Summary: MouthWatch announced the winners of the 7th Annual Teledentistry Innovation Awards, recognizing programs and individuals advancing virtual dental care. Winners included Peak Vista, Smiles Across Montana, NYSDA, Idaho State University, and Montshire Pediatric Dentistry for their innovative use of teledentistry to expand access and improve oral health outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

  • Teledentistry programs are effectively bridging gaps in dental care for underserved and remote populations.
  • Innovation in workflow, education, and care delivery is enhancing the scope and accessibility of dental services.

MouthWatch recently announced the winners of the 7th Annual Teledentistry Innovation Awards, also known as “The Tellies.” Since 2017, the Tellies have recognized the innovative and dedicated providers, organizations, and programs that advance the adoption of virtual dental care to expand access to care and improve oral health via teledentistry and innovation.

The following Tellie Award winners were honored at a private event ceremony held in New York City during the recent Greater New York Dental Meeting:

Oral Health Program Innovator

  • Peak Vista Community Health Centers | Dr. Meredith Hudson and Liz Flores, RDH
    The Peak Vista Community Health teledentistry program receives referred patients via TeleDent software and provides synchronous and asynchronous exams and care for patients who previously did not have access to dental services. The program affords patients access to exams, triage, treatment, planning, and referrals and can occur in the convenience of the patient’s home, place of work, or car rather than having to travel to the dental clinic.

Dental Hygiene Innovator

  • Smiles Across Montana | Crystal Spring, BSDH, RDH, LAP, FADHA
    Smiles Across Montana (SAM) is a non-profit organization bringing access to care for children of all ages across the state. Hygienist Crystal Spring created this program to serve underinsured and uninsured children who deserve essential preventive dental services. Teledentistry enables this program to reach any and all locations who need its preventive care, while helping those who need more extensive care to a dentist as soon as possible.

Dental Innovator

  • New York State Dental Association | Tony Mendicino Jr, DDS, Chief Dental Officer
    Mendicino is a prominent community dental health educator and provider for the New York State Dental Association. He has played a significant role in promoting the integration and utilization of teledentistry in NYSDA’s support of Head Start Programs which perform screenings on school-aged children, capture intraoral images and apply SDF fluoride varnish when prescribed. In order to provide approval for the application of SDF fluoride varnish, a dentist uses teledentistry to review intraoral images, then recommends treatment and/or provides approval for SDF placement. Follow-up synchronous video calls are also scheduled to further extend access to care. Mendicino’s efforts have significantly increased the acceptance and growth of teledentistry for New York State.

READ MORE: Remote Monitoring Yields Practice Growth Benefits

Dental Education Innovator

  • Idaho State University | Crystal Kanderis Lane, RDH, MS
    Crystal Kanderis created an oral health program that expanded the use of teledentistry by utilizing Idaho State University nursing students. To date, Crystal, a nursing faculty member, and a trained dental hygienist have trained 112 nursing students across three cohorts to use MouthWatch Intraoral Cameras and TeleDent. These students have since participated in over 23 rotations with 8 to 16 students per rotation. During these rotations, they provided over 140 oral health screenings, and appropriate referrals.

In addition, they have applied over 110 fluoride varnish treatments. These quantifiable outcomes underscore ISU’s commitment to enhancing access to preventive oral healthcare services for underserved communities across Idaho.

Dental Industry Innovator

  • Montshire Pediatric Dentistry | Dr. Jonathan Norris
    Norris is a Board-Certified pediatric dentist practicing in southwest New Hampshire. His practice, Montshire Pediatric Dentistry, has 8 locations which have implemented a comprehensive set of innovative workflow solutions that enhance their approach to minimally invasive care while maximizing the scope of practice for their dental hygiene team. Montshire utilizes teledentistry as part of their innovative approach by enabling dentists to supervise hygienists and authorize the delivery of invasive care services to patients regardless of a doctor’s location.

“This year’s Tellie Award recipients are true pioneers, not only advancing oral healthcare but also overcoming the unique challenges that come with pioneering new care delivery models,” said Brant Herman, founder and CEO of MouthWatch and Dentistry.One. “By embracing teledentistry, technology and the persistence required to make an impact, these innovators are leading the charge at the forefront of change, breaking down barriers and redefining access to essential dental care for those who need it most.”

Photo courtesy of MouthWatch