The British Orthodontic Society (BOS) has recently released guidance on teledentistry and remote interactions in orthodontic care. The guidance is planned to help orthodontic providers and their teams gain a deeper understanding of the scope of teledentistry services and technologies for orthodontic care.
According to the guidance, dental professionals can greatly benefit from teledentistry. For one, it has the potential to enhance patient care and help achieve desired treatment outcomes. When integrated into orthodontic care, teledentistry can also offer improved accessibility and patient satisfaction. Most importantly, it decreases the number of physical appointments, culminating in reduced environmental impact and less face-to-face contact, a benefit that has gained increased value during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the BOS, clinicians should be made aware of some core principles when conducting a remote orthodontic consultation. For example, it is vital that all diagnostic and prescriptive decisions are made by a registered treating orthodontist or a dentist who has proper training and skills and is directly involved in the monitoring of orthodontic care.
It also points out certain patient rights. It explains that patients who are undergoing treatment should receive the contact information of the responsible clinician and be able to make direct contact or arrange face-to-face appointments when required. In the case of clear aligner treatment, patients should also be informed not only about the benefits but also about the limitations of such treatment and made aware that they are going to receive a medical procedure involving a medical device.
From: https://uk.dental-tribune.com/news/remote-orthodontics-bos-releases-new-guidance-on-teledentistry/
