Within the wake of COVID-19, new social distancing measures and stricter cross-infection controls have posed many challenges for dentists.

As recommendation and proposals for DCPs relating to relaxation instances, therapies, and affected person capability proceed to evolve, extra emphasis is now being positioned on creating relationships with sufferers outdoors the dental setting.

For many, this implies offering distant counseling.

Distant consultations and digital appointments have gotten more and more standard as a way of triage and evaluation of sufferers. This provides dentistry the chance to comply with of their footsteps and discover a new manner of working. 1

The 2 commonest methods to do that are by telephone and video conferencing.

When distant counseling is acceptable

The place private appointments are usually not attainable, long-distance calls could be a well timed and wise resolution.

For lengthy distance calls to be a sensible different, it is advisable make sure that you may adequately assess the affected person each precisely and successfully. If not, sufferers needs to be knowledgeable, primarily based on native authorities pointers, about learn how to get essentially the most applicable dental care for his or her scenario. 1

You need to observe on the affected person’s medical file that you’ve got assessed their eligibility for a distant session. 1

In the course of the phone session, it will be important that the dentist and affected person can reliably determine themselves. It’s endorsed that you simply additionally clarify to the affected person why a face-to-face appointment was not attainable. 1

In an emergency, sufferers needs to be inspired to supply private help primarily based on pointers from the native authorities. 1

We additionally suggest that sufferers who’ve been discovered to be at elevated danger of tooth decay make an appointment on the apply as quickly as attainable.

New sufferers

Lengthy distance calls are extra advisable for present sufferers who’ve entry to their present dental information. Nonetheless, extraordinary circumstances can come up on this regard.

Lengthy distance calls to new sufferers ought to solely be made after receiving satisfactory medical and medical data. That is necessary whenever you need to assess and advise the affected person remotely.

Should you can’t adequately assess the affected person, you may both e-book them for an appointment at your apply or, relying on native authorities pointers, direct them to close by remedy facilities.

Distant recommendation / evaluation with follow-up ordinance

Prescriptions could be issued for sufferers who’ve a distant examination by the dentist. These could be executed if:

  • It’s clinically justified and complies with native rules.
  • It’s the best suited remedy possibility.
  • You’re assured that you’re totally conscious of the affected person’s medical historical past.
  • They had been in a position to totally assess the dental downside and the affected person’s wants. It’s important that you simply present proof of this within the affected person’s dental file.
  • The affected person has a repeat prescription and wishes ongoing prevention / remedy with excessive fluoride toothpaste.

All lengthy distance prescriptions issued needs to be collected from the dental workplace.

swell

  1. Common Dental Council (2020) “Excessive-Stage Rules for Good Follow in Phone Hours and Prescriptions” on-line at https://www.gdc-uk.org/docs/default-source/guidance-documents/high-level-principles-remote – consultations-and-prescribing.pdf, accessed October 2020.

GetImageThis marketing campaign is run by the Oral Well being Basis, a charity that creates more healthy communities by selling higher oral well being. The marketing campaign is sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive.