ORTHO INDUSTRY NEWS What is The Future of Telehealth in Dentistry? provide teledentistry services expect the volume of remotely consulted patients to either stay steady or increase over the coming 12 months. However, only 34% of those surveyed actually see, or plan to see, patients via teledentistry platforms. This suggests that many dentists are either unaware of this type of technology or are unwilling to engage with it. Henry Schein announced last year that it would be offering dentists MouthWatch’s TeleDent, a teledentistry platform that utilizes videoconferencing to allow practi-tioners to conduct pre-visit screen-ings, consultations and even emer-gency triaging virtually. Regardless of the form it takes, it seems appar-ent that telehealth will continue to play a considerable role in the provision of dental services, at least as long as SARS-CoV-2-related restrictions remain in place. Dentsply Sirona Acquires At-home Aligner Company According to an article published by DentistryIQ , teledentistry’s history extends further back than one might think. It was first intro-duced in a project conducted by the U.S. Department of Defense in 1994 and, over the ensuing years, was increasingly adopted by more dentists, primarily by those working in geographically remote locations. The potential for teledentistry is clear. A recent survey conducted by the DentaQuest Partnership for Oral Health Advancement found that 75% of dentists who already P&G Commits to Sustainable Oral Care for Patients & Products Procter & Gamble (P&G) Oral Care launched a new set of sustain-ability commitments. The platform, “Healthy Smiles. Healthy Lives. Healthy Planet,” will guide the company’s oral care brands, including Oral-B and Crest. Both Oral-B and Crest are working to educate and enable 2 billion people to adopt healthy oral care habits by 2030, reducing their environmental footprint and enabling responsible consumption along the way. Alexan-dra Vegas, senior vice president global oral care, P&G, said, “As we encour-age everyone to brush twice daily for two minutes, we’ll continue to intro-duce products that make people want to build those healthy habits.” Oral-B and Crest will reportedly focus their efforts on education and advocacy; enabling access to dental products and services; and innova-tion that makes the adoption of healthy habits enjoyable. The company cites its Oral-B’s free Disney Magic Timer app, which, it reports, is making 90% of kids brush for longer, establish-ing healthy brush-ing habits early on in childhood. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when people couldn’t visit their dental provider, the brands helped protect oral health through educational articles, videos and livestreaming sessions. In the U.S., they have donated millions in product and dental care through their partnerships with Feeding America, Dental Lifeline Network and Amer-ica’s Tooth Fairy. Oral-B and Crest will continue to partner with dental professionals, retailers and consumers to make progress. Dentsply Sirona purchased the at-home clear aligner company Byte at a reported purchase price of $1.04 billion in cash on December 31. In a press release, Dentsply Sirona CEO Don Casey stated that, "We have been pleased with the growth of our SureSmile clear aligner business, and we are confi-dent that adding the innovative platform of Byte adds scale for us in the important clear aligner market." Byte describes its product as "doctor-directed care that provides excellent outcomes for patients with mild to moderate orthodontic needs." The product is advertised as costing under $85 a month. The combination with Dentsply Sirona will focus on expanding the market for orthodontic care by connecting additional patients with dental professionals and helping them access quality oral healthcare. Byte has developed an innova-tive business model, built on doctor-directed care that provides excellent outcomes for patients with mild to moderate orthodontic needs. Byte was founded on the commitment to improve access and affordability to orthodontic care using a nationwide network of licensed dentists and orthodontists. It offers effective treatment plan-ning and an easy-to-use clear aligner solution delivered directly to a consumer’s home. The CEO of Byte, Neeraj Gunsagar, and the existing management team will continue to operate the business. 6 Winter 2021 JAOS
Journal of the American Orthodontic Society Winter 2021: Page 6
