Teledentistry has the potential to improve access to oral health care. From a study of a Dental Services Organization (DSO) in Oregon, nearly 80,000 individuals were able to connect with an oral health professional through teledentistry. While access to care has improved, some challenges have occurred. In this article, qualitative interviews with 13 oral health professionals revealed some challenges that affected teledentistry experiences, including: variable technical skills among staff and patients; broadband limitations for patients; payer limitations on reimbursement; patient privacy considerations; staff shortages; and bottlenecks related to oral health professionals working to the top of their licenses. As we navigate implementing teledentistry in Pennsylvania, articles like these help us plan for barriers and limitations. Read the full article here.
