It’s fair to say that over the last 20 years, technology has revolutionised how dental practices are run. Many are now using text and email alerts to improve appointment management and cut-down on ‘no-shows’. So what’s next?
The internet of things (IoT) – using WiFi to monitor and transmit data remotely – is now enabling us to do everything from controlling the heating in our homes via smartphones to sending medical updates from terminally ill patients direct to consultant doctors. So what potential does this have for the dental sector?
Any object has the potential to come to life providing it has an IP (internet protocol) address. The humble toothbrush is no exception and has all the capabilities of transferring data over a network, as already proven by Oral B’s smart initiative to allow dentists to monitor the brushing habits of their patients.
It won’t be long before dentistry sees the impact the so-called ‘dental spying’ will have. The concept, as it stands, is an electronic toothbrush with built-in Bluetooth which enables the connection with its own app. Brushing habits, therefore, can be monitored by dentists to make sure that their patients are brushing the correct areas, any areas for concern can be highlighted, and problems can be identified earlier on.
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From a patient perspective, this helps to personalise the brushing experience and as a result streamlines the care protocol. Oral B also claims that its initiative could aid patient compliance, making sure that they attend scheduled appointments and reducing the number of costly cancellations due to patients feeling more engaged and having a greater awareness of the issues affecting their own oral health.
However, all new technologies need to be considered carefully and the costs need to be weighed up against the benefits or potential threats to patient care, as the reverse could also be true, where issues are not detected.
The obvious benefit of IoT in a dental setting is the potential to improve oral health. But other important functions include making the process more interactive for children who regard brushing as a chore, reducing the time of diagnosis and optimising the workload of dentistry professionals. The future of the IoT could even see sensors in our toothbrushes detecting when we are most susceptible to cavities or ulcers, or could even go as far as predicting when we are likely to fall victim to a cold or flu. The very
same system is also capable of acting on the information gained from the enzymes in our mouths to arrange appointments based on a mutual convenience of patient and dentist diaries.
The revolution in new technology, therefore is the collaboration of a long established daily routine and the innovation of the internet. But how many people would be keen to have their dentist keeping tabs on both their diet and lifestyle choices on a daily
basis?