We all live such busy lives nowadays, which means it can be stressful to carve time out of your schedule for healthcare and other medical appointments. Although we all care about our family’s oral health, seeing orthodontists in-person can often be a huge hassle.
The good news is that orthodontic patients no longer have to see their orthodontists in-person as much anymore, and this due to the recent emergence of virtual orthodontist appointments. Virtual appointments became popular in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they’ve remained a viable option for people who find it difficult to make it to orthodontic facilities during regular business hours.
We’ve partnered up with Dr. James Karpac, a virtual orthodontist dublin ohio specialist, to provide this detailed overview explaining the common benefits and patient expectations associated with virtual orthodontist appointments. So, check out the below sections to see what you can expect from seeing your orthodontist virtually!
What Exactly is a Virtual Orthodontist Appointment?
Virtual orthodontist appointments feature cutting-edge technology to connect patients with orthodontic professionals without the need for a visit to an orthodontist’s office. This approach utilizes video conferencing and other online communication tools to allow orthodontists to conduct consultations and assessments—all while patients relax comfortably in their homes.
There’s a lot that orthodontic patients can expect from participating in virtual consultations and assessments, including:
Access & Scheduling
Patients first need to schedule a virtual orthodontic appointment in advance, and this can be done either by directly contacting an orthodontic practice or filling out an online form.
Once the virtual appointment has been confirmed, patients receive detailed instructions oriented around how to access the virtual appointment platform.
Forms & Digital Health History
Patients are often required to complete detailed health history forms prior to participating in a virtual consultation appointment. These forms provide all sorts of relevant information about an individual’s medical and dental history, and this gives your orthodontist thorough background information that can help guide the virtual meeting.
Online Platform Setups
Patients will need to have a digital device that features a microphone, camera and Web connection in order to participate in virtual orthodontist appointments.
Most orthodontists provide user-friendly and secure online platforms for their virtual appointments, and these platforms usually have detailed instructions that help patients set up and test their equipment in advance.
Video Conference With Your Orthodontist
When the patient and the orthodontist are connected together within a video conference platform, the virtual appointment begins.
During these sessions, your orthodontist will likely discuss your concerns, and they’ll also likely ask you several questions about your oral health. Your orthodontist will also ask you to showcase your teeth and bite, which allows them to visually assess your ongoing needs through the camera.
Visual Assessment
Patients are often asked to use a smartphone to provide close-up views of their teeth and bite from various angles during virtual orthodontist appointments.
Your orthodontist will likely take screenshots to save for later in the treatment process, and they’ll also be able to quickly evaluate your teeth’s alignment, your jaw alignment, your bite relationship, and many other specific concerns that you might have.
Discussing Treatment Options
Just like with in-person consultation appointments, your virtual orthodontist will go over your best treatment options after carefully examining your teeth and jaw alignment. The most common orthodontic treatment options include traditional metal braces, clear braces and invisible aligners.
Your orthodontist will provide their recommendations, as well as detailed information about how long the treatment process might take and what patients can expect throughout their treatment.
Treatment Costs & Insurance Information
Most patients are concerned about how much orthodontic treatment will ultimately cost them, which is why virtual appointments will go over insurance information and other available financing options.
This step is very important, because it helps guarantee that patients and orthodontists are on the same page regarding the financial aspects of orthodontic treatment.
Common Benefits of Virtual Orthodontist Appointments
There are many reasons why virtual orthodontist appointments have grown in popularity throughout recent years, and below are some of the most common benefits associated with going virtual:
Added Convenience
There’s no denying the unparalleled conveniences of virtual orthodontist appointments, and this is largely because they eliminate the need to travel to an orthodontist’s office.
This helps save families time and boosts their access to highly qualified healthcare professionals.
Time Efficiency
Virtual consultations essentially streamline the orthodontic treatment process, because it gets you in front of an orthodontist very quickly and helps you figure out what your best treatment options are.
This type of efficiency is particularly useful for people who have very busy schedules and need to get the treatment ball rolling quickly.
Better Accessibility
Virtual orthodontists are particularly great when it comes to providing access for people who live in remote areas.
These appointments connect patients with orthodontic experts and help reduce the amount of traveling for patients who live far away from orthodontic offices.
Patient Education
Virtual orthodontists also provide patients with a lot of educational resources and information. Orthodontists often use interactive tools, digital images and other visual aids to help explain complex industry concepts and treatment options.
These virtual aids go a very long way to help patients better understand what they can expect during their treatment process.
Book Your Next Virtual Orthodontist Appointment With Dr. Karpac in Dublin, Ohio!
If you’re interested in participating in a virtual orthodontist appointment, then you’re on the fast track toward receiving cutting-edge orthodontic care.
One of the most experienced virtual orthodontists in the Dublin, Ohio area is Dr. James Karpac, and Dr. Karpac can be contacted digitally when you check out the link to his website at the top of this page!
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