NBMLHD Oral Health Promotion and Research Coordinator, Tanya Mahony and lead author of the study, says teledentistry proved useful in triaging patients, prioritising urgent cases, and managing non-urgent cases, especially during periods of restricted access to care and restricted movement across the district.
“The high specificity of teledentistry demonstrates its potential as a valuable tool for efficiently allocating resources by accurately identifying cases that require immediate or urgent attention,” says Tanya.
By providing a virtual platform for initial consultations, patients can receive timely advice and triaging without the barriers posed by geographical distance or mobility issues.
“This aspect of teledentistry holds significant potential, particularly in health care systems with limited resources, where prioritising patients based on clinical urgency is essential for delivering timely and efficient care,” Tanya further explains.
Director of NBMLHD Oral Health Service and senior author of the study, Associate Professor Albert Yaacoub, says teledentistry has tremendous potential for continued growth and offers an opportunity to modify dental care provision that can benefit patient wellbeing.
“Teledentistry is a model of care that can be further refined and implemented into routine models. It allows us to tailor treatment plans and prioritise follow-up care, ensuring timely and appropriate management of dental conditions,” says Albert.
“There is more research that needs to be done but I see a future where, with greater technology infrastructure, this model is widely integrated within our service and business as usual for public dental health.”
Full findings of the research have been published are available to view online.
The study was part of a larger project which explored current perceptions of teledentistry as a model of care by dental clinicians. The research found that although teledentistry was a novel concept for most dental clinicians, it well accepted by participants of the study.
