State enhances dental care in underserved areas
A new Georgia law could help underserved patients residing in areas with limited dental resources access dental care.
There are currently 21 counties in Georgia without a practicing dentist, according to a news article from Oral Health. As a result, House Bill 567 was introduced to enable licensed dentists to provide consultations, evaluations and referrals via teledentistry as well as dental insurance to cover some remote services.
Dentists will be required to follow certain procedures while participating in teledentistry. For instance, they must acquire informed consent and the patient’s medical history prior to proceeding with the teledentistry appointment. They will also be prohibited from prescribing opioids, and orthodontists must perform an in-person exam prior to providing remote care.
Experts cited in the article detailed that prior research has indicated that teledentistry can help improve access to preventive dental care. Its growing popularity in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has provided greater opportunities for dental professionals to take advantage of remote services to reach more patients. They hope that while teledentistry cannot replace in-person treatment, the implementation of the bill can bridge the gap in dental care among underserved patients.
Read more: Oral Health
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