. Dentists and patients have realized its importance to boost practice efficiency and improve patient expertise. Overall, it has enhanced overall access to dental care. 

If you’re not sure how you, as a dentist, can use teledentistry to bring value to your patients and your dental practice, here are the things to keep in mind. 

Emergency Care 

Teledentristy is increasingly being adopted. If it becomes fully adopted, it can decrease ER visits for dental problems. Patients can just connect with an online dentist to make an emergency online consultation in minutes. It can save them long hours of waiting and prevent them from paying the high cost of ER co-pays.

Aftercare 

Many dental treatments require aftercare. For instance, if patients had their tooth removed, they would need a follow-up visit to their dentist. But with teledentistry, they don’t have to go to their dentist’s office for aftercare. They could just make an online consult. Dentists, on the other hand, could reduce their overhead because patients don’t have to come in for their appointments. Thus, they don’t have to set up rooms and chairs. Virtual consultations would suffice because dentists can just look at the photos of their patients or connect with them through a video call to ensure that their patients are healing well. 

Access to Dental Care 

Some individuals who are living in rural regions in the US don’t have access to dental care. If they do, accessing it is difficult. This is where teledentistry becomes an excellent solution for rural areas. Patients don’t have to travel very far just to seek dental care. Seniors with ambulatory issues can benefit from it because they don’t have to ask someone to drive them to their dentist. Their adult children or caregivers can set up a mobile phone or computer for a virtual consultation. Seniors will know whether or not they need in-person care. 

Expanding Patient Care Options 

As virtual dental care evolves, dentists must adopt now to help them expand their patient care options. If you adopt now, you can take advantage of its benefits while it’s still being developed. To know more about how to use this technology, please call: (888) 574-7754.