5 Things to Know About Teledentistry and Online Dentists

Did you know that there were more than 200,000 dentists in the US in 2019? Although this might seem like a large number, there is still a high demand for dental services all over North America. That’s why some dentists offer teledentistry services.

Teledentistry is synonymous with virtual dentistry. Patients are treated by virtual dentists, and this practice allows for more people to receive appropriate dental care regardless of their location. Keep reading to learn more about online dental care and how teledentistry works.

1. What Is Teledentistry?

Teledentistry is a branch of telehealth and it’s accessible to anyone with a computer and internet connection. Patients and dentists log in simultaneously and discuss different types of dental problems the patients might have.

Teledentistry is increasingly common these days and allows dentists to treat more patients weekly. It’s used for many dentistry services a patient might need, and a session can vary in length from 30 minutes to several hours.

2. How Does Teledentistry Work?

Your first teledentistry session begins with an appointment with your preferred dentist. It’s possible to contact the dentist and set up an appointment at an hour agreed by both parties. Your teledentistry session is done through various computer apps such as Skype, Zoom, etc.

You need a fast and stable internet connection for teledentistry to work. That’s because, during your appointment, your dentist might ask for pictures of teeth, or he/she might send you photos of X-rays, dental braces, etc.

Your dentist might also request different information and details from you, such as your dental history, current eating habits, known teeth issues, etc. Teledentistry is similar to a dentist’s visit, just that it’s done through the internet.

3. What Types of Dental Services Can Teledentistry Cater To

You can benefit from a wide variety of dental services apart from emergency issues. If you experience gum bleeding or one of your teeth is falling off, you still need to go to a physical dentist’s cabinet to have your issues resolved.

Also, almost every other dental service can be tackled using teledentistry. For example, you can take advantage of dental education, thorough consultations, advice, treatment, follow-up visits, diagnosis, etc.

This makes teledentistry so popular and versatile. It can treat many oral health conditions without visiting your dentist in person. As another example, a teledentistry session works perfectly if you’re thinking about getting braces and are unsure which ones are more suitable.

4. Are Teledentistry Sessions Safe and Confidential?

The answer is yes! Dentists who practice teledentistry need to get a license to offer virtual dentistry services. All teledentistry sessions are also encrypted and stored in the cloud, so there’s no way someone can steal a hard drive where teledentistry sessions are stored.

Professional dentists also use additional security services offered by antivirus programs to keep your data safe. These sessions are not shared with anyone and are accessible just to you and the dentist who conducts them.

On top of that, dentists are asked to point the camera away from doors and windows when doing teledentistry sessions. This is done to give patients yet another layer of security and prevent prying eyes from seeing the patients who receive counseling.

5. What Are the Benefits of Teledentistry?

As you can probably imagine, there are multiple benefits of trying teledentistry services. Here are just a few of them.

A. Receive Dental Care From the Comfort of Your Own Home

Nothing can be more comfortable than opening your laptop and talking to your dentist about teeth whitening services or how you feel with the new braces applied to your teeth. It allows patients to receive proper oral health education without leaving the house.

This can be a huge advantage, especially in regions with frequent bad weather or awful traffic conditions. The services continuously expand as new and improved dental techniques become available to the general public. Read on here to learn more about the innovative teledentistry services offered today.

B. You Can Get Counseling From Reputable Dentists Worldwide

Some dentists are better and more experienced but cannot see all the patients worldwide. In many cases, securing a private dental session with a reputable dentist can be challenging. Even if you do, you might need to travel hundreds of miles to his/her dental cabinet.

With teledentistry, you have eliminated this obstacle. You can book a private dentistry session with almost any of your favorite dentists. You just have to be home on time and receive proper counseling regarding your oral health. This saves time and money and gives patients access to a broader range of dental services.

C. Teledentistry Is More Affordable

You might be happy to find out that you can save much money by talking to a dentist virtually rather than in person. This happens because of multiple reasons. First of all, you don’t have to drive to the dentist’s cabinet physically, so you save money on fuel.

Secondly, their services are more affordable because the dentist’s waiting room is not occupied. The dentist doesn’t have to pay for heating/cooling in this room. There’s no need for a water dispenser for waiting patients, etc.

This means that the dentist can confidently lower the prices of his/her services and still expect to make a profit. On top of that, dentists can see more patients in the same timeframe using their services than in person. This allows them to lower the prices to make dental services more accessible.

Now You Know What Teledentistry Is and How It Works

As you can see, teledentistry can offer a viable solution to the increasing demand for dental services in the US and other countries. Since more and more dentists are getting licensed to offer virtual dental services online, patients should expect a drop in prices for oral health services.

For more useful information on dental services, how to take advantage of teledentistry, and how much it costs, make sure that you check out the other articles on our website.


Yvan Lebrun
Yvan Lebrun

Yvan Lebrun is a trusted expert in the field of product & service reviews. With over a decade of experience analyzing and comparing services online, he shares his valuable experience with readers at GoodSitesLike so consumers can make educated decisions before making a purchase.

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