The virtual dental home: a critique.

Area of Science:

• Oral health
• Public health
• Health services research

Background:

• The Virtual Dental Home (VDH) concept was developed to increase dental care access for underserved groups, including children and institutionalized adults.
• This article details the VDH's development and implementation, followed by a critical analysis of its effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate whether the Virtual Dental Home (VDH) meets the established criteria for a dental home.
• To critique the VDH model's efficiency and effectiveness compared to traditional public oral health programs.
• To explore alternative models, such as those utilizing dental therapists, for improving oral health access.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive analysis of the VDH program's development and implementation.
• Critical review of the VDH concept against dental home criteria.
• Comparative assessment of VDH with traditional public oral health programs and those using dental therapists.

Main Results:

• The VDH program does not fulfill the criteria of a dental home.
• The VDH functions similarly to traditional screening programs but allows hygienists/assistants to place interim restorations.
• The necessity of a "cloud" dentist and routine radiography in the VDH model is questioned.
• The VDH has not demonstrated superior efficiency or effectiveness compared to existing programs.

Conclusions:

• The VDH lacks key attributes of a dental home and is not proven to be more effective than traditional models.
• Programs incorporating dental therapists show potential to overcome VDH deficiencies and enhance oral health care access.
• Implementing dental therapist-led programs could significantly improve oral health outcomes for underserved populations.