For the past two years, COVID-19 has affected our lives from top to bottom. A lot of people have had to shift to new ways to accomplish everyday tasks, from buying groceries to accessing health professionals.
Even though teledentistry has been around for decades, it’s a term that wasn’t easily understood until very recently, when everyone was under quarantine and physically attending a dentist’s office became impossible.
These days, teledentistry is an important and profitable field with so much potential to grow, and here is why.
Accessibility
It’s an unfortunate fact: over 35% of adults in the United States are not able to see a dental professional even once a year.
The lack of accessibility to dental care comes from a lot of reasons, from unaffordability to physical or mental health issues. In some parts of the United States, just finding a dental professional can be incredibly hard, and almost 60 million Americans live in areas that are designated as having a shortage of dental health professionals.
Teledentistry is an easy way to allow those with lower accessibility to dental care the opportunity to see a professional. While someone may not be able to go to an office, most people are capable of doing a visit over video call or sending pictures of their trouble areas to their doctors.
Another big part of the accessibility of teledentistry is mobile dentistry. Having the ability to not only diagnose but also perform services to patients is crucial in maintaining the dental health of people who would otherwise not be able to get the care they need.
Lower Costs
One of the main reasons people avoid seeking dental care is the cost. Even though proper oral health is a cornerstone of good overall health, it is unfortunately treated as a luxury to receive adequate care.
That’s the reason teledentistry is so wonderful; it saves costs for patients over a variety of services, making it more accessible and more affordable.
It’s been shown that teledentistry not only saves patients money but practitioners as well. The overhead costs of running a business are much lower and professionals are able to help more patients, opening the door for more people to have access to care. This is a perfect opportunity for those looking to start a career or business in geriatric dental care, and I offer a course to help you do just that.
Being able to see a dental professional also saves patients money in the long run, as consistent preventative check-ups can help them avoid diseases that could turn out to be dangerous and costly.
High Quality of Care
Because of the lack of an actual physical meeting, many people are under the impression that teledentistry may not be of the same caliber as office visits. This has been proven to be wrong!
Patients are satisfied and even highly satisfied with teledentistry services, due to their ability to receive quality care with more convenience and better communication.
With the technology that is accessible nowadays, patients are able to receive proper diagnoses and even have a professional come to them to provide the same services that they would receive in an office.
Teledentistry is here to stay. Despite the pandemic slowing down, people are still in need of long-distance care, and others need the care to come to them.
It’s the perfect time to dive into the world of teledentistry! I will be hosting an incredible mobile and teledentistry conference in 2022, where we’ll be discussing the bright future of dentistry.
And if you’re not able to make it, don’t worry! I offer speaker and coaching services to RN’s, LPN’s, and CNA’s who are looking to enter the field.