Virtual consultations became extremely important during the COVID-19 pandemic when constant patient exposure put many healthcare practitioners at risk. However, even as the pandemic starts to subside, many practices have identified other benefits that make investing in video consultations an excellent idea.

What Are Virtual Dental Appointments?

Virtual appointments use remote communication methods, such as phone calls, emails, or — more commonly — video conferencing, to connect the patient and their dentist. These types of appointments are common in general practitioner offices but offer the same practical advantages for dentists and other healthcare practitioners. 

Most dentists use virtual consultations to assess the patient’s oral health and identify any potential dental concern before it becomes serious. They’re also perfect for treatment discussions, where the dentist can outline the potential treatment plan and estimated cost while answering the patient’s question, all from the comfort of the patient’s home.

Virtual Care Offers Benefits for Your Practice and Patients

Virtual dental appointments may feel tricky to set up at first, but once dentists, patients, and practice staff get used to the process, virtual care offers many advantages over in-house care.

Less Expensive

Many Americans consider dentistry as optional care when it comes to their health and are likely to put routine dental care on the back burner due to financial pressure. While this tactic results in short-term savings, it often causes severe oral health issues in the future that will cost even more to address.

A virtual appointment is significantly cheaper than an in-office visit, and many health insurance companies have started offering telehealth coverage. Basic video consultations are often sufficient to reveal potential dental concerns that your practice can then address in person. 

Virtual dental appointments are also cheaper for the practice. Dentists will require less personal protective equipment, and video sessions require less staff and office space. You can pass these savings on directly to the patient while still seeing a significant increase in revenue due to increased patient volume. 

Lower Risk of Infection

Dentists and other healthcare practitioners deal with patients that may carry infectious diseases, including flu and COVID-19. Even if they don’t get sick, the constant underlying stress and need for vigilance can take a heavy toll on your staff’s mental well-being. Virtual consultations don’t have any infection risk and will keep your team safe and productive for longer.

More Personalized Experience

Modern video conferencing technology makes a virtual appointment feel similar to a traditional one, allowing the dentist to foster a strong bond with each patient. Since virtual dental consultations tend to be slightly shorter than traditional appointments, dentists will have more time to discuss the patient’s concerns and focus on their issues without rushing them. 

An added benefit is that virtual appointments are easier to schedule than in-house visits, which makes follow-up visits significantly more useful. Patients appreciate the personalized touch of having their licensed dentist check up on them after specialized treatment, and the appointment will also help the dentist gauge how well the patient is recovering. 

Treat Emergencies Faster

Any patient with a serious dental concern can access care significantly faster through a virtual appointment than trying to schedule an emergency visit. While a virtual consult won’t help directly address the issue, the dentist can advise on how to best deal with the emergency and prioritize the patient’s in-house treatment using a virtual check-in system. 

Frees Up Chair Time 

One reason many patients love virtual dental appointments is that they are generally less time-consuming. Patients don’t have to worry about traffic or spending their valuable lunch hour at the dental practice. Instead, they can schedule a quick consultation whenever they have a few free minutes. 

Since virtual appointments only need a dentist to conduct the session, they also free up other staff to accept more in-house patients and provide specialized treatment. 

Consider Virtual Dental Appointments for Your Practice

Virtual consultations offer numerous benefits, but they can feel intimidating to implement. At Dental Intelligence, we can help handle every aspect of running your practice more efficiently, from showing staff how to write a dental appointment reminder email to implementing a virtual dental appointment system. No matter what your needs are, Dental Intelligence has the skills to help. Schedule a demo today!