Be there when you’re not

If recent events have taught us anything, it’s that we need good contingent plans. Dentistry has changed, perhaps irrevocably, and how dental professionals adapt to the ‘new normal’ that everyone is talking about will determine their success in the months and years to come. Part of this should involve building on the technologies and protocols initially introduced to facilitate communication with patients when the practice was forced to close to all but emergencies. Many of these solutions have real potential to revolutionise the way that dentistry is delivered even beyond the current circumstances – none so more than remote dental treatment monitoring.

Continuity of care

Remote monitoring of patients undergoing treatment enables the clinician to check on their progress regularly – often more frequently than they would even for patients who return to the practice at short intervals for review. This means that any complications or patient compliance issues can be identified very quickly and therefore addressed more efficiently. Potential consequences of this are improved clinical outcomes, shorter treatment times and greater patient satisfaction. Care can continue when the patient goes on holiday, if the practice is closed for any amount of time and if the patient has to postpone or cancel any appointments for whatever reason.