Asynchronous teledentistry program in two long-term care facilities: Iowa's virtual dental home pilot project

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Dental Public Health
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Older adults in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) frequently experience poor oral health and limited access to dental care.
• Implementing innovative solutions is crucial to address these challenges in geriatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a virtual dental home (VDH) program for residents of two LTCFs.
• To assess the effectiveness of asynchronous teledentistry and mobile dental equipment in delivering dental services to this population.

Main Methods:

• A 6-month longitudinal cohort pilot study was conducted in two LTCFs.
• Dental hygienists and dentists used asynchronous teledentistry for onsite diagnostic and preventive services.
• Data on resident demographics, oral health status, and services received were collected and analyzed.

Main Results:

• Significant decrease in the median number of teeth with active untreated caries (p = .01).
• Significant increase in arrested caries (p = .02) from baseline.
• High prevalence of untreated caries (92%) and severe gingival inflammation (64%) observed at baseline.

Conclusions:

• Iowa's VDH pilot project successfully established dental homes for LTCF residents.
• Asynchronous teledentistry effectively provided access to preventive and disease control dental services.
• The VDH model demonstrates a viable approach to improving oral healthcare for underserved older adults.