TELEDENTISTRY is here and now. As in Southern Luzon.
Without much fanfare, teledentistry started after the nationwide lockdown has eased up and patients started to seek oral health care. Of course, priority is given to urgent dental issues like tooth extractions that, unattended, may lead to infections.
Dental clinics now do triaging by telephone, mobile or landline. ‘’Tele’’ or distant is the root (no pun intended) word for telemedicine – as in telephone or calls between distant locations or television as in distant images.
In dentistry, telehealth means using the mobile phone or the landline to screen patients for symptoms of COVID-19. This way, dental clinics are ready to accept patients who need urgent care.
The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines teledentistry as ‘’the remote facilitating of dental treatment, guidance and education via the use of information technology instead of direct face-to-face contact with patients.’’
“Teledentistry can offer a novel solution to resume dental practice during the current pandemic, hence, the need of the hour is to incorporate teledentistry into routine dental practice,” states the NIH’s National Center for Biotechnology Information.
“If not fully replace, at least teledentistry can complement the existing compromised dental system during the current pandemic.”
The dental system is “compromised” because dentistry involves close face-to-face interaction with patients. This is why during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has mostly been suspended.
Teledentistry is an innovative solution to resume dental practice during the pandemic.
One way to do it is through online oral health consultations and referral services through the “O-HI DOC” or Oral Health Initiative for Dental Online Consultation.
It was launched recently by the Department of Health (DOH) in the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region.
O-HI DOC Teledentistry is a joint project of the DOH Regional Oral Health Team and Health Accessibility Innovation and the DOH Development Unit.
Under the project, every Rural Health Units (RHU) in the region has an O-HI DOC unit that will be connected to the regional online referral system.
It is an online dental consultation to reach out and to provide health service to the community, says Dr. Eduardo C. Janairo, DOH Regional Director, adding it is a way of scheduling dental visits in RHUs with the use of the telemedicine platform.
“This is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order for us to reach our clients and provide the necessary oral health services to the communities in the provinces, especially those in the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas and indigenous communities,” Dr. Janairo said.
All patients seeking consultation must register and follow the simple steps provided to avail of the service.
“First, go to our Facebook page which is www.facebook.com/oralhealthcalabarzon and click on the ‘Book Now’ button,” says Dr. Edwina J. Go, DOH Regional Oral Health Outcome Manager.
The regional dentist on duty will then check the patient’s application as to what province he/she is from.
“’The regional dentist will then contact the dentist at the provincial office who will refer the patient to the municipal dentist where he/she resides and will be the one to contact patient for the scheduled consultation.”
If there are no dentists on duty, the DOH will conduct the consultation at the regional level.
“Consultations will be done in real time through live video with the patient,” says Dr. Go. “In case the patient needs immediate special care or surgery the dentists on duty will refer the patient immediately to the nearest hospital.”
At the last count, on Sept. 17, some 43 patients have registered online, 17 were given referrals, two have inquired and 24 have yet to reply.
“There are meaningful ways to do things and serve with the people’s interest in mind. Even if we are consumed with the COVID-19 pandemic, we must never stop. We must not forget our health concerns and responsibilities to our people,” Dr. Janairo points out.
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the former Associate Dean of the UE College of Dentistry, former Dean of the College of Dentistry, National University, past president and honorary fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy, and honorary fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists. Honorary Life Member of Thai Association of Dental Implantology. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515./PN
