Hillsboro, Ore.-based Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center launched a pilot project in late 2017 to bring its dentistry services offsite, the Hillsboro Tribune reports.
Here are four things to know about the teledentistry program.
1. In fall 2017, VGMHC sent dental hygienists to local elementary schools to conduct exams and cleanings with support from a remote dentist. During the course of the eight-week program, the dental hygienists saw 123 students, providing general assessments and offering sealants to children in need.
2. The dental hygienists also taught students about preventive oral healthcare, such as how to properly brush and floss one's teeth.
3. One of VGMHC officials' key goals for the pilot project was to bring oral healthcare to low-income students who are unlikely to regularly visit the dentist. "Often, these parents find it hard to get time off work or there's a lack of transportation involved," Lisa Bozzetti, DDS, dental director at VGMHC, told the Hillsboro Tribune. "We're meeting them where they are."
4. For the next phase of the program, VGMHC officials plan to deploy teledentistry services to support pregnant residents in spring 2018.
"We want to have the greatest impact to the health of the most people," Dr. Bozzetti told the Hillsboro Tribune. "Helping a pregnant woman manage her own healthcare is a priority for us."