The rise of technology has given us access to products, services, and information like we’ve never experienced before.
No longer do we have to travel to specialty stores to find our favorite foreign foods. And, as charming as a handwritten letters are, connecting with people across the world is instantaneous.
Now this digital reality is changing the scope of dental care with teledentistry.
What is it?
Teledentistry allows patients to be seen and treated by a dentist or specialist through telecommunications technology.
How does it work?
A dental hygienist physically treats a patient while a dentist or specialist “remotes in” to guide treatment and diagnose issues through audio-visual technology.
Hygienists can also receive instruction through email. Photos, X-rays, and other clinical information are securely sent to a dentist, who then provides patient-care instructions to the hygienist.
What are the benefits?
Teledentistry enables dentists and specialists to remote in from anywhere in the world to provide local clinics and hygienists with expertise and treatment, benefiting rural and lower-income communities that have limited access to regular dental care. This is especially important in Colorado, where we are experiencing a dentist shortage.
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