Tooth decay is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. Untreated cavities can lead to pain, infection, missed school time, and even trouble eating, talking, or socializing. Despite the importance of oral health, not all children have equal access to dental care. But now, new advances in virtual dentistry is helping change that.
School-based oral health programs bring dental care services directly to children in the classroom via teledentistry. By reducing barriers to care – including transportation and scheduling conflicts – these programs are supporting equitable access and improved student health.
While teledentistry cannot replace in-person dental care, it offers convenient ways to deliver and coordinate dental care while at the same time strengthening provider capacities. Using video conferencing or other virtual platforms, a dental provider can conduct a teledentistry visit with a patient, connect with another provider, or review patient materials to determine further care. Teledentistry in schools offers services to children who may not have been able to access them before, especially children in rural areas where few dental providers practice.
Strengthening School-Based Oral Health Programs
A new four-year collaborative project led by staff at the Virginia Health Catalyst (Catalyst) will support community dental clinics in Virginia to adopt teledentistry programs in local Title I schools. Through technical assistance, one-on-one learning, and financial support, clinic teams will design and implement new teledentistry programs to reach students in their service areas.
School nurses, who are integral to students’ health, will play a vital role in ensuring the program’s success. The Virginia Department of Education (DOE) is a partner in the initiative, and DOE staff will pair clinic teams with school nurses in their area. Throughout the project, clinic and school nurse team members will develop a plan to sustain the link between the school and clinic to strengthen the health of the community at large.
A Scalable Innovation
While the goal of this project is to bring dental care to students using teledentistry, the long-term impacts will reach beyond schools.
“We’re excited about a new model of care that clinics across Virginia will be able to replicate,” said Ericca Facetti, Vice President of Clinical and Community Care at Catalyst, project lead, and VTN board member.
Clinic teams will learn teledentistry policies and best practices, create referral processes for complex patient needs, and be able to bill for the use of teledentistry in schools. Teledentistry also ensures the dental providers’ time is used efficiently and frees the dental chair for in-person care needs.
“It’s a win-win for students, families, and clinics since patients can establish a dental home to maintain or improve their oral health in the future,” Facetti said.
The collaborative project will take off in 2023 thanks to funding from the Virginia Department of Health through an HRSA Oral Health Workforce Grant. Find more information about the project, teledentistry, and school-based oral health programs at www.vahealthcatalyst.org.
Virginia Health Catalyst is a public health nonprofit with a mission of equitable access to comprehensive health care, including oral health, for all Virginians.