Program Director North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative
Participants should be aware of the following financial/non-financial relationships: . Zachary Brian, DDS, MHA: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE Teledentistry, rapidly adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, has pushed our thinking in how providers can communicate with and treat the patients they serve. Many states, however, lack practical and equitable policies surrounding the use of teledentistry. Using the recent policy development experience in North Carolina as an example, a roadmap can be developed for effective policy advocacy to drive successful legislative and/or regulatory reform.
METHODS A literature review of current policy trends in teledentistry was completed, focusing on lessons learned and opportunities, as well as challenges and barriers to implementation.
RESULTS As a result of successful organizing, community-based mobilization, and data-driven advocacy, North Carolina passed a comprehensive, bipartisan teledentistry bill in 2021. Strategies that were particularly effective in the policy efforts in North Carolina will be highlighted and discussed.
CONCLUSIONS Teledentistry has been instrumental in increasing access and equity in oral health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among rural, low-income, and other marginalized populations. However, progressive policies are needed in many states to maintain and advance teledentistry’s role in clinical practice. Given teledentistry’s importance in building a more equitable oral health care system, clear guidelines prioritizing access to care through technological innovation are paramount. Many of the strategies used to pass comprehensive teledentistry legislation in North Carolina are broadly applicable to policy development elsewhere.
