What has lockdown taught us about teledentistry?

The coronavirus pandemic has changed virtually all areas of our lives. It’s changed how we work, how we communicate with our loved ones, how we keep ourselves entertained, and even how we take care of our health. Since we have all been pushed indoors, it’s no longer possible (for the time being at least) for us to visit the doctor or dentist, except in the case of an emergency.

But this doesn’t necessarily mean that the lockdown has meant that we’re not taking care of ourselves. Indeed, the opposite is true. The lockdown has shown that new models, such as teledentistry, have a bright future. In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the benefits of teledentistry and why it’s increasingly popular.

At Home Models

There are some aspects of dental care that have to be handled in person with a professional. But what we have learned from teledentistry is that there’s actually more stuff that we can do from home than we realise. It’s not always necessary to physically take ourselves to the dentist. Two of the most popular at-home treatments are teeth whitening and invisible braces. While both of these treatments are also offered in person, new technology and systems mean that it’s now possible for patients to enjoy all the benefits from the comfort of their own home.

In the case of teeth straightening, the process couldn’t be easier. You’re sent an impressions kit with which you make an impression of your mouth. Then you return the kit. From there, clear braces are made especially for you. They’re sent to you, and hey presto, you’re on your way to having a smile that you love. When it comes to teeth whitening, patients can be sent a kit that they can use themselves. Ultimately, these new methods are all about cutting out the steps between the patient and excellent oral care. It’s a direct transaction that puts more of the power in the hands of the patient.

Rising Interest

Of course, these methods haven’t just popped up in response to the lockdown. They’ve been around for a while. What has changed is that now there is significant interest from the public. This is because of various reasons. For starters, you could say that since people are spending a lot more time at home, they’re also researching new ideas. They may not have considered using teledentistry services before, but now that they’ve been put into an unusual position, many are considering it. It’s a bit like how people are realizing that working from home is more manageable than they thought. Whereas people used to be sceptical about these types of changes, they’re now seeing that there’s a lot of benefits to taking care of their medicine from home.

Self-Care During Lockdown

There’s another reason why people are increasingly interested in teledentistry. Since many people have never been in a position where they spend so much time at home, many are choosing to use it as an opportunity to correct some of the issues that they’ve been putting off. For example, there are plenty of people who have been saying for many years that they’d like to get braces, but, for various reasons, never got around to it.

This lockdown has proven the perfect opportunity to make some positive changes to our lives, and that includes when it comes to taking care of our teeth. Since we’ve all got more time on our hands, it’s normal to look at ways that we can keep ourselves entertained. For some people, that’ll involve watching all the latest Netflix shows; for others, it’ll be taking care of any beauty imperfections that they have. It’s an excellent way to reemerge after lockdown looking your absolute best.

Access to Emergency Care

Of course, while there are some things that can be done remotely, it’s not as if all aspects of dental care can be handled online. It’s important to know that teledentistry does have its limitations. For example, it can’t take care of emergency issues. There are some dental matters where it’s important that the patient visit with a professional. Many dental clinics are open for emergencies.

So what counts as an emergency? It’s typically all the things you’d expect. They involve trauma or pain. For example, it’s more than justified to visit a dentist if there’s been an incident that results in a person’s tooth being knocked out. Broken dentures or root canal problems also require emergency treatment.

But really, trips to see the dentist during the middle of the lockdown have to be urgent. Telemedicine is also helping with some dental medical issues, too. For example, it’s possible for a dental clinic to hold video conferences with its patients. In many cases, it’ll be possible for a dental professional to diagnose the patient and make suggestions for their treatment.

What does the future hold?

We’ve talked about teledentistry during the age of coronavirus, but what about beyond that? Does it have a future even after the world has returned to normal? While it’s difficult to say for certain, the early suggestions are that it’s here to stay. One of the barriers that the public had against telemedicine was that they didn’t have faith that it could work. But now that everyone has gotten used to these kinds of operations, it becomes probable that people will continue to use the systems in the future. While there’ll (likely) be limitations as to what can be offered, some things — such as braces and teeth whitening – look destined to stick around long into the future.

Improving Your Teeth During Lockdown

If you’re looking to improve your teeth during the coronavirus pandemic, then be sure to get in touch with Aligner Co and consider teeth straightening at home. We have highly affordable invisible braces that have been proven to work — and the process couldn’t be simpler. We’ll send you an impressions kit, you’ll send it back to us, and soon after you’ll receive your set of retainers, which will give a smile that you love.