Experts says, that Teledentistry might be the solution that India is trying to find within the wake of the worldwide pandemic because it prevents emergency rooms from being overcrowded, limits exposure among healthcare workers to infected individuals and cuts down on use of masks, gowns and gloves for workers by keeping patients at their living place.

Teledentistry allows health care professionals to gauge, diagnose and treat patients in remote locations using telecommunications technology which is also known as Telehealth or e-health.

Teledentistry gives access to medical expertise quickly, efficiently and without travel by helping patients to access in their own places. It provides more efficient use of limited expert resources who can "see" patients in multiple locations wherever they’re needed without leaving their facility. 

In both rural and urban teledentistry offers a reduced cost solution to delivering remote care when and where it’s needed without the building and staffing added facilities. Teledentistry helps clinicians to experience in small medical facilities in distant locations which reduces isolation. Teledentistry further allows them to participate in grand rounds and education opportunities they might not normally have access to without travel and time faraway from their patients.

Covid-19 Pandemic- How telehealth can help?

• Will prevent clinics from being over-crowded
• Will limit exposure among healthcare workers and patients.
• Will cut down use PPEs for doctors by keeping patients at home.

India had formally recognised the practice of teledentistry very recently the rules which is prepared by the Dental council of india(DCI) board of governors and government think factory NITI Aayog had legitimised the practice of remote consultations through teledentistry and providing doctors with practical guidance on the method of remote consultations. This might pave the way for widespread adoption of teledentistry not only during this crisis but also to the near future.

Teledentistry may be a relief valve for our strained healthcare system. About 5% to 10 % towards the population would require some kind of healthcare services at any given time. Enforced mass quarantine will make it very difficult for those with non-Covid-19 health issues to visitdental clinics. 

Tele-evaluation and consults enable even quarantined healthcare providers to do from their own homes, significantly increasing their safety and bolstering the workforce to reply to a crisis of this magnitude. When patients are diagnosed in their own homes, doctors and healthcare systems are going to be ready to triage and screen more patients than in face-to-face encounters.