Online Dental Consultation,

Is it effective?

In the current pandemic situation, not a few people postpone visits to the dentist for various reasons, especially fear of being exposed to the Covid-19 virus. Since early 2020, two years ago, many people have taken advantage of online medical consultation services, or what is more popularly called telemedicine. Then, how about a dental consultation? Can it be done online? Is it effective if someone does a dental consultation online? In this article, we will discuss online dental consultations.

Telemedicine is a technology that allows patients to consult with doctors privately, without having to meet face to face. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), consulting with a doctor helps patients get information about a suspected diagnosis, treatment or first treatment for an illness or injury, and tips to improve physical health. In some countries, telemedicine is commonly practiced by the wider community, but in Indonesia this technology has become increasingly popular since the pandemic era lasted until now. Telemedicine is actually not a new discourse, but for Indonesia this is a problem in itself because there is no legal certainty and laws that specifically regulate this matter. Even to adapt an online-based service system due to Covid-19, the Indonesian Medical Council (KKI) situationally issued Perkonsil 74 Tahun 2020 concerning Clinical Authority and Medical Practice through Telemedicine during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The main reason people in Indonesia consult online is to minimize face-to-face contact and reduce the risk of transmission of the Covid-19 virus.

In dentistry itself, online dental consultations had actually been carried out before the pandemic, but online consultations were deemed ineffective because to establish a diagnosis, a direct physical examination was required on the teeth in question, and some of them required supporting examinations. The implementation of telemedicine in dental and oral health services has its own challenges and obstacles. This is because almost one hundred percent of dental and oral care are psychomotor actions or direct interventions in the form of actions on the patient's mouth. Telemedicine that can be done easily is only in the form of Tele-Consultation, apart from that, an adequate information technology infrastructure is needed. A study published in the journal ABC Cardiol, as reported by the National Institute of Health page, concluded that the main weakness of telemedicine is that doctors cannot examine patients in person. These limitations certainly affect the quality of the diagnosis.

Therefore, direct dental examination to the dentist is the most appropriate step to establish a diagnosis so that the treatment plan that will be given can be precisely according to the patient's needs. Do a dental and oral health check every 6 months at a dentist you trust. BIA (Bali Implant Aesthetic) Dental Center is a trusted dental clinic near Kuta and not far from the airport. Don't let dental problems ruin your holiday in Bali, if you are enjoying the beautiful views of Ubud and unexpectedly need a dentist, the distance from Ubud to BIA (Bali Implant Aesthetic) Dental Center is approximately 35 km. Entrust your dental care to the dentist at the best dental clinic in Bali of your choice.

BIA (Bali Implant Aesthetic) Dental Center
Jl. Sunset Road No.86A, Seminyak, Badung, Bali Indonesia 80361.
+6282139396161

REFERENSI:

http://pdgi.or.id/artikel/telemedicine-dentistry (accessed March, 23rd 2022)