Tooth control remotely

The pilot project with remote sensing has recently started and is the first of its kind in Sweden.

An orthodontic assistant at Folktandvården in Arvika is equipped with a video camera and is connected to an orthodontist in Gothenburg who is included on a screen. They can watch and reason about and with the patient in Arvika.

The background is the lack of specialists in dental regulation, orthodontists, throughout the country outside the big cities.

The situation is strained in Värmland with three out of eight orthodontist services vacant. The sex of the 900 non-priority patients is currently around three years and hopefully distance therapy will be a weapon to shorten waiting times.

The distance method should also be able to reduce journeys to receive treatment and instead ensure that patients can receive help at close range, a care on equal terms.

- It is based on the fact that we have experienced staff, experienced specialists, experienced orthodontic assistants and it is perhaps the opportunity for the personal meeting between patient and specialist that can be a challenge, explains Marie Branzén, who is the head of dental regulation in Värmland.

After the treatments of patients who have been able to start so far, you do not see any major disadvantages with the distance method.

- If the patient has a question that I cannot answer, then I have to turn to Birgitta (specialist in Gothenburg) and return to the patient so it is clear that they do not receive a direct answer, says orthodontic assistant Anna Andersson in Arvika, who is with in the project.

The specialists in Gothenburg also do not think there are any risks to the patient when treated remotely.

- There are few patients, we monitor it and I mean if there is anything, then there are specialists in Värmland's organization who can step in in that case, says Ken Hansen, associate professor and clinic director at the Specialist Clinic for Orthodontics in Västra Götaland.

The experiences from the pilot project are also interesting for Västra Götaland, he says, because they have long distances in the region and there are often missing orthodontists outside Gothenburg.

The remote treatment project in Arvika will last for at least two years.