This blog is part of the Geriatric Dentistry Program weekly special – updates in Advancement and Oral Health in geriatric dentistry.
Students in programs at dental schools across the country are increasingly benefiting from the flexibility of advanced education programs that utilize virtual courses paired with hands-on experiences. One such program in Geriatric Dentistry at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC exemplifies this trend, offering a curriculum that involves weekly synchronous and asynchronous lectures, literature review sessions, case presentations and on-site Boot Camps that engage students in a Boot Camp style of learning. At Ostrow, in the Certificate and Masters’ Geriatric Dentistry programs, faculty and students from around the world meet virtually to gain expertise in providing dental care to older adult patients.
Telehealth in Geriatric Dentistry
The excitement about online learning often translates into a desire to use similar video modalities to provide tele-dentistry to older adult patients. Exploring alternative care models is crucial to improving access to dentistry for those who may face barriers due to transportation challenges or scheduling conflicts. With an increasing number of people maintaining their own teeth and longer life expectancies, dentists must be comfortable working with older adult patients in practices that allow in-person and virtual practice.[1].
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Modern dental education programs are incorporating Telehealth training into their curricula. At USC students learn about appropriate uses of this modality, watch simulated Telehealth exchanges, and receive training on HIPAA compliance for potential Telehealth platforms. For dentists interested in Telehealth, triaging existing patients over a video feed is a simple way to start delivering care with the convenience that patients have come to expect[1]. Tele-dentistry is positioned to grow as an effective way to triage urgent concerns, monitor wellness, and follow up with older adult patients.
Advancements in Technology Supporting Design and Delivery
Technology is also revolutionizing multiple dental fields, for example, that of removable prosthodontics. Dental schools with advanced programs are introducing students to cutting-edge techniques in digital removable dentistry. This includes hands-on exposure to 3D scanning, computer-assisted design, and the steps involved in printing prostheses all learned from leaders in this burgeoning field. Exposure to such advancements does allow for significantly fewer appointments than required in conventional denture fabrication, potentially benefiting underserved populations.
The Operatory of the Future
Forward-thinking dental schools are developing high-tech educational operatories primarily used for training, evaluation, and calibration purposes. These facilities, equipped with cameras, microphones, and faculty video feeds, allows for real-time evaluation and recorded review of student-patient interactions and are an important part of skills assessments during the real-time Boot Camps. The future utilization of such operatories may enhance interprofessional communication between dental schools, community dentists, off-site caregivers, translators, and medical teams.
Conclusion
Innovative educational online programs in geriatric dentistry are committed to excellence in oral health research and the translation of evidence-based care to chair-side dentistry [3]. Just as students can interact with national leaders in geriatric oral health education through technology, various technological modalities are paving the way for more patients to connect with high-quality dental providers, ensuring better oral health outcomes for our aging population.
Postgraduate Geriatric Dentistry
Are you looking for improved ways to diagnose, treat, and manage the oral healthcare of older patients? Explore our online master’s and certificate program in Geriatric Dentistry.
References:
1. Suarez-Durall P, Mulligan R, Enciso R. Oral health for baby boomers: Past, present, and future. Spec Care Dentist. 2023 May-Jun;43(3):346-358. doi: 10.1111/scd.12829. Epub 2023 Jan 30. PMID: 36717976. You can access this article on the wiley online website: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/scd.12829
2. Lampe A, Djalilova S, Glassman P, Phillips V. Improving oral health using teledentistry and virtual and virtual dental homes: concepts and progress. J Calif Dent Assoc. 2023;51(1). doi:10.1080/19424396.2023.2256035
3. Ghezzi, E. M., Niessen, L. C., & Jones, J. A. (2023). Innovations in Geriatric Oral Health Care. Clinics in geriatric medicine, 39(2), 343–357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cger.2023.01.005
