this is a ROUGH DRAFT, not final essay. Below is the
outline i made for it. Please include 3 sources to the 600 word rough draft for the information provided below. Thank you
A. Claim of the Essay:
The initiation in implementing teledentistry in dental practices has the potential to significantly increase access to dental care, specifically in underserved or remote areas, while also presenting challenges in terms of maintaining quality of care and changing patient-dentist relationships.
B. Significance of the Claim:
This claim is important because it addresses a fundamental shift in the delivery of dental services that could alter or affect access to healthcare and improve public health outcomes. However, it also raises critical concerns about the quality and personalization of care, which are related to the ethics and effectiveness of dental practice.
C. Causes and Effects Examined:
Effect 1: Increased Access to Dental Care
Explanation: Tele-dentistry can enable dentists to reach patients in remote areas who might otherwise go without care, using tools like virtual consultations and mobile health applications.
Effect 2: Changes in Patient-Dentist Relationships
Explanation: As interactions between patients and dentists increase digitally, the traditional interpersonal relationship might evolve or dwindle, potentially affecting trust in reluctancy and in patient satisfaction.
Effect 3: Challenges in Maintaining Quality of Care
Explanation: While tele-dentistry introduces convenience and accessibility, it may also face limitations in certain diagnostic capabilities, such as the inability to perform physical examinations and some procedural work remotely.
Effect 4: Economic Impact on Dental Practices
Explanation: The adoption of tele-dentistry could lead to cost savings for dental practices by reducing the need for physical office space and resources, but it could also require significant initial investment in technology.
D. Evidence Supporting the Causes and/or Effects:
Source: “Tele-Dentistry: A Systematic Review of Clinical Outcomes, Utilization and Costs” by the Journal of Dental Research.
Description: This peer-reviewed article provides a complete overview of how tele-dentistry has been implemented in various ways and the clinical outcomes with its use. It supports the claim that tele-dentistry can improve access to care and discusses associated costs surrounding it.
Source: “Patient Satisfaction with Tele-dentistry: Qualitative Study” by the International Journal of Dental Hygiene.
Description: This study explores patient perspectives on tele-dentistry, including satisfaction and perceived quality of care, providing a different perspective into how patient-dentist relationships might change with the technology’s adoption.
Source: “The Impact of Telehealth on Clinical Practice: Dermatology and Beyond” by Medical Clinics of North America.
Description: Although its focused on dermatology, this source discusses general challenges and benefits of telehealth technologies that are applicable to tele-dentistry, including limitations in diagnosis and treatment without direct physical contact.
Source: “Economic Analysis of Tele-dentistry in Rural Areas” by Health Economics Review.
Description: This analysis provides an economic view on implementing tele-dentistry in rural settings, highlighting cost benefits and economic challenges to using it, relevant to the economic impact on dental practices.
Source: “Technological Innovations in Dental Education and Practice” by the European Journal of Dental Education.
Description: This source discusses the wider impact of technological innovations, including tele-dentistry, on dental education and practice, supporting the need for new training and adapting in the field.
