DENTAL EMERGENCY SMART PHONE APP

There are privacy issues that one gives up when using electronic media and coIn the November 2016 ADA News there was an article about a dentist who has created a prototype app for cell phones to report dental emergencies. The idea is good, but it is unnecessary to have a specific app.

If a patient has a concern all they need to do is use their smart phone to create a video or photo series where they can show us their problem area. For instance, facial swelling or an abnormal area such as on their gums or teeth and they can email this to us right from their smart phone for us to view and evaluate. Patients have even sent us pictures of x-ray scans so that we can give them an estimate such as for removal of their wisdom teeth.

Tmmunications of this nature needs to be understood as being unsecure. It does not seem that this would be a great issue for most patients. Secure sharing sites such as Drop Box could be used when there is a concern.

We are happy to communicate with patients in these ways using electronic media and it does help in assessing the risks and concerns that you may have. If you have questions, call Wagner Oral Surgery and Dental Implant Specialists at (262) 634-4646 to learn more.  You can also email us at [email protected], in some cases it could even help to avoid an unnecessary trip to the doctor.