Teledentistry emerges as viable option for those in need

The shift to digital during the pandemic was most evident in the rise of home working and online shopping. It also moved telemedicine mainstream as during lockdowns many of us got used to seeing our GP online via the screen on our mobile phone.

Teledentistry also began to emerge as a viable option for certain scenarios, says Bevin Mahon, managing director of Dental Tech group. The family business is a leader in denture and dental treatments nationally, thanks in no small part to its early adoption of innovative technologies.

Mahon believes, for example, that the firm was the first outside of north America to scan and 3D print dentures.

Unlike braces, veneers and even implants, dentures are rarely talked about. "Dentures is not the sexy side of dentistry. No one wants to talk about it, even though one in three over 35-year-olds in Ireland is missing one or more teeth," she explains.

Her practice has developed a specialist service which helps people to instantly plug those gaps, using state of the art technology that scans the mouth and develops a small plate that clicks into place instantly.

“So many people have lost a tooth through sports, an accident or as a result of pregnancy, and we are the expert gap fillers,” she says.

Countrywide

To meet demand for its services during Covid, it introduced a teledentistry service, including as part of its work partnering with Dental Care Ireland, a growing network of dental practices around the country. It offers a full range of general, specialist and cosmetic dental treatments, from check-ups and cleaning to teeth whitening and implants, including denture services.

“With teledentistry there is no commute and no time waiting in a waiting room,” says Mahon. “Instead you get your 30-minute appointment, log in at the appointed time, and that’s it, done.”

After that, there are three outcomes. “One, you are fine and you get peace of mind. Two, you get a prescription for infection sent straight to your pharmacist, which gets you out of pain fast. Three, you come in for a follow-up.”

Teledentistry is highly effective too for after-care situations such as where, for example, a root canal specialist makes follow up calls in the days after a procedure has been undertaken, to ensure all is well.

With people spending more time working from home, often far from the urban and suburban centres where their dental practitioner is based, demand for such services is only likely to grow.

“They’re great for all those consultations where you want to talk to a dentist about something, like whether or not you need a crown, but don’t want to spend two hours commuting in the car,” says Mahon.