Teledentistry adoption and applications: An American Dental Association Clinical Evaluators Panel survey.

BACKGROUND: The rise of teleworking technologies has affected various industries, including dentistry. Although some dentists have used it for some time, many are discovering the benefits of incorporating this technology to complement their existing patient care capabilities. METHODS: To assess how clinicians are using teledentistry in their practices, an electronic survey was developed and deployed to the American Dental Association Clinical Evaluators (ACE) Panel on February 27, 2023. The survey link remained open for 2 weeks. Nonrespondents received reminders after 1 week. RESULTS: Of the 244 respondents (24% response rate), 30% use teledentistry in their practices, with more than one-half of those using synchronous (53%) or asynchronous teledentistry (63%). The most common reasons for incorporating teledentistry were increased convenience for patients (53%), COVID-19 (50%), and increased accessibility to providers (39%). Teledentistry can help serve patients of all ages (the lowest represented age group [0-5 years] had 42% of dentists treating them) and distances, with 63% of teledentistry patients fewer than 20 miles away. Most users adopted teledentistry within the past 3 years and use it fewer than 5 hours per month. Benefits cited include a reduced number of in-person patient visits (63%) and increased access and quality of care (57%). Among nonusers, 60% felt there was no need, and 39% had concerns with reimbursement. CONCLUSIONS: Teledentistry has gained popularity in since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic but may be underused, despite its potential to benefit a wider range of patients and applications than many believe. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Education on the capabilities and benefits of teledentistry may help increase adoption and improve patient care.

Teledentistry for Patient-centered Screening and Assessment.

Teledentistry is a powerful tool for connecting oral health providers with patients who cannot easily visit a dental office, such as patients with special health care needs. Teledentistry is a skill that must be learned and this article will review key concepts that will allow providers to be better prepared to use it within their practices. These concepts include considerations for data collection and information that is necessary for a successful teledentistry visit. The authors also provide different examples of teledentistry in action, such as guided oral hygiene or dental screenings. Lastly, the authors review some unique challenges related to teledentistry and recommendations for overcoming those challenges.

Interprofessional clinical training based in a federally qualified health center: a short report.

A.T. Still University and HealthPoint, a federally qualified health center, worked together to develop novel interprofessional educational clinical experiences for dental and medical students. This short report is focused on evaluating outcomes related to student and patient experiences. Dental and medical faculty designed the program to be as hands on as possible while minimizing disruption to clinic flow. Second-year medical and fourth-year dental students worked together to assess the physical and oral health of the patients. One hundred forty-eight students participated. Of 429 total patients assessed, 83 were referred from the medical clinic to the dental clinic. Caries was present in 24.9% of patients. Overwhelmingly, the patients enjoyed having teams of students care for them. These types of clinical interprofessional experiences give students valuable opportunities to learn with, from, and about each other while providing hands-on care to patients.

Teledentistry Platforms for Orthodontics.

Technology has transformed almost every aspect of our lives. Smartphones enable patients to request, receive, and transmit information irrespective of the time and place. The global pandemic has forced healthcare providers to employ technology to aid in 'flattening the curve. The Novel Coronavirus, which is responsible for COVID-19, is transmitted primarily through person-to-person contact but may also be spread through aerosol generating procedures, so many clinics have severely limited interpersonal interactions. The purpose of this article is to provide helpful information for those orthodontists considering some form of remote practice. Various HIPAA-compliant telecommunication or teledentistry systems that can be used for orthodontic treatment are introduced and discussed. Detailed information about each platform that can potentially be used for orthodontics is provided in Figure 1. The authors do not endorse any of the products listed and the included software is not all inclusive but instead is a glimpse into the options available.

Implementation of teledentistry for orthodontic practices.

Recent advances in technology, growing patient demand, and the need for social distancing due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 has expedited adoption of teledentistry in orthodontics as a means of consulting and monitoring a patient without an in-office visit. However, a lack of computer literacy and knowledge of software choices, and concerns regarding patient safety and potential infringement of regulations can make venturing into this new technology intimidating. In this article, various types of teledentistry systems for orthodontic practices, implementation guidelines, and important regulatory considerations on the use of teledentistry for orthodontic purposes are discussed. A thorough evaluation of the intended use of the software should precede commitment to a service. Selected service should be Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant at minimum and a Business Associate Agreement should be in place for protection of privacy. Ensuring the compatibility of the designated clinic computer with the system's requirements and installation of all safeguards must follow. Appointments should be documented in the same manner as in-office visits and teledentistry patients must be located within the clinician's statutory license boundary. Informed consent forms should include teledentistry or a supplemental teledentistry consent form should be used. Malpractice insurance covers everything usual and customary under the provider's license but the need for cyber liability insurance increases with teledentistry.

Attitudes and behaviors regarding public health of dental school graduates from A. T. Still University.

PURPOSE: To survey A. T. Still University, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) graduates and evaluate the impact of completing a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree during dental school on a dentist's practice behaviors, volunteerism, and attitudes toward dental education, practice preparedness, and the dental profession. METHODS: In 2018, a 35-question survey was emailed to 637 (ATSU-ASDOH) graduates from 2007 to 2017. Questions were related to demographics, obtaining an MPH, postgraduate education, practice setting, and attitudes regarding dental education on practice preparedness and the dental profession. RESULTS: One hundred and seven dentists completed the survey for a response rate of 16.8%. Of those, 40 respondents received an MPH from (ATSU-ASDOH) at the same time as graduating with a DMD or within 5 years following graduation. Dentists with an MPH were more likely to practice in public health settings (P = 0.028). However, the MPH did not appear to influence attitudes toward the dental profession. CONCLUSION: Dentists from (ATSU-ASDOH) who obtained an MPH and those who entered dental school wanting to work with the underserved are more likely to practice within public health settings. This study begins to paint a picture of a dual degree graduate. Future studies should explore which variables are more likely to result in a graduate working within a public health setting.