Is Teledentistry Around the Corner?

Andrae Bergeron2024-09-30T21:10:30+00:00September 30th, 2024|Adam Brown DDS, General|

As we continue to see rapid technological advancements, we realize how this growth impacts us. Modern artificial intelligence is both exciting and worrisome, simultaneously making our lives easier while also replacing human presence in certain areas of labor. But, some of the less-intrusive technologies are causing us to rethink how we live our day-to-day lives, as there is the potential for them to make our lives less stressful. One area in particular that is beginning to see a unique change, is dentistry. Teledentistry is the movement of dental systems and methodologies from strictly office visits to the convenience of one’s home or a more central location. The hope is that this new, virtual type of dental practice can make office visits easier for those of us who are homebound or always seem to be on the go. Let’s take a closer look at this modern phenomenon.

Dr. Brown does not offer Teledentistry at this time. Please take this information in and let us know your thoughts. Would you like us to offer this service? Dr. Brown continually explores opportunities like Teledentistry to improve the patient experience for his clients in Monroe, NC.

Dr. Brown explores Teledentistry to improve patient experience in Monroe NC

Teledentistry falls under the umbrella of telehealth, which is a broad array of technologies and practices meant to deliver virtual health, medical, and educational services to patients. More specifically, teledentistry is the use of any virtual methodology within dentistry, and we are beginning to see this happening all over the Western world. This collection of means to provide proper oral care is on the rise and before you decide on if and when you might engage in such a practice, you need to know the ins and outs of what it is precisely, and how it works.

Here are the teledentistry treatment methods on the rise today:

Live Video (Synchronous) Meeting: An in-the-moment, live interaction between the patient, caregiver, and/or provider using audiovisual telecommunications technology. This is as simple as setting up a Zoom meeting with your dental provider that all takes place from the comfort of your home, office, car, or anywhere there is internet.
Asynchronous Meeting: This refers to the sharing of recorded information, including video, photographs, digital impressions, etc. from the patient to the practitioner who uses this info to evaluate the patient’s particular condition. Once the dentist has made a thorough assessment, a response is provided to the patient either through the same recorded methods or a phone call/Zoom meeting, whichever the patient prefers. Clearly, this method might take a bit longer than a live video would, but for less serious oral care issues, this is a viable option.
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): Sometimes personal health and medical information is collected from a patient who resides in a different location than the dental provider, and this information is shared via a data processing service or some other electronic means of communication.
Mobile Health (mHealth): This refers to sharing dental and public health practices through mobile communication–cell phones, tablet computers, and personal digital assistants.

Historically, face-to-face examinations and meetings with a dental practitioner have been the most direct way of providing care, but due to the recent boom in technological advancements, we have expanded the ways dentists can communicate detailed information to patients. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), “…examinations performed using teledentistry can be an effective way to extend the reach of dental professionals, increasing access to care by reducing the effect of distance barriers to care.”

Know Your Rights

There is no denying that teledentistry is a viable patient/dentist communication method, but what should a patient expect in the level of care provided through teledentistry? The ADA has a clear set of patients’ rights and expectations, and every dental patient interested in utilizing any method of teledentistry should know the following information:

To quell patient insecurity due to the lack of face-to-face interactions, any dental practice engaging in teledentistry must be licensed in the state where the patient receives dental services. This weeds out the potentiality of malpractice because it ensures that the dentist you are telecommunicating with will be operating a legitimate practice.
All patients engaging in teledentistry have access to the dental practice’s licensure and board certification qualifications and can look over these documents at any time. This is yet another measure set in place to help with transparency–something even more important when you are not conducting in-person communications.
Every service offered through teledentistry technologies must follow evidence-based guidelines, the same as if the patient were visiting the dental practice in-person, as a means of ensuring quality of care, accurate health assessments and outcomes, and patient safety.
Everyone working for the dental provider who evaluates patient information, and/or who provides treatment, must inform the patient of his/her credentials. Additionally, the patient must also be informed of any costs he or she will be responsible for covering in advance of any delivery of services.
All medical, dental, and social history, as well as any relevant demographic and personal information, will be collected before any services using teledentistry technologies and methods are performed. This is to ensure that every service provided via teledentistry is based on a thorough evaluation of the patient (and the patient’s medical history).
Every service provided through teledentistry technologies will be documented properly and all records and documentation gathered will be available upon request of the patient at any time.
All services provided through teledentistry include care coordination to guarantee that the patient’s records will be made available to any entity that is operating as the patient’s home dental office. (Care Coordination, according to the National Library of Medicine, is considered to be “The organization of a patient’s care across multiple healthcare providers.”
Patients who decide to utilize teledentistry will be actively involved in all treatment decisions and will be able to decide how they receive a service that is covered, which includes considerations for urgency, satisfactions, and convenience without any penalty, such as high deductibles, co-payments, or services that a patient pays for after meeting the deductible relative to that of in-person services.
All services performed using teledentistry will be delivered in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations that concern the privacy and security of patients’ private health information, regardless of where the patient and teledentistry service provider are located.

Is Teledentistry Around the Corner?

In short, yes it is. In fact, it’s not around the corner, it’s right in front of us! Teledentistry is presently on the rise across the globe, and we can even see evidence of it here in the Carolinas. Recently, the North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative, “launched a teledentistry fund with support from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation. The fund has helped award 20+ grants, including one for Piedmont Health, to purchase annual teledentistry subscriptions.” This is according to their website, and it shows that the growing trend is here, and it’s already thriving.

There are multiple reasons teledentistry is on the rise, but they all have the same thing in common: they all enhance patient care. Here are a few specific ways this new trend in dentistry is beneficial–

Teledentistry allows accessibility to patients in remote, rural, even underserved areas where people might otherwise not have access to such care.
Patients can receive dental counsel and care without extensive travel–or, with no travel at all, as the only thing needed is internet and a device (even one’s phone).
Dentists are able to remotely monitor patient health, which ensures ongoing care without the necessity of regular in-person visits.
Adjustments to treatment plans can be done quickly and timely interventions can take place if a patient were to experience any issues or complications.
Teledentisty technologies can be used to educate patients about necessary oral health practices and preventative care.

Have questions about teledentistry? Come talk to us at Adam Brown, DDS and we can help you decide if/which teledentistry services might benefit you.

To Zyn or Not To Zyn: Addressing the Nicotine Pouch Craze

Dr. Brown takes an honest look at the effects of nicotine on the body, specifically one’s oral health.

To Zyn or Not To Zyn: Addressing the Nicotine Pouch Craze

Nicotine pouches, whether a Zyn, an On!, or a Rogue (to name a few common brands), have become incredibly popular lately. Individuals wanting to quit smoking, or even those simply looking for a mid-day jolt, find the small, seemingly innocuous pouches a pleasing substitute for coffee and/or cigarettes. But how safe are these oral pouches–is it a good idea to keep them wedged between the gums and lip for long periods of time? Though there is not a lot of research that has been done on this new phenomenon, we can take an honest look at the effects of nicotine on the body, specifically one’s oral health.

Nicotine pouches, those made by any of the three companies named above, as well as the plethora of other companies hopping on the bandwagon, are a tobacco-free product that is meant to be held between the user’s lip and gum area. Each pouch delivers nicotine to the body as it absorbs through the mucous membranes in the mouth, which then allows it to enter into the bloodstream. These pouches are a similar concept to the popular smokeless tobacco products, such as Snus.

Snus pouches have been popular for years as a substitute for smoking since they contain both nicotine and tobacco, however, straight nicotine pouches seem to be replacing products like Snus since Zyn, On!, etc. carry the same or similar effect but without the dangerous side effects caused by tobacco.

Nicotine pouches are made mostly of nicotine and water. Each pouch is approximately 80%-90% water and microcrystalline cellulose, which acts as the non-tobacco filler. Other ingredients include additives and flavorings, both at the acceptable food-grade standard. These include mint and coffee flavors, among others, and most nicotine pouch brands also contain artificial sweeteners rather than sugars, which helps prevent tooth decay. And, since there is no combustion or tobacco leaf included, nicotine pouches are viewed to be a likely substantially lower-risk product than tobacco smoking (as well as tobacco pouches and loose tobacco). This said, there is presently not enough evidence to evaluate the true oral effects of such a product, at least beyond the knowledge we already have of the addictive nature of nicotine.

Even though nicotine is highly addictive to most users, it has been used in oral forms for a long time. Nicotine lozenges, gums, and even mouth sprays have been used for over 40 years as a mechanism for smoking cessation. According to research published by the British Dental Journal, there has been no reported evidence that nicotine alone can increase oral disease (cancers, periodontal). What’s more, studies have shown that nicotine can have angiogenic effects on the body when ingested, meaning that it can grow new blood vessels, which is the direct opposite of what tobacco does. So, theoretically, ingesting nicotine could advance the body’s wound-healing capabilities. On the other hand, it could also encourage the growth of existing tumors within the body–though presently there is no hard evidence of this.

What we do know for sure is that despite its addictive nature, nicotine pouches are commonly viewed as a healthy substitute for smoking and chewing tobacco. The prolonged and regular use of pouches like Zyns may give an increased risk of oral health problems, but at this time further research is needed to provide hard evidence of such.

Receding Gums

Aside from the chemical effects of using nicotine pouches, what about the mere presence of a foreign substance in your mouth, resting between the teeth and gums, this can’t be good for your gums, right? Most nicotine pouch brands suggest keeping the pouch in your mouth for up to an hour, which can cause the gums to start receding, allowing for the possibility of all sorts of oral health issues. Gum disease can come in many forms, but most often it shows as gingivitis or (the more serious of the two) periodontal disease. Both can have serious side effects and can happen to anyone. Luckily, gum disease is preventable, and if you enjoy using nicotine pouches regularly, or even every now and again, knowing the differences between gingivitis and periodontal disease, paired with how to avoid them, will help you to maintain proper oral health.

To begin, it’s crucial to know what gum disease looks like. The typical signs of gingivitis are irritated, red gums that tend to bleed easily (even with the use of a soft-bristled toothbrush). Though gingivitis is a milder form of the disease, if it is not treated properly it can lead to a more mature form of gum disease—periodontitis—which is flagged by inflammation and deep infection that eats away at the gums and teeth (the ligaments, sockets and all), so definitely something to consider.

The positive news is that both types of gum disease are treatable, even preventable when proper hygienic procedures are regularly performed. If you are experiencing sensitive and/or inflamed gums, especially if you are using nicotine pouches, your best bet is to come in for an examination right away. At Adam Brown, DDS we can accurately evaluate the health level of your gums by taking measurements, even x-rays of the jaw if needed. Once we make an assessment, we then begin to develop a plan for treating and eliminating the problem areas. During an examination, your dental professional will evaluate the health of your gums and measure any pockets that may have formed around your teeth. He may also order x-rays to determine the health of your jaw. From there, he will develop a treatment plan and recommend prevention methods, and he may advise you to stop using the pouches for a while to see if they were a part of the problem.

Treatment methods for gum disease depend upon how far the condition has progressed. While this first stage of gum disease usually gets better or reverses after a professional cleaning, proper oral hygiene must be continued at home, or the condition can easily and quickly return. So be prepared to pause–or completely eliminate–your usage of nicotine pouches.

When caught early, gum disease can usually be treated before tooth loss occurs. But, even better than catching it early, is to prevent it altogether. Good and consistent at-home oral care (brushing and flossing) and regular dental checkups and cleanings can go a long way to help keep your gums healthy and disease-free. And, if you are using the pouches, pay close attention to your oral health: are sores all of a sudden showing up in your mouth? Are your teeth and gums more sensitive than they usually are? These could be quick signs that maybe you should choose not to Zyn for the sake of your health.

For now, since we have so little evidence of the effects of nicotine pouches, we advise proceeding with caution, and if you begin to have any sign of negative changes within your mouth to stop completely.