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Telehealth Settings: Teledentistry

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Telehealth Settings: Teledentistry

Introduction

Teledentistry refers to the use of telehealth technologies to deliver oral health services, consultation, education, and care coordination remotely. It can support preventive care, triage, specialty consultation, and continuity of care across community, school-based, long-term care, and rural settings.

Access to dental care remains a significant challenge in many regions, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Workforce shortages, transportation barriers, and limited specialist availability contribute to unmet oral health needs. Teledentistry offers a flexible model to expand access, improve care coordination, and support local providers.

Telehealth Applications in Dentistry

Teledentistry can be delivered using synchronous (real-time video), asynchronous (store-and-forward), and hybrid models. Common applications include:

  • Remote Triage and Screening
    Virtual consultations to assess symptoms, determine urgency, and guide next steps, helping reduce unnecessary emergency department visits.
  • Store-and-Forward Consultations
    Dental hygienists or assistants capture images (e.g., intraoral photos, radiographs) and transmit them to a dentist for review, diagnosis, and treatment planning.
  • Specialty Consultation
    Remote access to specialists such as pediatric dentists, oral surgeons, or orthodontists to support local providers.
  • Teledentistry in Primary Care (Medical-Dental Integration)
    In some models, primary care providers and care teams conduct basic oral health assessments during medical visits and use teledentistry tools (e.g., intraoral cameras, image capture, screening tools) to consult with dentists remotely. Images and clinical findings can be securely transmitted to a “dental home” for review, diagnosis, and care planning. This approach supports early identification of oral health issues, improves referral completion, and strengthens coordination between medical and dental providers—particularly for pediatric, rural, and underserved populations.
  • School-Based and Early Childhood Programs (Including Head Start)
    Teledentistry can support school-based oral health programs, including screenings, sealant initiatives, preventive education, and referral coordination. In early childhood settings such as Head Start and Early Head Start programs, teledentistry can facilitate oral health assessments, early identification of caries, fluoride varnish coordination, and timely referral to a dental home. These models help reach children who may otherwise face barriers to dental care and support improved prevention, early intervention, and continuity of care.
  • Long-Term Care and Community-Based Settings
    Telehealth supports oral health assessments and care coordination for residents in nursing facilities, assisted living, and other congregate settings.
  • Care Coordination and Referral Management
    Virtual follow-up visits, patient education, and coordination with primary care or specialty services.

Technology Commonly Used in Teledentistry

Teledentistry often relies on specialized tools and imaging technologies designed for oral health assessment and consultation. Examples include:

  • Intraoral Cameras
    Handheld digital cameras used to capture high-resolution images inside the mouth. These images can be transmitted securely to a dentist for review, diagnosis, and treatment planning.
  • Digital Radiography (X-rays)
    Radiographic images captured in community or primary care settings and securely transmitted to a supervising dentist or specialist.
  • Store-and-Forward Platforms
    Secure systems that allow dental images, radiographs, and clinical notes to be sent asynchronously for review by a remote dentist.
  • Portable Dental Imaging Kits
    Mobile units that may include intraoral cameras, lighting systems, laptops or tablets, and imaging software, commonly used in school-based, Head Start, long-term care, or rural outreach settings.
  • Integrated Practice Management and EHR Systems
    Platforms that allow documentation, image storage, billing, and coordination between medical and dental providers.
  • Mobile Health (mHealth) Applications
    Applications used for patient education, oral health monitoring, appointment reminders, and communication between patients and dental providers.
  • Real-Time Video Platforms for Consults
    Secure video platforms used for synchronous consultations, triage, specialist review, and patient education.

Federal and State Law & Policy Considerations

Teledentistry policies vary by state, payer, and provider type. Organizations should review applicable federal and state requirements before implementing or expanding services.

Key considerations include:

  • Medicare and Medicaid coverage, particularly for pediatric and preventive services
  • State dental practice acts and supervision rules
  • Scope of practice for dental hygienists and assistants
  • Privacy, consent, and documentation standards
  • Billing and coding requirements for synchronous and asynchronous services

Because telehealth policies continue to evolve, providers should monitor updates at both the federal and state levels.

Policy Resources & Guidance


Setting-Specific Resources: Teledentistry


Regional Highlights & Examples

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