Do you need to see the dentist, but you’ve found that fitting in an appointment or virtual consultation seems next to impossible with your busy schedule? Or do you want to talk about a cosmetic dental solution but aren’t wanting to go into the office because you’re concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you suffer from dental anxiety and feel more comfortable at home, but you can’t find a dentist to come to you? Or do you live very far from the dentist, which makes in-person visits a long trip?
We get it. We understand that there are a lot of factors you have to consider when making plans for dental treatment.
We’re here to help solve all these problems. We’re proud to announce we’ve joined SmileVirtual, a virtual dentistry platform that provides a convenient way to see a dental health professional and allows us to consult and assess patients virtually for a range of services, including:
- Preventative dental care
- Cosmetic dentistry
- Orthodontics
- Oral surgery
The Demand for Virtual Dentistry and Virtual Consultations
The demand for these remote dentistry services is on the rise. The No. 1 reason people choose to use this service is convenience. Many people don’t like leaving home, fighting traffic and searching for parking just to visit a dentist. With our new SmileVirtual partnership, we will be able to provide patients with a convenient option to receive care without ever leaving home.
Why Choose Virtual Dentistry and a Virtual Consultation?
Why not? Telemedicine has been available for more than a decade to help assess patients for a range of conditions, including health concerns, dermatology and even vision assessments over the phone or through videoconferencing. And in the last year and a half, most of us have adjusted to life over Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Hangouts for business meetings, happy hours with friends or school.
Using virtual methods to assess patients or provide consultations can help get patients diagnosed and treated faster while giving them the ability to tackle many of their dental needs from home, work or even the school pick-up line.
What Conditions Can Virtual Dentistry and Virtual Consultations Manage?
Dentists can determine through a virtual consultation if your dental problem is emergent, or if you can wait to come in. For example, things such as cracked or chipped teeth, damage to the gums, a soft tissue lesion (bump) on the gums, a small cavity, and jaw pain are ideal conditions for virtual calls. If you’ve experienced dental trauma or injury, a virtual assessment may determine whether you need to visit the dentist in person.
Virtual visits are also an excellent option for cosmetic dentistry consultations. Virtual cosmetic dentistry consultations for porcelain veneers, teeth whitening or dental implants can be done conveniently and discreetly at any time, which may help you decide what treatments can benefit your smile.
How Does It Work?
SmileVirtual’s virtual dentistry service works similarly to other telehealth platforms. Patients complete a short questionnaire online before receiving a call back from one of our team members. During the initial conversation, our providers will ask questions regarding your symptoms, medical history and current medications. Click here to check out our Virtual Consultation and get started.
Four Steps to Use SmileVirtual’s Virtual Dentistry Services
- Contact us to learn more about SmileVirtual and how we partner with them. We’ll give you information on how appointments are scheduled and what software/app you need for your consultation.
- Ensure that you have the tools you need to use the SmileVirtual service and communicate with us effectively.
- Fill out any required paperwork. Be sure to fill out all forms and provide dental insurance information if you have dental coverage.
- Know your rights as a patient. Learn your rights as a patient and the guidelines of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in regards to the confidentiality of your health information.
- Attend your virtual consultation!
The Next Steps
Like other virtual consultation platforms, there are limits to dental consultations. If we notice that you have a cavity forming, you’re going to need to come in for treatment. And, while we would love to perform cosmetic treatments in the comfort of your own home, dentistry isn’t quite there yet, so you’ll need to come in for that dental implant, crown or porcelain veneer.
We also want to stress the importance of visiting the dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings and oral exams. While virtual visits and video consultations have their place, they do not replace non-clinical services. Seeing you in person is important to allow us the opportunity to check out your oral and dental health and ensure everything is OK.
Want to learn more about SmileVirtual or schedule a consultation with us? Call us now.