In a world where almost everyone leads busy and fast-paced lives, even mundane tasks such as scheduling an appointment to the dentist can feel like a chore. Although appointments for your bi-annual cleanings and dental treatments and services are often done in person, scheduling them virtually through an online dentist is more convenient.
As the name suggest, an online dentist is exactly what the name suggests—a dentist that performs virtual dentistry services online. Virtual dentistry is a part of Virtual healthcare, which is a new and innovative type of service in this electronic age that we live in. Virtual dentistry/ dental care and Teledentistry are terms that are often used interchangeably.
Online Dentist and Virtual Dentistry
Virtual dentistry is a branch of dentistry where dental healthcare providers provide patients with remote dental care solutions. The main goal to make dental services more accessible to patients, by giving them the option of scheduling their dental appointments online.
Virtual dentistry involves a wide range of solutions and services delivered remotely to patients through telephone calls and video conferencing. Patients can speak with licensed dentists remotely at any time that’s convenient to them. With virtual dentistry, patients can gather all the information they need before they actually seek out the services of a dentist in person.
Virtual Healthcare vs Virtual Dentistry: What’s the Difference?
Virtual dentistry falls under the Virtual Healthcare field, the same way that dentistry is a subfield of medicine and healthcare. Virtual healthcare and virtual dentistry are both conducted online through video conferencing platforms.
The only difference between the two services is that virtual dentistry is focused only on dental consultations and services.
Rising Demand for Virtual Dentistry
The demand for remote services, especially following the global pandemic, appears to be on the rise. Surveys show that around 60% of U.S. households with internet access have expressed interest in virtual dental services.
People living in far-flung areas or rural areas can significantly benefit from the services of an online dentist or a virtual dental office, especially if they do not have the time or means to go to a dental office immediately.
Virtual healthcare services, including virtual dentistry, helps people save money because they no longer have to spend money on travelling to and from the dentists’ office for consultations. They can just get in touch with their online dentist from the comfort of their own home.
Virtual health services have opened many doors of opportunity for healthcare providers and patients, making services much more accessible and convenient.
Better Virtual Dental Services
Although the idea behind Virtual Dentistry isn’t new, it is definitely evolving to bigger and greater heights thanks to modern technology. As technology becomes more and more advanced, the more dentists are able to make better diagnoses remotely. Dentists can perform in-depth video conferencing consultations, and they can even provide diagnosis to some patients before they can schedule in-person visits the next day or within the week as necessary.
Patients can join virtual consultations with their online dentist through video conferencing platforms in their smartphone, tablet, or computer. The dentist will ask the patient questions to determine what kind of care and services they need. It’s necessary for both parties to evaluate the situation ahead of time. Once the dentist has determined the root cause of the problem, the patient can schedule an appointment to receive treatments in person.
Benefits of Online Dental Consultation and Services
We live in the age where almost everyone uses an electronic device of some sorts. Need directions to the nearest coffee shop? No problem. Simply pull up the directions from your phone! Need tickets for an upcoming concert? No problem. Simply purchase one online.
Many aspects of our lives have benefitted greatly from technology, most especially in the medical frontier. Nowadays, we no longer have to wait for hours in the waiting room to see a doctor. We no longer have to schedule appointments that take weeks to happen.
Nowadays, if you have a pressing dental issue that cannot be immediately attended by your family dentist, you don’t have to wait for their schedule to clear up—you have other options! This is where the help of an online dentist comes in handy!
There are many benefits to having online dental services available any time. First, you can easily search for and connect with dentists in your area or even across the country. If you are travelling out of state, or out of country for work and you suddenly experience some oral health problems, you don’t need to spend hours searching for a dental office to check in. All you have to do is to check your phone and find a dentist that provides online consultation services near you.
If you do not have the time to make it to a physical dental office, or if you are in a place that’s far from a dental office, there’s no need to worry. You have everything you need in your phone. You’ll be able to get in touch with dental professionals that are ready to give you online dental consultations and help address your oral health concerns.
If you don’t feel comfortable speaking with a dentist, you have the option to text or chat with your dentist to explain your concerns. If you feel that you can express yourself better when you see the person you are talking to, there is also face-to-face video conference consultations. If you are unsatisfied with the opinion of a particular dentist, you can always talk to another dentist and ask for a second opinion.
The best part of online dental consultations is that it lets you schedule your appointments from the app as easy as 1, 2, 3! You no longer have to wait for confirmation from the dentists’ secretary before you can get your schedule for that week or month. Instead, you can schedule your appointment at a date and time that’s most convenient for you.
Conclusion
Online dental services are now possible thanks to technological advancements, which means you no longer have to wait for days before you can actually meet your dentist and get dental services. What more could you ask?
