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Teledentistry
Teledentistry Project: Increasing Rural Access to Dental Specialists
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| Teledentistry consultation with a dental specialist |
What is the Teledentistry Project?
How can teledentistry help me?
What are the current available specialty services?
How are the teledentistry services charged?
What is the Teledentistry Project?
The State of Minnesota Department of Health, University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and the Hibbing Community College Dental Clinic have sponsored a Teledentistry Project that creates a telecommunication network linking the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry specialists with dentists and dental students in sites in remote rural areas where access to care is problematic. The first teledentistry facility was established at Hibbing Community College Dental Clinic in December of 2004.
How can Teledentistry help me?
Patients who need to see a dental specialist can obtain consultation service at their home community without traveling to the Twin Cities campus. Patients can go to the Hibbing teledentistry clinic and “see” a dental specialist at the University of Minnesota through a direct video-conference. The dental specialist performs a live consultation for the patient's condition, and the specialist, the patient's dentist or the dentist at local teledentistry clinic performs the actual treatment for the patient. Follow-up can be arranged at the University of Minnesota if necessary.
What are the current available specialty services?
Currently, teledentistry services include TMD/Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine, which include:
- Jaw pain / facial pain / headache
- Clicking / popping / locking of jaw joints
- Clenching / grinding teeth
- Oral / facial lesions
- Burning mouth
- Dry mouth
- Sleep apnea
- Dental Pain
- Endodontic consults
We are currently testing and expanding the teledentistry services to other dental specialties.
How are the teledentistry services charged?
Currently, teledentistry consultations are charged the same way as they are in the dental specialist’s home office; however, the local teledentistry clinic may charge a facility fee for using their video-conference facility.
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