Mobile dentistry for nursing homes is not a solo spot. Strive to find your community because you can’t do it alone. Create partnerships with other businesses and professionals. Join professional mobile dental coalitions, associations, and clubs.
Mobile dentistry has been a very effective delivery model for decades. It is efficient, effective and safe. Mobile clinicians can be better connected and more mobile to the dental team. But to some people, mobile dentistry lives in a mystery haze.
Continue reading as we explain a few ways safety tops the list of the secrets to successful mobile dentistry.
Taking dental care to patients reduces the risks
Taking dental services to patients is a way to contain contagious diseases and reduce travel. It helps provide care for those infected by contagious diseases like Covid-19 or flu. Not only does mobile dentistry eliminate the number of trips for clients, but it puts the risk on the dental service provider instead of putting it on the patient.
It, therefore, makes a lot of sense for dentists who are educated in the procedures and processes necessary to get rid of exposure and the spread of blood-borne diseases. Professionals travel around town instead of having patients travel. When you think about how many times you have gone to a grocery store and found how people are careless in taking care of their hygiene, you will realize the benefits of a mobile dental clinic as it keeps you safe.
Providing services in patients’ homes is an effective way to contain the aerosols emitted during procedures. Any germs released when doing a procedure are likely already in the environment of the patient. It is necessary to abide by the recommendations from WHO and other bodies but providing healthcare service in the patient’s natural environment is very useful.
Teledentistry is a very small piece of mobile dental service delivery
Dental practices implemented virtual visits during the shutdown. This allowed for additional touchpoints with patients. These appointments were good for consults, aligner checks, post-op visits and emergency advice. The truth of the matter is that the teledentistry delivery model and virtual consults are the newest forms of mobile health care. This means that neither the provider nor the patient should be physically present in a brick-and-mortar clinic.
Using multi-use products
You could be buying clinical tools, supplies or technology but prioritizing items that can be used in numerous ways and in multiple settings is very important. For example, mobile dentists and clinicians who use portable units carry supplies in storage boxes that has wheels. The storage box doubles as a dolly and counter space to transport items when setting up the operatory and breaking it down.
There isn’t a right way to go mobile
When dental experts imagine what could happen outside of a brick-and-mortar practice, a fresh world emerges. They may wonder whether they need a truck or van to start mobile dentistry for nursing homes. But you can start with what you have because there are no rules as long as you meet the minimum requirement.