2 April, 2019
The Northland DHB pilot of their oral telehealth service last month was a success, with clinicians and patients both
giving a 'big smile' to Zoom seamlessly connecting patients in Kaitaia with dentists at Whangarei Hospital.
Oral health therapist Kirstie Culpan said by having teledentists, children can have their consults on time. If needed,
they can also place them on the general anaesthetic waitlist as soon as possible.
While procedures like tooth extraction, root canals and crowns require an in-person visit, Dentist Ellen Clark says
there are dentistry services such as examinations and consultations that they can now offer via telehealth.
Roy Davidson, Northland DHB telehealth and mobility programme manager, is helping to organise another pilot soon to
ensure a successful rollout.
"The live clinical quality imaging provided by the specialised intraoral camera is the key technical component that
makes these clinics possible. Now telehealth can make oral health more affordable and convenient for patients and
providers alike."
-ENDS-