Survey: COVID-19 Crisis Compels Dentists to Consider Telehealth

The ongoing challenges of the coronavirus pandemic are compelling dentists to look at telehealth as a means of staying in business.

Some 40 percent of dentists in a recent survey said they’re either using telehealth now to stay in touch with patients or will soon be using telemedicine technology. That survey, conducted by the DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement, saw a significant gap between what dentists felt they should do to treat patients in person during the crisis and what they were confident they can do.

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”Dental offices find themselves under significant stress as they seek to offer necessary care in a new, unpredictable environment,” the organization, which surveyed more than 2,700 dentists last month who treat Medicaid patients, said in its report.

Dentists are among the hardest hit healthcare professions during the COVID-19 crisis because of the potential for virus transmission from the oral cavity, and almost all of those who completed the survey said they expect the industry to see long-term changes as a result. Only 57 percent of those surveyed have remained open for most services during the pandemic, while 31 percent are only offering emergency care and another 8 percent have closed completely.

That’s not good for the bottom line. According to the survey, 90 percent have seen their patient visits drop, with the average decline being 51 percent. Three out of every four dental offices have reduced staff, with one in six reporting having less than 15 days’ of cash on hand, and 86 percent said they’ve seen revenues drop at least 25 percent.

In that environment, they’re looking to connected health platforms to extend their business.

According to the survey, more than half of the dentists using telehealth and more than 30 percent of all those surveyed see telehealth as a long-term business plan. Roughly half said telehealth has gained new value to them in screening and evaluating patients.

“A broad strategy that refocuses dentistry through pathway redesign could maintain and even improve access to care while minimizing transmission risk,” the report concluded. “Embracing telehealth technologies can allow providers to engage in more patient outreach, reinforce healthy behaviors, provide education and explore minimally invasive treatment options, as well as the ability to triage and direct patients to appropriate care. This pathway redesign could render dental providers less vulnerable from unpredictable patient utilization and cash flow, if, as many health experts predict, the nation experiences additional waves of COVID-19.”

Among those recognizing the importance of teledentistry is UnitedHealthcare. Noting that dental care ranks as among the most frequently avoided emergency room visits even during normal times, the Minnesota-based health plan recently unveiled coverage for at-home phone and video consults “for advice and guidance to an appropriate setting for in-person care.”

“These actions to improve the access and affordability of dental care for our customers and plan participants are a continuation of our enterprise’s comprehensive steps in response to COVID-19, including financial relief for customers and support for network providers,” Colleen Van Ham, CEO of  UnitedHealthcare Dental, said in a press release. “As the COVID-19 situation continues, these solutions are designed to expand coverage, support health care providers and bolster the well-being of the people we serve.”