Innovation doesn’t “sleep.” But on occasion the practical expressions of innovation could stay dormant until the timing is right.
Such is the case with teledentistry best practices within the broader context of the projected future of virtual dentistry.
Market expectations for teledentistry is expected to reach $4.8 billion (USD) by 2030. The compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) is anticipated at a rate of 16.13% from 2022 to 2030. [1]
For a period of time it was the COVID-19 pandemic. Temporary dental office closures, reduced in-person services, and your patient’s desire for a perceived “safer’ dental care alternative were factors.
Post-pandemic trends tip towards those factors that appear to have more innovative longevity.
These are helping position virtual dentistry as something more than a passing trend.
A new study published by the the Oral Health Workforce Research Center (OHWRC) focuses on four states use of teledentistry following the COVID-19 pandemic (California, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin).
A summary of their discoveries includes:
Study findings create some optimism around the state of teledentistry and virtual dental care strategies.
Staying relevant as the market for online care expands is reason enough to proceed. Innovating around teledentistry and telehealth preferences is a practical step for leveraging the negative impact of the pandemic on your dental practice.
”According to a survey done by GoodRx, only 12% of patients plan to stop virtual visits entirely.” [3]
“75% of dental providers currently using teledentistry expect the number of virtual visits at their practice to either stay the same or increase during the next year.” [4]
Teledentistry provides your patients an alternative for:
Consider your specific patient demographics. Each have unique needs that virtual dentistry can meet.
On the patient-front, keep in mind that teledentistry doesn’t replace in-person dentistry. As earlier stated, it provides your patients a convenient solution for asking questions, seeking a second opinion, and receiving dental emergency triage prior to an in-office appointment.
Those solutions benefit your patient while saving you and your team valuable chair-time.
That leads to another zone of benefits relative to your dental practice.
A dedicated and equipped teledentistry software platform can streamline practice operations and workflows.
The more specific benefits of teledentistry helps refine your systems.
Investing and implementing teledentistry has the potential to deliver a positive return - for your patients and your dental practice.
It’s essential to have an understanding about the basics of virtual dentistry solutions. Invest some time in the following resources for practical insights into how you can implement or improve your teledentistry solutions:
How to Implement Teledentistry in Your Dental Practice
What Are the Core Best Practices for Teledentistry Success?
Teledentix is an innovative, turn-key teledentistry solution created by Virtual Dental Care. The all-in-one platform will enable you to adapt teledentistry to your patient care and extend your services beyond the walls of your dental practice…and improve your patient care in the process.
LEARN MORE about the Teledentix platform.
[1] https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/09/22/2520758/28124/en/Global-Teledentistry-Market-Report-2022-to-2030-Size-Share-Trends-Analysis-Report.html
[2] https://www.dentistrytoday.com/teledentistry-and-its-evolution-since-covid-19/
[3] https://www.goodrx.com/healthcare-access/telehealth/state-of-telehealth-survey-2021
[4] https://www.oralhealthgroup.com/blogs/future-of-teledentistry-in-the-post-pandemic-world/