Dentistry in a virtual world

Words DR MARIA GILES and DR DON KELLY

We are witnessing drastic shifts in how the world operates and what is expected of us. This can be hard to adjust to, but the internet and technology are making the transition much easier.

The government’s decision to expand telehealth consultations to include more services has been revolutionary for the dental industry. We are now able to conduct consultations online and through video chats, meaning people can seek dental help and advice from the comfort of their own homes.

We believe social distancing is such an important part of protecting ourselves against COVID-19, which is why we are excited to have launched our new complimentary virtual consultation service.

What is it?

Face Value Dental’s free virtual consultation service is powered by SmileMate, an innovative program that uses artificial intelligence to generate a report of your dental health. The program is easy to use, takes less than 10 minutes, and can serve as a virtual consultation with your dentist. This means you can have your teeth assessed before visiting the dentist to shorten appointment lengths and prevent you from coming in unnecessarily.

How does it work?

Head to www.facevaluedental.com/ virtual-consultation. From here, you’ll need to enter your contact details and dental goals. In order to have your report reviewed by one of our holistic dentists, you’ll need to list your dental goal as ‘seeking holistic dentistry’. The program will then ask you to upload five photos that can be taken on your smartphone.

Once your information has been uploaded, your report will be generated using artificial intelligence. One of our dentists will then review your report and the team will be in touch to organise a video chat to discuss your treatment plan.

How will it help?

We understand the importance of social distancing during these times and limiting time spent in public. By implementing virtual consultations, we are able to reduce the amount of people travelling to and from our clinics while also helping to protect our patients, staff members, families, and the community. As this is a free service, it can also help you save on dental expenses by limiting your visits to the dentist to what is absolutely necessary.

While technology is a magical thing, it’s important to note that artificial intelligence is not always 100% accurate. The report generated using the program is to be used for observations only and are subject to clinical consultations.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with our holistic dentists Dr Don Kelly or Dr. Maria Giles visit: www.facevaluedental.com/holistic-dentistry