This article, by researchers at CareQuest Institute and the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, shows that nearly one-quarter of dentists surveyed are using teledentistry and 93% expect teledentistry to lead to a long-term change in how they practice.
The article shares results from a survey of nearly 3,000 dentists and in-depth interviews with 10 dentists. This study is one of the few to look at dentists’ perspectives about using teledentistry.
Other key findings from the survey:
- Nearly one-quarter (23%) of dentists surveyed are using teledentistry.
- 11% planned on using teledentistry in the future.
- Younger dentists and those who treat a higher percentage (> 50%) of Medicaid patients were more likely to use teledentistry.
There were notable differences in perspectives between early and late adopters of teledentistry. Early adopters said teledentistry is a valuable tool to improve access to care and reduce chair time, allowing them to see more patients. Late adopters were concerned about quality of care and the ethics of charging patients for teledentistry.
All early adopters were practicing in states with regulations and reimbursement policies that supported teledentistry, and the authors said that the sustainability of these measures will be pivotal for the growth of teledentistry.
Read the article in BMC Oral Health (open access)
You may also be interested in:
- Teledentistry Helps Provide the Right Care at the Right Time, a research report that examines follow-up treatment and oral health outcomes for patients after a teledentistry visit.
- Teledentistry: Opportunities for Expanding the Capacity and Reach of the Oral Health Care System, a report by the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors (ASTDD) and CareQuest Institute that provides a framework to identify opportunities and strategies to incorporate teledentistry into oral health delivery systems.
- Building a Teledentistry Program That Expands Access and Increases Equity, a webinar that explores how to set up different types of teledentistry programs and shares common pitfalls to avoid.