Apple Tree Technology

Teledentistry: Virtual Appointments and Expanded Care

Apple Tree Dental has utilized Teledentistry for over 18 years while working in collaboration with community sites, including long-term care facilities, schools, and Head Start programs, to connect dental providers to patients and to other providers.  Through Microsoft Teams, we are now able to provide a HIPAA-compliant virtual Teledentistry exam for patients.  This means that all of your information is safe and secure, and your exam is private and not accessible to anyone else.

During the COVID-19 pandemic of early 2020, dental clinics across Minnesota were required to limit care to urgent cases only.  Teledentistry is becoming a way for patients to connect with their dentist over their computer or smart phone, and experience a virtual appointment.  There are many benefits to having a Teledentistry exam.  This  new technology allows patients to connect with a dental provider to determine if they need to make a trip into the clinic at this time, or if they can possibly manage their concern at home.  It allows serious dental problems to be assessed, and options and recommendations discussed with patients.  This can help keep patients out of the emergency room.  Dental concerns that do warrant a trip to the clinic can also be triaged via Teledentistry, which improves scheduling efficiency and reduces the patient’s time in the chair.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, that means limiting the risk of disease transmission for patients and staff.

Beyond COVID-19, this modality can continue to be used for patients who are unable to come into the clinic, whether that is because of a compromised immune system, other medical reasons, or because a patient simply is unsure if their dental concern requires an in-person appointment.  Teledentistry appointments open up the possibility of getting quality advice from a dental professional in a convenient manner.

Apple Tree Dental will also begin to have some of our sedation consultation exams via Teledentistry, saving time and travel for patients and caregivers.

Digital X-Rays

There are many advantages of digital x-rays over traditional dental x-rays, including the ability to view the images instantly, less radiation, enhanced images to improve viewing, the images can be stored electronically for instant retrieval in the future, and we can avoid the chemicals used in the traditional developing process.

3D Imaging

3D imaging gives our doctors optimal precision when performing a root canal or placing a dental implant, and can even allow them to see pathology that could never be detected by a visual exam or even a standard dental x-ray.

Your doctor may recommend 3D imaging when you’re considering dental implants or oral surgery. The more information your dentist has about the anatomy of your mouth before a dental implant, or any type of surgery, the better the outcome.

Intra-Oral Digital Cameras

With the use of our new intra-oral digital cameras, patients now have the ability to see exactly what our clinicians see in their mouths!

We can guide the camera around the inside of your mouth and generate a tooth-by-tooth video exam. You can view large close-ups of your teeth, gums, and surrounding tissues on the flat screen monitors located right in our treatment rooms. The images can then be stored, enlarged, and printed.