Bilateral Oral Lesions – by Dr. Richard Simpson, DMD

Bilateral lesions
image captured with TelScope Telehealth System
Bilateral lesions
image captured with TelScope Telehealth System

PROBLEM

This 11-year-old male presented with “sores in his mouth.” They have been present for 3-4 days.

DIAGNOSIS

An examination revealed ulcerations on the buccal mucosa (inside of the cheek) in almost identical locations on both the right and the left sides.
 
There were no other abnormalities found throughout the oral cavity or throat.
 
When questioned, the patient confirmed he had been bumped in the chin a few days ago, and he bit his cheeks.
 
The history and presentation confirms these lesions to be traumatic ulcerations from accidental biting of both cheeks in the area of the lower canines.
 

The final diagnosis is bilateral oral lesions.

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE DENTIST

These images, taken with the TelScope Telehealth System using an iPhone, demonstrate how accurately precision intraoral photographs can be taken, in almost identical positions and angulations, on opposing sides of the mouth. The left lesion has been marked with a circle to demonstrate one of the many features of the TelScope App.
 
These images were taken in the dental office. However, had the family had a TelScope located conveniently at home to attach to any mobile smart device, the trip would have been unnecessary. This is a great example of a case that could be handled remotely through teledentistry from home, or even from a TelScope-equipped physician’s office or urgent care facility, had the patient reported there instead.
 
The TelScope’s high-quality, illuminated images, transmitted securely, combined with a brief history from the patient & parent would have been more than sufficient to diagnose the problem and make appropriate recommendations.
 
You can learn more about and find an authorized distributor for TelScope Telehealth System here.
 
INFORMATION & CONTENT DISCLAIMER

This content is for information only. This content is not for advice, diagnosis, or guarantee of outcome for patients. No patients should use the information, resources, or tools contained within to self-diagnose or self-treat any health-related conditions. 

About the AuthorDr. Richard Simpson, DMD

Dr. Richard is a board certified pediatric dentist in private practice.
His achievements include:
• Diplomate in the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
• Fellow in the American College of Dentists
• Fellow in the International College of Dentists
• Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• Advisory Board Member of The TeleDentists
• Advisory Board Member of Holland Healthcare
Dr. Richard’s experience and active interests include telehealth, child advocacy, health disparities, policy, and advancing improved medical-dental access to care. Dr. Richard is also a veteran with 15 years of military service.

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Duke University Hospital’s Medical Use Cases for TelScope Telehealth System

by Dr. Ben Hechler, MD, DDS

Head & Neck Surgeon, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, Surgical Oncologist
Duke University Hospital

Dr. Ben Hechler, MD, DDS of Duke University Hospital provides various use cases for TelScope Telehealth System in the medical setting.

TelScope Telehealth System is a device and app combination which examines inside of the intraoral cavity. It then transforms any smart device into an intraoral camera and works together with the TelScope App to capture superior images and videos inside the mouth. Finally, the app allows the user to connect those images securely.

The TelScope can be used by medical professionals and patients alike. See use cases of professional-to-professional (provider-initiated) and use cases of patient-to-professional (patient-initiated).

PROVIDER-INITIATED TELEHEALTH IMAGES & VIDEO

Specialist: Oral Manifestations of Systemic Diseases

Dermatology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, & Others

  •  Conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, lichen planus, inflammatory bowel disease, Addison disease, and many others have oral manifestations.
  • Monitoring of these oral manifestations and documenting progression or improvement with the TelScope can help serve as an temporal and objective record of disease control

Critical Care Medicine (ICU Care)

  • Patients in the ICU require multiple oral drains, tubes, or interventions (breathing tube, feeding tube, bronchoscope, etc.). The multiple tubes & the patient’s sedation status often make standardized ICU oral care (which is a national standard) difficult or impossible.
  • The TelScope can be used to facilitate these required ICU oral examinations & ICU oral care.

Head and Neck Providers

Documentation / Monitoring of Lesions

  • Patients identified in clinic to have an oral lesion of undetermined significance have standardized photographs taken with the TelScope at each recall visit.

Communication with Dentist or PCP

  • The TelScope images and videos taken, as noted above, can easily be sent via the electronic medical record or encrypted email to referring and primary providers.

Communication with Pathologist

  • Pathologists frequently request intraoral images of lesions submitted for pathology evaluation.
  • The TelScope device facilitates this communication with standardized imaging and videos.

Anesthesia Providers

  • During pre-anesthesia visits anesthesia providers and nurses document oral and oropharyngeal scores, such as the Mallampati score, to address pre-operative airway risk.
  • Documenting this with the TelScope makes communication between the pre-anesthesia team and the day-of-surgery anesthesia team more clear and objective.

PATIENT-INITIATED TELEHEALTH IMAGES & VIDEO

Remote Cancer or Pre-Cancer Lesion Monitoring

  • Patients identified in clinic to have an oral lesion of undetermined significance are given the TelScope Telehealth System.
  • The patients send monthly photos using the TelScope via the electronic medical record.
  • When the physician or patient notice a change, the patient is brought in or referred for further evaluation and biopsy

Remote Post-Operative Monitoring

  • Patients having had an oral or throat procedure are provided the TelScope Telehealth System.
  • Photographs and videos can be taken on routine intervals or based on patient concern and sent via the electronic medical record.

Remote Infection or Recurrent Oral Condition Monitoring

  • Patients with a recent, frequent, or recurrent oral condition (e.g. canker sores, strep throat,
    tonsillitis, “lie bumps,” oral thrush) are provided the TelScope Telehealth System.
  • Photographs and videos can be taken when the patient perceives an oral change or as instructed by their provider to monitor resoltion of lesions or infections.

Download the PDF on TelScope Telehealth System medical use cases here.

The Easiest Method for Taking Intraoral Photos – For Dentists and Moms!

The intraoral camera is a revolutionary tool in dentistry – but what if you have one that you’re probably already reading this from now? Your smartphone. Holland Healthcare offers a portable, lightweight, affordable, versatile tool that transforms any smart device into an intraoral camera, which is beneficial for dentists and moms alike. Whether you are at home, in a medical clinic, or at the dentist’s office, an intraoral camera can make treating your patients much easier.

 

What is an Intraoral Camera?

Put simply, an intraoral camera is used to take photos of the inside of one’s mouth. Now, you might be thinking that that is not so revolutionary. After all, intraoral cameras do exist. But what separates Holland Healthcare’s intraoral camera from other models is the affordability of and the ease with which you can use the camera. By attaching to any smartphone, Holland Healthcare’s intraoral camera, because it is so lightweight and easy to use, it can be used in a variety of settings – the dentist’s office, at home, or at an oral surgeon.  

 

But How Does it Work?

Luckily, using one of Holland Healthcare’s intraoral cameras is very easy to use. As long as you know how to operate your smartphone’s camera, you will be able to operate the intraoral camera. Holland Healthcare’s intraoral camera works first by using a tongue depressor to push the tongue down to the bottom of the mouth, so it will not get in the way of any photos.  Next, you shine the light from the intraoral camera, which will then illuminate the inside of the patient’s (or perhaps your son or daughter’s!) mouth. The third step is to then capture the photo within the TelScope app.

 

Now, this is where Holland Healthcare’s intraoral camera truly separates itself from both its contemporaries and predecessors: Holland Healthcare uses state of the art software, which can allow you to measure the difference between or size of lesions, cavities, growing teeth, or other points of concern or pain in the patient’s mouth; save photos to a database; and easily share the photos with other healthcare professionals. By using Holland Healthcare’s app, which is compatible with both Android and iOS, the photos and videos can then be securely shared amongst other healthcare providers, insurance companies, and electronic patient records. In addition, dentists and oral surgeons can save these photos at their practice, which can be very helpful when assessing a patient’s progress over a period of time. The app is pre-programmed with the right settings to capture medical-grade quality images and video of the inside of the mouth, so no struggling and fiddling with lighting, zoom, or focus. The app then lets you annotate the image or video by circling areas of concern and adding comments. 

 

The Applications of the Intraoral Camera

There are many settings and ways in which Holland Healthcare’s intraoral camera can be used. It is an easy-to-use tool that can be utilized by both mothers and dentists!

 

Dentist Office

Holland Healthcare’s intraoral camera may find its widest use in a dentist’s office. The light-up tongue depressor, the attachment to an iPhone, and easy-to-clean and disposable attachments make it perfect for a dentist’s office. In addition, the software that Holland Healthcare offers also makes it great for storing, tracking, and sharing intraoral photos among dentists, oral surgeons, and other specialists.

 

The Nurse’s Office

A school nurse’s office is a perfect place to use the intraoral camera. Because it is easy to use, easy to clean, and also easy to share the photos and videos, the camera can be of great benefit to a nurse’s office. With the TelScope’s illuminating depressor, you can easily depress the tongue, retract the cheek, and take a look inside the child’s mouth. And if necessary, you can even take a photo and send it to a dentist for a medical-dental integration, which would greatly speed up the healthcare process for the child, the parents, and the dentist involved.

 

At-Home Use

The intraoral camera has some great benefits, namely, that it is affordable and that it can be used in so many different places – including your home! You can save a lot of time by taking advantage of the intraoral camera. If you want to save time instead of going to the dentist or doctor’s office, then the intraoral camera is for you. You can take photos and videos of your child’s mouth or throat and send them to the doctor or dentist and see if you need to come in for a visit. Does your child have a sore throat, and you don’t have the time today to see a doctor? Then take a photo, send it over, and get an answer – and some relief.  As long as you know how to use a camera on your smartphone, you can use Holland Healthcare’s intraoral camera! It is a great, versatile tool for both mothers and dentists alike.

 

Self-Exams

In order to stay ahead of disease and illness such as oral cancer or a potential cavity, you need to be proactive. Self-examination is essential to getting ahead of a scary diagnosis and moving forward with effective treatment. This is just another benefit of the intraoral camera – the tongue depressor, light, and camera allow for anyone to perform a self-exam, in which you might check for oral cancer or that pesky sore that has been bothering you. Intraoral imaging is essential in diagnosing disease, as your doctor or dentist needs to see a high-resolution photo of the area of interest. This is why a dental camera, now being replaced by an iPhone, is such a handy tool for everyone.

 

The Benefits of an Intraoral Camera with your Smartphone

To recap, here are some of the benefits that you, your dental practice, or your family can enjoy with Holland Healthcare’s intraoral camera:

 

  • The camera is dynamic and can be used in a variety of settings, such as at home, a dentist’s or oral surgeon’s office, a school nurse’s office, an urgent care setting, or a hospital.
  • Compared to other intraoral cameras, Holland Healthcare’s is much more affordable and uses something everyone already has and knows how to use – a smartphone.
  • The camera comes with disposable tongue depressors and an easy-to-clean, antimicrobial handle, so you do not need to worry about cross-contamination.
  • The camera comes with software that allows for photos to be easily and securely shared amongst healthcare professionals and patients.

 

Holland Healthcare’s intraoral camera, TelScope Telehealth System, is a wonderful tool for anyone – and that means anyone. Doctors and dentists, mothers and nurses, all can enjoy the ease of using the intraoral camera.

 

Raw Palate – by Dr. Richard Simpson, DMD

image captured with TelScope Telehealth System

image captured with TelScope Telehealth System

PROBLEM

A 14 year old girl reported one morning to our office with a chief complaint of, “the roof of my mouth feels raw, like it is peeling, and it hurts.” This has been going on for one day.

DIAGNOSIS

This is an easy one, with one question and one view.
 The first image, taken with the TelScope Telehealth System intraoral camera on an iPhone, clearly shows a broad region of the anterior tissue of the hard palate is red with some of the surface epithelium (tissue) missing. The second image, zoomed in and marked utilizing one of the editing features of the TelScope app, reveals why this would indeed be uncomfortable.
The one question was “Did you eat pizza last night?”
The answer was “yes.”
The diagnosis is a tissue burn from the hot cheese that can stick to the palate, causing a raw palate. The treatment is palliative, as it will heal quickly. It was recommended to take ibuprofen if needed for pain, change to a bland and softer diet for 3-4 days, avoid acidic beverages, and consider yogurt or other foods that soothe and coat. It was also recommended, in good humor, to consider “blowing on it next time!”
The final diagnosis is a raw palate.

COMMENTARY

This image was taken in the dental office. However, had the family had a TelScope intraoral camera located conveniently at home to attach to any mobile smart device, the trip would have been unnecessary. This is a great example of a case that could be handled remotely through teledentistry from home, or from a TelScope equipped physician’s office or urgent care facility if the patient had reported there instead. The high quality illuminated and captured image, transmitted securely, combined with a brief history from the patient and parent would have been more than sufficient to diagnose the problem and make appropriate recommendations.
You can learn more about and find an authorized distributor for TelScope Telehealth System here.

About the Author: Dr. Richard Simpson, DMD

Dr. Richard is a board certified pediatric dentist in private practice.
His achievements include:
• Diplomate in the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
• Fellow in the American College of Dentists
• Fellow in the International College of Dentists
• Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• Advisory Board Member of The TeleDentists
• Advisory Board Member of Holland Healthcare
Dr. Richard’s experience and active interests include telehealth, child advocacy, health disparities, policy, and advancing improved medical-dental access to care. Dr. Richard is also a veteran with 15 years of military service.
————
INFORMATION & CONTENT DISCLAIMER

This content is for information only. This content is not for advice, diagnosis, or
guarantee of outcome for patients. No patients should use the information,
resources, or tools contained within to self-diagnose or self-treat any health-related
conditions. 

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What Are Intraoral Cameras & How Are They Important In Teledentistry?

What Are Intraoral Cameras & How Are They Important in Teledentistry?

In the past year, many of us have gotten more comfortable with technology and, by that turn, more dependent upon it. The dental field is no exception. Telehealth, and teledentistry, have made strides in their accessibility to patients. Teledentistry allows patients and healthcare professionals to provide a more dynamic and accessible healthcare experience.  Since the pandemic began, teledentistry has allowed patients to safely see their dentist.  Now, teledentistry allows a convenient solution for someone who is just too busy to make their way to the dentist: intraoral cameras.

Intraoral cameras are proving to be a groundbreaking innovation in Dental Health and Teledentistry. By having a high-quality, intraoral photo of a patient, which is integrated with the dentist’s software, the images can be shared among other healthcare providers and dentist offices. Some patients may have specific needs and want to get the best care that they can.  Intraoral cameras allow images to be shared amongst professionals, giving the patient the attention and care they need. The intraoral camera may be of especial benefit to someone with ongoing dental issues, but who does not want to spend all of that time in the office. Instead, they can save time by owning their own intraoral camera, taking the pictures at home, then sending them to whatever professionals need to see them.

What is an Intraoral Camera?

An intraoral camera is used to take images of the inside of a patient’s intraoral cavity. However, with Holland Healthcare, our intraoral camera conveniently connects to your smartphone, which allows for the photos to be connected with your software’s clinic.  Once attached, the intraoral camera can be used to take high-quality photos of the inside of a patient’s mouth, using a tongue depressor, a flashlight, and the camera to take superior, intraoral photos.  The intraoral camera is a great tool; it is very important for a patient to also see what the dentist is seeing.

The Uses of an Intraoral Camera in Teledentistry

There are many innovative uses for an intraoral camera, and one of those advances is in teledentistry.  Holland Healthcare’s Intraoral Camera has a seamless integration with whatever operating system and software your phone and clinic may use – so you do not need to worry about troubleshooting between incompatible operating systems and software.  

Advanced Software

The TelScope app captures superior quality intraoral photos and videos and has an application for your phone that will integrate the patient, the images, the dentist, and any healthcare provider that needs to be included in the process. The integrated software will allow for a quicker turnaround and great accessibility of the patients’ records. The camera can also measure the space between or the size of lesions or bumps in the mouth. In addition, the dentist can leave highlights, make annotations and notes on the images.

Affordable Prices

Unlike other cameras, Holland Healthcare’s Intraoral Camera is a fraction of the price of other intraoral cameras or a DSLR.

At-Home Use

Particular patients may have ongoing dental issues and do not have the time to bounce between dentist appointments. The intraoral camera is a solution.  By owning the camera at home, a patient can take their own images and send them to the relevant health professionals and receive quicker, more efficient dental care. The intraoral camera is a great way for patients to gain ownership over their dental care. In addition, it is great for a patient to also see what their mouth looks like.

Allows for Work Between Health Professionals

In certain cases, a patient may need to see more than one health professional – seeing a dentist, for example, and then getting referred to an oral surgeon or another type of specialist.  Holland Healthcare’s intraoral camera and integrated technology will allow the specialist to see the intraoral images instead of having the patient come in person. This innovation allows for a much quicker turnaround for patients.

What are the benefits of an Intraoral Camera?

Holland Healthcare’s intraoral camera and examination tool, TelScope Telehealth System, is a dynamic tool that has many benefits:

  • Allows for high-quality photos of the patient’s mouth
  • The patient gets to see what the dentist is seeing – which increases trust and accountability
  • The camera can measure distances between teeth and other points within the patient’s mouth
  • The lightweight camera is easy to use and transport
  • The camera is a cost-effective alternative to other, more expensive cameras – all without sacrificing quality
  • The camera is easily rechargeable with its micro-USB charger
  • Cross-contamination is reduced with the single-use tongue depressor and its antimicrobial handle can be entirely cleaned off

Benefits of the Intraoral Camera in Teledentistry

  • The intraoral camera and Holland Healthcare’s streamlined technology is an essential innovation in Teledentistry. With the intraoral camera, patients can have the intraoral images uploaded onto the application and it can be shared among other dentists and specialists. Similar to having images of an MRI or an X-Ray, these intraoral images will be essential in streamlining the healthcare process and getting patients effective treatment.
  • By having the intraoral images on a patient’s profile, the patient and healthcare professionals can track the treatment’s progress by having high-quality and measurable intraoral images.
  • With the intraoral camera and Teledentistry, you will be able to serve more patients at your clinic.  
  • Digital follow-up care with patients
  • Save time by having the patient take the intraoral images before coming into the clinic
  • The intraoral camera also has a light attached to it, so patients can perform self-examinations – for a sore throat, for example – at the comfort of their own home.

Telehealth and Teledentistry have become immensely popular and effective ways of meeting with patients. However, a clinic needs to have the necessary technology in order to serve its patients in the remote model. You need an intraoral camera; you need to be able to share images between the patient, dentist, and other specialists that may be involved. 

But the intraoral camera is not just for the professional; the patient can also use it as well.  The patient can take their own images, share them with dentists, or perform self-examinations with the tongue depressor and flashlight attachment. The world of dentistry is changing and the intraoral camera is a necessary tool in its development.

Holland Healthcare and Virtual Dental Care Announce Partnership and an Integrated Seamless, Complete Teledentistry Solution

Holland Healthcare and Virtual Dental Care Announce Partnership and an Integrated Seamless, Complete Teledentistry Solution

Holland Healthcare and Virtual Dental Care are Partnering to Provide Dental Professionals with a Complete, Start-to-Finish Teledentistry Solution.

United States – June 2021Holland Healthcare and Virtual Dental Care are excited to announce their new integrated teledentistry system, TelScope Telehealth System powered by Teledentix.

The complete teledentistry solution, from start to finish

This integration of hardware and software allows the user to complete a dental examination, transform any smart device into a superior quality intraoral camera to capture a teledentistry image or video, and connect directly between patients, professionals, and a HIPAA-secure dental record. TelScope Telehealth System and Teledentix provide the complete teledentistry solution from start to finish. The intuitive, integrated system enables both healthcare professionals and patients the ability to: examine inside the oral cavity, capture a superior quality intraoral photo or video, and connect those files between professionals, patients, and a dental record. 

“Examine, Capture, Connect.” The TelScope Telehealth System is an illuminated intraoral examination, imaging, and teledentistry device designed and developed for oral healthcare professionals and their patients. This device enables the user to complete a dental examination, and then transform any smart device into an intraoral camera to capture and connect a superior quality intraoral teledentistry image or video. The TelScope Telehealth System incorporates illuminated retraction, depression, and intraoral imaging and video of the entire intraoral maxillary and mandibular anatomy, all within the palm of one hand. The system provides a straightforward, user-friendly intraoral teledentistry solution for use in dental clinics and homes for dentists, hygienists, and their patients to connect anywhere, anytime. The TelScope Telehealth System can be used for triaging, specialist referral, peer review, patient monitoring, and as a link between medical and dental patient care.

Through Teledentix, providers and patients can then capture images and videos directly to instant-chat, text, or email, as well as to a HIPAA secure dental record. Through this platform, dental professionals can also track & launch upcoming appointments directly from the dashboard, instantly communicate with patients, and search & access HIPAA-secure patient records.

Holland Healthcare created the TelScope Telehealth System in pursuit of their vision to provide access to high quality oral healthcare regardless of the barriers that individuals may face. Through this integration, Holland Healthcare and Virtual Dental Care are able to offer the complete teledentistry solution, from start to finish.

Virtual Dental Care’s mission is to provide innovative, simple-to-use solutions to facilitate the adoption of teledentistry. Virtual Dental Care created Teledentix to aid in their goal of bridging the gap in dental care.

The two company’s similar goals and missions couple together perfectly to create a seamlessly integrated teledentistry solution for dental professionals, providers, and their patients.

“We are two companies working towards the same mission to transform the teledentistry industry by providing a seamless solution and empowering the world with a virtual oral healthcare solution,” stated Jennifer Holland, founder and CEO of Holland Healthcare, as well as inventor of the TelScope Telehealth System. “We believe our partnership will bridge that gap in dental care: from capturing superior intraoral images and videos to loading them into an EHR system or connecting through to a dentist or specialist in real time.”

“Jennifer and her team at Holland Healthcare have created such an innovative product to make intraoral photos and videos easier to capture. We’re thrilled to integrate this device into the Teledentix workflow so providers and patients can seamlessly communicate, share records, and ultimately increase continuity of care,” added Richard Lee, CEO of Virtual Dental Care.

The integrated Teledentix and TelScope Telehealth System app will be available to download soon.

TelScope Telehealth System can be ordered from Holland Healthcare here. Visit hollandhealthcareinc.com/TelScope for more information about the TelScope Telehealth System and get.teledentix.com for more information about Teledentix.

Official Press Release

“The Missing Link” in Teledentistry – by Dr. Richard Simpson, DMD

“The Missing Link” in Teledentistry

by Dr. Richard Simpson, DMD

Originally published in NNOHA

In various fields of science, the search for a missing link goes on, and the questions are challenging. Is Australopithicus sediba the missing link in evolutionary theory? I don’t know that. I would refer you to the anthropologists and biologists if that is of interest to you. Will neutrinos finally be the answer to the unaccounted for mass in the universe? Will general relativity and quantum mechanics ever be unified? You’d have to ask Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Or for kicks, try Brian May. (Yes, the co-founder and lead guitarist for Queen has a PhD in Astrophysics!). I obviously am in no way equipped to broach these subjects with any credibility.

However, I would like to propose that there is, and has been, a lack of significant inquiry into what I believe is the “missing link” in a field in which I am more acquainted…Telehealth and Teledentistry. The questions, and the answer, are not so grand in scope or depth as in the aforementioned subjects, but they have very meaningful and practical implications in the everyday application of telehealth systems in oral health.

So, I ask…

Is there a missing link in Teledentistry? Yes.

What is it? The ability to easily and remotely illuminate the oral cavity, capture superior images and videos with a portable device, mark areas of concern and comment if indicated, send these images to providers securely without the necessity of wi-fi, receive these images for review and upload into a patient electronic health record regardless of the platform or software, and be able to do this at very low costs, from any location, thousands of times. More simply put, the missing link in teledentistry, and in the medical-dental remote assessment and management of patient oral health, is the capture and transmission of quality imaging of the entire mouth and oropharyngeal areas.

When will it (aka a solution) be found? My impression is that it is already available, and I will discuss this further after a brief review and a question I propose to the reader.

In a recent interview on “This Week in Health IT”, Dr Joe Kveder of Harvard University stated “…we’re now learning what it means to be in implementation mode versus proof-of-concept or experimentation mode” with regards to telehealth. I suggest this is more so the case in teledentistry, as prior to the COVID 19 crisis we were well behind medicine in the fielding of many of the concepts and grand potentials for telehealth utilization in all areas of oral health care. The pandemic crisis rapidly accelerated the acceptance and adoption of various methods for remote triage and emergency management of patients. Further, it brought to the forefront extensive discussions, studies, proposals and debates on the potential benefits of telehealth services for the future of oral health care. How best to utilize this new technology to implement the multitude of pre-COVID visions for medical-dental integrated and comprehensive care, while improving access to patient centered prevention and intervention in oral health that was evidence based?

Being somewhat familiar with NNOHA, my expectations regarding the readership of this article is that you represent many varied backgrounds and roles within our health care system, and you have a strong interest in oral health and an understanding of its inseparable role in overall health and well-being. Many of you are also likely familiar with some of the great work and publications by organizations such as The CareQuest Institute of Oral Health, the Primary Care Collaborative, NACHS, and NNOHA in addressing health disparities and the challenges and failures of our current care delivery models, particularly with regards to care gaps between medical and dental care and underserved populations. Many of you are also likely now experienced first-hand in the implementation of some form of telehealth services in your own clinics and facilities. That being said, I ask that you please consider the following scenarios. One or more of them you will likely be familiar with:

  • Co-located dental and medical facilities within a CHC or other facility, and an agreed upon desire amongst the staff to develop a more comprehensive approach to care with shared decision making between the services and the patient.
  • The embedding of oral health specialists, such as dental hygienists, in medical facilities with an ability to utilize telehealth to consult with a dentist.
  • Emergency Departments, hospitalists and nurses, urgent care centers, free
  • standing primary care facilities, retail health clinics, and school nurses consulting with a dentist for triage, diagnosis, prescription and care recommendations, and determination of disposition for follow up care.
  • Rural health centers and medical offices consulting with a dentist and hygienist through telehealth for oral cancer examinations or chronic disease management.
  • Outreach programs for oral health screenings and prevention education, and documentation of oral conditions for asynchronous review later.
  • Pre-surgical evaluations and post-surgical follow-ups for pediatric hospital cases, special needs patients, and oropharyngeal cancer or orthognathic surgery for patients that travel long distances.
  • Skilled nursing and assisted living facility staff members utilizing telehealth to consult with a dentist for a resident patient.
  • Dental and medical school faculty and students utilizing teledentistry for interprofessional training and collaboration in community outreach programs.
  • Public health teams performing school screenings or mission teams working with developing countries in oral health data collection and epidemiological assessments for targeted prevention and intervention strategy planning.

Each of these scenarios are all in the earliest stages of “implementation mode” utilizing various telehealth modalities. There are several considerations and challenges currently, to include security, integration into multiple EHR platforms, workforce planning, and so on. However, there is one single “missing link” that is universally vital to the success of each and every one of these scenarios. Can you guess what it is? It is the ability to remotely illuminate and capture quality images of the entire oral cavity with minimal training, at low cost, from any location. If the images are incomplete or of poor quality, the program or system you are trying to implement is hindered. The camera on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone is inadequate for full access and lighting. Most health facilities do not have a dental intraoral camera, and if a “mobile” telehealth cart is available, it is cumbersome, requires a trained staff member to use it, and it is rarely equipped to provide quality intraoral images and video.

At the beginning of this article, I mentioned that a likely solution to this dilemma may already be available. The TelScope Telehealth System by Holland Healthcare, combined with the TelScope Telehealth System app, turns any mobile smart device into an all-in-one handheld intraoral light and camera. In my experience, the images are of exceptional quality, and the ability to zoom in and out, thoroughly illuminate and examine the throat and entire oral cavity, and capture and securely send the images, raises the bar and the capabilities for any oral health program you design or implement that would utilize telehealth capabilities. 

TelScope Telehealth System, by Holland Healthcare

Captured with TelScope Telehealth System, by Holland Healthcare

With every challenge comes opportunity, and although none of us would have ever foreseen such a challenge as the pandemic, health care has been given an accelerant to move forward to improve access and outcomes. The desire and ability to incorporate technological advances in telehealth to reduce disease burdens, address disparities, enhance value based care, and better integrate oral health into a comprehensive care model is genuine and increasingly accepted. The right tools to maximize the technology at a non-prohibitive cost are critical to implementing these new delivery models.

Download this case study here.

Dr. Richard Simpson, DMD, is a board certified pediatric dentist with over 25 years of experience in interprofessional collaboration and advocacy. He is experienced in cross-sector networking at the state and national level and is the Immediate Past Chair of the Oral Health Coalition of Alabama. Dr Simpson serves on the corporate advisory boards for Holland Healthcare and The Teledentists and is a Fellow in the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists. Dr Simpson is currently an MPH student with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Holland Healthcare Announces New Australian Dental Distribution Partner, One Dental

Holland Healthcare Announces New
Australian Dental Distribution Partner, One Dental

One Dental is now carrying Holland Healthcare’s
TelScope Telehealth System, which integrates illuminated retraction,
depression & tele-imagery of the oral cavity for teledentistry connection,
all in the palm of one hand.

Australia – June 2021 Holland Healthcare is delighted to announce that One Dental is now distributing their new teledentistry intraoral examination and imagery device, TelScope Telehealth System

“Examine, Capture, Connect.” The TelScope Telehealth System is an illuminated intraoral examination, imaging, and teledentistry device designed and developed for professionals and their patients. This device enables the user to complete an intraoral examination, and then transform any smart device into an intraoral camera to capture and connect a superior quality intraoral teledentistry image or video. The TelScope Telehealth System incorporates illuminated retraction, depression, and intraoral imaging and video of the entire intraoral maxillary and mandibular anatomy, all within the palm of one hand. The system provides a straightforward, user-friendly intraoral teledentistry solution for use in dental clinics and homes for dentists, hygienists, and their patients to connect anywhere, anytime. The TelScope Telehealth System can be used for triaging, specialist referral, peer review, patient monitoring, and as a link between medical and dental patient care.

Holland Healthcare created the TelScope Telehealth System in pursuit of their aim to provide access to quality oral healthcare across Australia and globally. Through Holland Healthcare’s partnership with One Dental, TelScope is able to be added to One Dental’s offering of hundreds of clinically proven and innovative dental products.

One Dental is an Australian family-owned company which prides itself on superior service to clients, as well as being the first to respond to new, evidence-based trends to offer the highest quality of dental products at competitive prices.

“One Dental values high-quality, innovative instruments and focuses on meeting the needs of the market, so we knew they would be a perfect partner for getting TelScope into the hands of dental professionals across Australia,” stated Jennifer Holland, founder and CEO of Holland Healthcare, as well as inventor of the TelScope Telehealth System. 

“It’s official, it’s here! Brilliant for telehealth,” said Joanne Stanbury from One Dental. “We are proud to partner with Holland Healthcare and distribute the TelScope.”

Dental Hygienists Association of Australia (DHAA) Members will receive an additional 15% off when purchasing TelScope Telehealth System through One Dental.

TelScope Telehealth System can be ordered from One Dental on their website here.

Visit hollandhealthcareinc.com/TelScope for more information about the TelScope Telehealth System.

Official Press Release

Community Outreach Program: Buy One, Donate One | TelScope Telehealth System

HOLLAND HEALTHCARE ANNOUNCES
COMMUNITY OUTREACH DONATION PROGRAM

For every purchase of TelScope Telehealth System,
Holland Healthcare will donate a second system to a community health center

UNITED STATES – JUNE 2021Holland Healthcare, a leader in oral telehealth innovation, is pleased to announce a community outreach donation program. This program is an effort towards Holland Healthcare’s vision of empowering all Americans with access to quality oral healthcare.

Through this community outreach donation program, Holland Healthcare will donate a TelScope Telehealth System to a community health center for every system sold. Your TelScope purchase enables donations which will bridge the gap between medical professionals, specialists, and patients, specifically those facing limited healthcare access due to barriers including poverty, disability, old age, and living in remote or rural areas.

“Examine, capture, connect.” TelScope Telehealth System is an illuminated intraoral examination, imagery, and telehealth tool designed and developed for professionals and their patients. Complete an intraoral examination and transform any smart device into an intraoral camera to capture and connect a superior quality intraoral telehealth image or video to a healthcare professional. TelScope incorporates illuminated retraction, depression, and intraoral imagery and video of the throat, palate, and maxillary and mandibular anatomy, within the palm of one hand. The system provides a straightforward, user-friendly intraoral telehealth option to providers, specialists, and their patients to connect anywhere, anytime.

“180 million Americans were not able to afford oral healthcare or did not have access to oral healthcare due to their location in 2020,” said Holland Healthcare CEO and founder, Jennifer Holland. Holland is also the inventor of TelScope Telehealth System. “In 2017, Holland Healthcare set out to design a simple, streamlined oral telehealth solution used by professionals and their patients, incorporating illuminated retraction, depression and teledentistry imagery all in the palm of one hand!” 

Dr. Richard Simpson, DMD, is a pediatric dentist based in Alabama who uses TelScope Telehealth System with his patients both in the clinic and for remote and rural patient connection. “The ease with which a clinician can illuminate and examine the entire oral cavity and throat, capture images, and then connect and securely transmit those images with any desired mark-up and commentary can greatly enhance efficient and timely referral, improve patient satisfaction, and address the difficulties of access for rural and underserved populations. We have begun fielding TelScopes into several rural pediatric medical practices in our state, and I look forward to seeing measurable results in the near future.” said Simpson.

Holland Healthcare is an Australian-American company whose mission is to empower the world with equal access to oral healthcare through streamlined telehealth solutions to be used by healthcare professionals and their patients in the clinic, the home, and everywhere in between. 

You can purchase TelScope Telehealth System here.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

Holland Healthcare Announces Distributorship through McKesson Corporation

Holland Healthcare Announces New Distribution Partner, McKesson Corporation

McKesson Corporation is now carrying Holland Healthcare’s
TelScope Telehealth System, which integrates illuminated retraction,
depression, and tele-imagery of the oral cavity all in the palm of one hand.

United States – June 9, 2021 – Holland Healthcare is pleased to announce that McKesson Corporation is now distributing their new intraoral tele-imagery medical device, TelScope Telehealth System. This makes the TelScope Telehealth System the newest addition to McKesson’s medical device product portfolio.

“Examine, capture, connect.” The TelScope Telehealth System is an illuminated intraoral examination, imaging, and telehealth device designed and developed for professionals and their patients. This device enables the user to complete an intraoral examination, and then transform any smart device into an intraoral camera to capture and connect a superior quality intraoral telehealth image or video. The TelScope Telehealth System incorporates illuminated retraction, depression, and intraoral imaging and video of the throat, palate, oral cavity, and teeth, all within the palm of one hand. The system provides a straightforward, user-friendly intraoral telehealth solution for use in clinics, hospitals, and homes by providers, specialists, and their patients to connect anywhere, anytime. The TelScope Telehealth System can be used for triaging, specialist referral, peer review, patient monitoring, and as a link between medical and dental patient care.

Holland Healthcare created the TelScope Telehealth System in pursuit of their aim to provide access to quality oral healthcare to all Americans. Through the partnership with McKesson, Holland Healthcare is able to add the TelScope Telehealth System to the McKesson product range, which offers professionals equipment to enable them to operate more efficiently with lowered costs and improved patient outcomes.

“McKesson values high-quality medical care, which couples perfectly with our goal of enabling all Americans with equal access to quality intraoral healthcare,” stated Jennifer Holland, founder and CEO of Holland Healthcare, as well as the inventor of the TelScope Telehealth System. “We are confident that McKesson will be a tremendous channel to equip providers with our effective, superior quality intraoral telehealth system which will lower provider’s long-term costs, improve patient outcomes, and offer more effective communication between providers, specialists, and patients. We are very excited about this partnership with McKesson.”

TelScope Telehealth System can be ordered now through McKesson, using part number 1192709.

Learn more about the TelScope Telehealth System here.

Official Press Release

Dr. Richard Gallagher to Speak at GPCE

Dr. Richard Gallagher, Sydney’s leading Head and Neck Surgeon from St. Vincent’s Hospital – Sydney, will be presenting his course, “HPV and Oropharyngeal Cancer: Connecting the Dots” LIVE at GPCE in Sydney this May.

GPCE is the General Practice Conference & Exhibition. 900 General Practitioners from across New South Wales, Australia, will attend the conference. The conference features “over 150 education sessions and practical workshops, all led by esteemed local speakers, providing practical and implementable education to bring straight back to the practice.”

Among these educational sessions and practical workshop will be Dr. Gallagher’s course, “HPV and Oropharyngeal Cancer: Connecting the Dots” on the early detection of head and neck cancer.

The course discusses he prevalence of oropharyngeal cancers associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is on the rise in Australia. The course will provide updates on HPV-related oropharyngeal and other head and neck cancers, as well as examples of use-cases. The majority of the session will be dedicated to a step-by-step, hands-on guide to examining people for oropharyngeal cancer in general practice.

COURSE OBJECTIVE:

Learn how to take a systematic approach to diagnosis, investigation, referral and ongoing management of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

  • Explain how the epidemiology of head and neck cancer is changing.
  • Recognise the traditional symptoms of oral cancer.
  • Explain why HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers represent a distinct disease entity.
  • Describe how to perform a thorough examination of the oral cavity and oropharynx, and the neck.
  • Plan what investigations should be initiated when a person presents with a persistent/suspicious neck lump and recognise when to refer to an otolaryngology-head and neck surgeon.

If you are attending GPCE Sydney, you can register for Dr. Gallagher’s free course on the GPCE website here.

About the Presenter

Dr. Richard Gallagher is a head and neck surgeon at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, St Vincent’s Public Hospital, and at The Kinghorn Cancer Centre since 1998. He finished surgical training in 1995 and following that did further training in head and neck cancer surgery. Currently his practice mainly looks after patients head and neck cancer and patients with complex airway problems and cancers due to HPV (human papillomavirus). He is also the Director of Cancer Services and I’m also the Director of the Head and Neck Cancer Service at St Vincent’s.

In 2011 he did further training at University of Pennsylvania in transoral robotic surgery, which is surgery used mainly for patients who have cancers at the back of the throat and oropharynx. It is particularly useful for patients who have cancers due to HPV. That’s a large number of patients at the present time.

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Gallagher will be presenting the live workshop at GPCE Sydney and GPCE Melbourne later in 2021, as well. Learn more and sign up on the GPCE website.

Unable to attend GPCE?

No problem, you can enroll for the course for free at ThinkGP. Enroll here. This course offers accreditation for RACGP: 2pts | ACRRM: 1hr sent straight to your college.

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TelScope Telehealth System Registered with FDA, TGA, and CE Marked

Holland Healthcare’s newest telehealth device and intraoral, TelScope Telehealth System, is now registered as a Class 1 Medical Device with the FDA, registered with the TGA, and is CE Marked.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies Class 1 Medical Devices as devices with low or moderate risk to patient safety.  TelScope Telehealth System is registered with the FDA as a system, meaning that both the TelScope device and the TelScope App are registered with the FDA.

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is Australia’s governing body for therapeutic goods, including medical devices, in Australia. TelScope Telehealth System is registered with the TGA as a system. Once again, this means that both the TelScope device and the TelScope App are registered with the TGA.

Finally, TelScope is now CE Marked. The Certification Mark indicates that “conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area (EEA). The CE marking is also found on products sold outside the EEA that have been manufactured to EEA standards.” As with the FDA and TGA, TelScope Telehealth System is CE Marked as a system, meaning both the TelScope device and the TelScope App are CE Marked as per the EEA.

It is important to remember that the TelScope Throat Scope single-use depressors are registered for single-use only by the FDA. Throat Scope depressors attach to the TelScope Telehealth System as an illuminating tongue depressor to complete an oral telehealth exam. The Throat Scope single-use depressors are designed to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. They come individually wrapped, and they should not be cleaned and reused. The single-use depressors are recyclable, so we encourage you to recycle them after use. ♻️

To preorder TelScope Telehealth System that is now registered with FDA, TGA, and CE Marked, click here.

Download the TelScope App:

Get it on Google Play

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Telehealth Tuesday: Doing a Teledentistry Exam – with Dr. Richard Simpson, DMD

Dr. Richard Simpson, DMD, is a pediatric dentist in private practice.

Dr. Richard joined Holland Healthcare founder and medtech inventor of TelScope Telehealth System intraoral examination device and intraoral camera, Jennifer Holland, to discuss teledentistry and more.

The teledentistry team discussed

  • What is teledentistry?
  • Why is it important? What are its benefits?
  • Why is teledentistry especially important in today’s climate?
  • Plus a live demonstration of an at-home dental consultation via teledentistry using TelScope Telehealth System.

ABOUT THE HOSTS

Dr. Richard Simpson, DMD, is a board certified pediatric dentist in private practice.
His achievements include:
• Diplomate in the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
• Fellow in the American College of Dentists
• Fellow in the International College of Dentists
• Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• Advisory Board Member of The TeleDentists
• Advisory Board Member of Holland Healthcare
Dr. Richard’s experience and active interests include telehealth, child advocacy, health disparities, policy, and advancing improved medical-dental access to care. Dr. Richard is also a veteran with 15 years of military service.

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Holland is the inventor of TelScope Telehealth System. She is the CEO and founder of Holland Healthcare, as well as the inventor of Holland Healthcare’s first product, Throat Scope illuminating oral examination device and tongue depressor.

TelScope Telehealth System is the oral examination device that also transforms any smart device into a high quality intraoral camera for telehealth and teledentistry.

Oral Lesion – by Dr. Richard Simpson, DMD

Oral lesions

image captured with TelScope Telehealth System

Oral lesion

image captured with TelScope Telehealth System

PROBLEM

A 12-year-old male complains of pain for three days. His mother is concerned that he has an “infection in his gums.” A clinical exam performed in the dental office was documented using a TelScope. The first image reveals two oral lesions above the teeth and gum tissue in the upper right quadrant, located in what is called unattached mucosa. The appearance of a white center surrounded by a red halo is similar to an aphthous ulcer (canker sore), but the shape of the larger lesion is not typical of a mouth ulcer, which is usually more ovoid.

Careful extra-oral examination reveals an area of contusion (bruising) of the upper lip near the sores. Directly behind this discolored area is the irregular, linear oral lesion measuring approximately 7.5mm. A smaller lesion is located more distal.

Questioning the patient provided the answers to the mystery. Three to four days earlier, the patient was chewing on a small straw and he was bumped in the mouth by another child.

DIAGNOSIS

The lesions in question are “traumatic ulcerations” caused by the edge of an object (in this case a straw) scraping the soft tissue. Traumatic ulcerations can also occur elsewhere in the mouth from accidentally biting your lip or cheek, or from a toothbrush abrasion or other foreign object.
The typical appearance is a whitish-yellow central area surrounded by an inflammatory red (erythematous) halo, often on a rolled border. They are painful, and “sting” when exposed to high acid products such as ketchup, tomato based sauces, and citrous products. They typically heal in 10-14 days. Ibuprofen can help with pain if needed, and an over the counter oral paste can be used to cover the ulceration to improve comfort if desired. Your dentist can also prescribe an oral paste with a topical steroid.

COMMENTARY

This case is an excellent example of how TelScope could be utilized to pre-screen or triage a problem without having to initially make the physical trip to the dental office. If a parent, caregiver, school or a medical office (if the patient was taken there) had a TelScope, similar images could be taken and shared with the family dentist, or uploaded for an immediate consult with an on call dentist with The Teledentists. A diagnosis and recommended treatment could then be rendered, as well as any recommendations for follow up – all for lower costs, more convenience, and providing peace of mind for the patient and parent.
Dr. Richard will be LIVE on Facebook this Tuesday, February 23 at 9 p.m. EST to discuss teledentistry and perform a live teledentistry demonstration using TelScope Telehealth System with inventor Jennifer Holland. RSVP here.

About the Author: Dr. Richard Simpson, DMD

Dr. Richard is a board certified pediatric dentist in private practice.
His achievements include:
• Diplomate in the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
• Fellow in the American College of Dentists
• Fellow in the International College of Dentists
• Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• Advisory Board Member of The TeleDentists
• Advisory Board Member of Holland Healthcare
Dr. Richard’s experience and active interests include telehealth, child advocacy, health disparities, policy, and advancing improved medical-dental access to care. Dr. Richard is also a veteran with 15 years of military service.
————
INFORMATION & CONTENT DISCLAIMER

This content is for information only. This content is not for advice, diagnosis, or
guarantee of outcome for patients. No patients should use the information,
resources, or tools contained within to self-diagnose or self-treat any health-related
conditions. 

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Pink Tooth – by Dr. Richard Simpson, DMD

Pink tooth

image captured with TelScope Telehealth System

Pink tooth

image captured with TelScope Telehealth System

PROBLEM

The mother of a 10 year old girl was concerned about a “pink tooth”. There was no report of pain or other concerns.

DIAGNOSIS

The first image, captured with TelScope Telehealth System, reveals an emerging upper left permanent tooth (first premolar), with the primary (“baby”) tooth still present. The primary molar has a pink color to it because it has resorbed internally as the permanent tooth moved into position, and the underlying gum tissue is showing through. This situation is not uncommon, but can be evaluated by a dentist through a teledentistry examination and appropriate questioning to determine if any treatment is indicated. In this case, the baby tooth was loose and can be allowed to be lost naturally if no other problems develop. The parent was informed that an extraction of the primary tooth may be required if it is still present in several weeks.

GINGIVITIS DUE TO POOR BRUSHING HABITS AROUND LOOSE TEETH

The second image, marked using the TelScope app, highlights the red gum margins of other teeth in this area. This inflammation is called gingivitis, and is commonly seen in children with a loose tooth because they are often hesitant to brush the area near that tooth. The child should be supervised when brushing and encouraged to gently but thoroughly brush at the gumline twice per day as normal. The gingivitis will heal with improved hygiene.

About the Author: Dr. Richard Simpson, DMD

Dr. Richard is a board certified pediatric dentist in private practice.
His achievements include:
• Diplomate in the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
• Fellow in the American College of Dentists
• Fellow in the International College of Dentists
• Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• Advisory Board Member of The TeleDentists
• Advisory Board Member of Holland Healthcare
Dr. Richard’s experience and active interests include telehealth, child advocacy, health disparities, policy, and advancing improved medical-dental access to care. Dr. Richard is also a veteran with 15 years of military service.
————
INFORMATION & CONTENT DISCLAIMER

This content is for information only. This content is not for advice, diagnosis, or
guarantee of outcome for patients. No patients should use the information,
resources, or tools contained within to self-diagnose or self-treat any health-related
conditions. 

Sign up for more content like this from Holland Healthcare:

Subscribe

* indicates required

Profession / Field

Which upcoming device(s) are you interested in?