FYI

You probably already know that interest in teledentistry has risen greatly over the past few years, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. But now that people are returning to their normal lives, there’s no reason to discontinue virtual exams. Televisits are here to stay and can be convenient for both patients and dentists.

Advantages of virtual dentistry for dentists

When you implement teledentistry in your practice, you can see your patient base and revenues increase. You’ll also enjoy:
 

• Efficiency. You can reserve televisits for more minor issues and checkups while seeing patients with more serious concerns in the office. And since virtual dentistry appointments average about 10 minutes, you can see more patients than you can in-office visits.
• More revenue. Fitting in more appointments means more revenue coming in. Also, patients who set up a televisit with you are more likely to see you for in-person procedures as well, which can mean more business. It’s also easier to schedule patients for second opinions, which can be a new revenue stream.
• Safety. Dentists and hygienists are exposed to many infectious diseases every day. With televisits, there’s no infection risk.
• Reduced costs. The more patients you see remotely, the less personal protective equipment (PPE) you’ll need to use, which means a reduction in supply costs.

Advantages of virtual dentistry for patients

Patients benefit from the convenience of seeing you straight from their location, which means minimal time away from work. They’ll also be less anxious, and it increases access to many disadvantaged groups who may not have previously sought dental care, including homebound patients and people with disabilities.

Delta Dental’s internal data shows there are still patients who aren’t fully utilizing their teledentistry benefits, so this is an untapped market. The service is available to 37 million Delta Dental enrollees as a covered benefit.  A 2021 McKinsey & Company study showed that around 40% of surveyed consumers said they would continue using telehealth going forward. This is up from 11% before the pandemic.

How to get started with teledentistry

Delta Dental’s Virtual Consult allows patients to schedule live (synchronous) virtual video visits with a dentist. You’ll be able to assess their issue, offer treatment (including medication) and schedule follow-up visits.

Delta Dental will provide you with a free software platform to conduct these teledentistry sessions.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Virtual Consult program, just fill out the online form and we’ll contact you about getting started.