Virtudent, a Boston-based mobile dental clinic and teledentistry service provider, recently visited Spaulding Academy & Family Services in Northfield, New Hampshire, to provide dental cleanings, X-rays, and fluoride to 26 residential children. The free program was sponsored by Northeast Delta Dental.
Spaulding Academy & Family Services provides educational, residential, therapeutic, and community-based programs and services for children and youth with neurological, emotional, behavioral, learning, or developmental challenges.
Under a dentist’s supervision, a dental hygienist conducted the basic preventive dental appointments, which included cleanings and comprehensive oral exams to determine patient risk of oral cancer, gum disease, and cavities.
Some children received digital dental X-rays and intraoral photographs, which were reviewed remotely by a team of dentists. When additional treatment was deemed necessary, referrals were made to a local dentist, and records were securely transferred to the selected provider to ensure proper continuation of care.
“Northeast Delta Dental is fortunate to have robust experience with teledentistry,” said Northeast Delta Dental president and CEO Tom Raffio. “We are proud to lead the way in the delivery of teledentistry to underserved populations and blaze the trail as a helpful resource.”
The children enjoyed remaining in a comfortable environment surrounded by their peers and trusted staff members while receiving teledentistry services, Virtudent said. The visits successfully kept anxiety levels low and addressed the importance of oral health and overall self-care, the company said.
“We are grateful to Northeast Delta Dental and Virtudent for making this service available to our children, many of whom experience extreme stress when visiting dental providers off-campus,” said Todd Emmons, president and CEO of Spaulding Academy & Family Services.
“Our organization is dedicated to achieving optimal physical and emotional health for the children in our care, and these generous and convenient teledentistry opportunities provide a helpful solution,” Emmons said.
Related Articles
Children’s Dental Surgery of Philadelphia Achieves AAAHC Accreditation
Strategies Improve Dental Care for Special Needs Patients
Robbins Earns AAOM’s Highest Honor for a Career Spent in Service
