Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Dental Services

If you can't make it into your regular dentist's office, online dental services can provide you with a virtual consultation with a doctor of your choice. These services often offer a variety of convenient options, including video conferences and face-to-face texting. They also allow you to buy dental appliances online and receive consultations in the comfort of your own home. To avoid the potential for issues, it is recommended that you restart your device a few minutes before your appointment.

Face-to-face video conference consultations

In a recent survey, more than 95.5% of dental patients felt comfortable sharing their concerns about oral health via face-to-face video conference. Moreover, nearly three quarters said they would use this service again. However, some challenges may arise. One example is if the video link is unstable. If the problem is due to technical difficulties, the virtual healthcare professional may try using a phone call or rescheduling the appointment.

A retrospective audit was conducted to assess whether virtual patients were treated equally to those seen in person. The study also evaluated compliance with delivering patient information leaflets after video consultations. Overall, 100 video consultations were audited between August and September 2020. Patients were excluded from the audit if no relevant patient information leaflet was provided. In addition, electronic clinical notes were reviewed for discussion of the patient's condition, the proposed procedure, and its associated benefits and risks.

Buy dental appliances online

There are many advantages to buying dental appliances online, and it can save you money, too. You can find cheaper direct-to-consumer appliances online than at a traditional dental office, including aligners and tooth-whitening kits. Other dental appliances for your home may include anti-snoring devices and mouth guards. Moreover, you can find the appliances you need, like dental braces, at the click of a button.

Safety concerns

The internet offers a great convenience to many patients, but it can also raise safety concerns. In the recent outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, dental practitioners are increasingly worried about this virus. Because of the uncertainty surrounding this virus, many dentists have limited the number of elective procedures they perform and delayed other dental care appointments. To protect themselves and their patients, dental practices have implemented biosafety protocols for dental procedures and have increased their use of protective equipment.

A recent survey assessed the effects of the coronavirus disease on oral health care, and the impact of quarantine on oral care and dental services. Participants answered questions about their personal information, the dental care they received while quarantined, and their biosafety protocols. They also evaluated the economic impact of the virus on dental practices. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data, including percentages and one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests.