Providing dental care remotely
NewsPosted by: Dental Design 9th April 2020
Eric Easson, DDU dento-legal adviser, looks at the issue of DIY orthodontics and providing dental treatment remotely.
With patients increasingly looking for ways to achieve the perfect smile at a competitive price, one recent trend has been the increase in websites offering consumers ‘do it yourself’ orthodontic treatment.
In some cases patients are being offered orthodontic treatment online, without first seeing a dental professional. Increasingly, dental professionals are being asked for their opinion by patients thinking of using such services, or to confirm that their teeth are suitable for the treatment plan being offered.
Understandably this raises dentolegal issues for the dental professionals concerned and the General Dental Council recently issued specific advice on this issue. The GDC update on providing dental care remotely explains that orthodontic work falls within the practice of dentistry (as defined by the Dentists Act 1984) which, amongst other things, requires individual dentists and dental care professionals to be registered with the GDC, to provide only treatment falling within their Scope of Practice and to adhere to the GDC’s Standards for the Dental Team. Anybody practising dentistry while not registered with the GDC could be subject to prosecution.
The GDC explains that it is gathering evidence on this issue and that some direct to consumer orthodontics may not include face to face patient contact with a dental professional. The GDC’s view is that “for all dental interventions, this important interaction between clinician and patient should take place at the beginning of the patient consultation.” This has been echoed by a new campaign, called ‘Safe Brace’ launched by the British Orthodontic Society and the Oral Health Foundation. The BOS president, Jonathan Sandler stated “For me, one of the issues with ‘DIY Braces’ is that it offers just one narrow solution when there may be a more appropriate one for the patient. The value of informed choice cannot be over-estimated.”
If you are approached by a patient considering orthodontic treatment by one of the direct to consumer providers and asking for your advice, it’s important to be aware that you are responsible for any opinion provided. If the patient wishes you to confirm their suitability for the treatment being offered by such a provider, it may be advisable not to comment, but instead to discuss the options for orthodontic treatment with a qualified clinician with them. It would also be sensible to explain the benefits of ensuring any proposed orthodontic treatment they embark on is suitable for their individual circumstances and addresses any underlying oral health problems.
Any DDU member with concerns about patients requesting advice on online orthodontic treatment is welcome to contact our dento-legal experts for specific advice.
