Teledentistry

• What exactly is teledentistry?  While teledentistry has become popular in several States, it has not had as widespread an adoption as many other health professions. Nonetheless, there have been many resources developed by those that have been laying the groundwork for many years.  The following video describes what teledentistry is and how it is being applied in safety net settings.  While this video was designed for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), the content is useful for other types of providers and organizations:

Following are several additional resources that provide the basics of teledentistry:

• • CareQuest Institute for Oral Health Teledentisty: What to Know & How It Works

• • Teledentistry Course Module ($49 and includes CE/CME Credits)

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How is teledentistry used and how does it add value?  The following two videos discusses the benefits of teledentistry.

• Part 1 looks at how it helps patients and dental providers.
• Part 2 looks at the benefits when treating patients with special needs, including those with substance use disorders.

While these videos were designed for FQHCs and RHCs, the content is useful for other types of providers and organizations:

Check out this great video by one of the FQHCs, Horizon Health Care:

Following are several additional resources that describe a variety of uses cases and how teledentistry adds value to oral health care:

• • Expanding Oral Health: Teledentistry
  • Teledentistry Use Beyond the Pandemic
  • Increase Access to Preventive Oral Care for Children
  • Promising Practices: Increasing Access to Care through Teledentistry
  • Promising Practice: Implementing a Pediatric Teledentistry Program
  • Promising Practice: Teledentistry for Substance Use Disorder
  • Promising Practice: Teledentistry to Ensure Continuity of Care During COVID-19
  • Promising Practice: Using Teledentistry to Improve Prenatal Care
  • Lessons Learned from the NNOHA Teledentistry Collaborative

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What are some practical tips for helping me to get started?  The following video discusses resources available to support you in getting started in applying teledentistry in your practice.  Once again, while the video was designed for FQHCs and RHCs, the content is useful for other types of providers and organizations:

Following are some additional resources that we've curated for you to assist you with program implementation!

• • The National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA) has developed a number of resources that provide very practical assistance with getting started:
    • Teledentistry Checklist and Readiness Assessment
    • Teledentistry User Guide
    • Teledentistry Generic Workflow
    • Teledentistry Visit Example:

• • Virginia Health Catalyst has developed:
    • Teledentistry in Virginia Implementation Toolkit
    • Practice Teledentistry Visit Example:

• • Teledent has put together this guidance document on Patient Assessment via Synchronous Teledentistry

• • CareQuest Institute for Oral Health has developed
    • Teledentistry Self-Management Goal Menu
    • Self-Care After Your Teledentistry Appointment
    • Answering that Dental Emergency Call Remotely Example:  

• • The American Teledentistry Association has put together this Industry Standards for Remote Orthodontic Treatment

There is signficant variation across localities regarding their approaches and policies related to teledentistry (e.g., reimbursement, scope of practice and more).  Here are two resources to help you understand the policy parameters within your state:

• • The Center for Connected Health Policy (National Telehealth Policy Resource Center)
  • Teledentistry Regulations in Your State