What is an e-consultation Stevenage? I hear you ask. The recent pandemic has shown us that we need to reduce face-to-face contact with our patients without compromising on the help that we can provide to them. This article will discuss what ailments can be discussed through an e-consultation, and how this process is used for new patients, as well as what you should do next. If you decide to use our practice as well as this process then you can fill in the form that is on our website and upload your photos. Your details will then be reviewed by a dental practitioner, allowing you to receive a customised report from our dentist, so you can be assured that you are getting the best advice and help.

What issues can be looked at through an e-consultation?

What is an e-consultation Stevenage?  What types of advice can it be used for? There are many ailments that can be looked at through this type of consultation. If you have a broken tooth or are in need of a filling then an e-consultation could allow you to get the help that you need and quickly. Swelling and trauma can also be looked at through this consultation alongside any orthodontic enquiries. The e-consultation can also be used to allow you to look into any cosmetic dentistry you may require. The consultation is designed to keep you safe so you can get the help and assistance that you need with your smile, without compromising on your security and health. E-consultations can also be used for new patients who come into our practice. This will be discussed in the next section.

E-consultation and new patients

What is an e-consultation Stevenage? How can this be used by new patients? New patients can use this process so we at Smilecraft can get to examine their dental health and receive an indication of their goals for their smile. The consultation will allow us to determine which treatments could be necessary. This can also be used to give you an idea of a treatment plan and any costs that you may incur, so you are fully aware of these things before you come into the practice for the first time. You should use the ‘your expectations’ section of our website to show us exactly what you have in mind when it comes to altering your smile for the better. If this sounds like an efficient and safe way for you to get the help that you need then you should read on to the next section to discover what you can do next.

What will happen with the consultation?

One you have had your consultation with us, it will then be followed up with a video or telephone call. This will then be used to make the first in-house appointment where we will meet you face to face for the first time. If you want to participate in our e-consultation so you can get the help that you need in the safest way possible, then you should have a look at our website to read more about how the process works, as well as more about us and our practice. You could also consider calling us so we can best advise you on your next steps.

Let our technology work for your smile

In light of the recent changes within all of our lives that Covid 19 has had, we feel, here at Smilecraft, that it’s time to make the most of the cutting-edge technologies which are at each of our fingertips. We’ve taken it upon ourselves to combine our dental expertise with new emerging technologies to allow for patients to have their teeth professionally assessed and their concerns voiced within a digitalised environment which does not require them to visit our practice. If you are asking what is an e-consultation from us here at Smilecraft, then have no fear. Our expert technicians and practitioners have worked tirelessly to create a seamless experience which is easily accessible to all those who need it.

How can technology help?

The question of “What is an e-consultation?” is something which, understandably, many people across the country have been increasingly asking. In response to the recent Covid 19 restrictions, we understand that many people across the country are more hesitant to have face-to-face contact. This being said, we do still recognise the importance of maintaining a good level of oral and dental health. As a means of ensuring that our patients get the best possible care from us here at Smilecraft, we developed the SmileMate Virtual Consultation System. If you are already aware of the specific issues or concerns that you have with your teeth, then SmileMate allows patients to explain them to a dental expert in their own words. This information is filled out within a section dedicated to the patient’s dental expectations. In order to best correctly assess the health of our patients’ teeth, and the extent of treatment they may need, we also ask them to send in a picture of their teeth so we can make a more established observation and best decide on a treatment plan.

What can new patients expect at an e-consultation?

If you are a new patient to our practice here at Smilecraft, then you can have every confidence. We have engineered our digital constellation software to be easily accessible to all – including any older patients who may require treatment. The first, and most crucial stage in the e-consultation process is the information which patients put in the ‘your expectations’ section. After the patient has detailed their dental needs, concerns and wants within the section and sent in the relevant pictures if they are required, then our expertly trained dental diagnostic and specialist practitioners can then process this information. They can then contact you again with a uniquely made, patient tailored treatment plan which has been crafted in such a way that it best meets the needs and desires which you, the patient, have clearly laid out. Some of the most commonly detailed problems which can be treated through an e-consultation include chipped or broken fillings, dental swellings and many forms and degrees of dental trauma. Patients also reach out to us through e-consultations to seek out information on orthodontic treatments which we offer here at Smilecraft, as well as cosmetic dentistry options which cover a wide range of different treatment options. Anyone who is looking to have their oral wellbeing seen by a professional team of dedicated specialists – without having to leave the comfort and safety of their own homes – ought to begin their e-consultation with us here at Smilecraft at the next convenient time to them. 

Adapting to the times

At Smilecraft, we are a dentist who is completely dedicated to providing care to all those who need it in such a way that they feel comfortable, informed, and safe. We recognise that the recent lockdown measures taken across the country may have caused higher levels of anxiety than normal and has caused many people to refrain from making visits to practices unless it is absolutely necessary. As such, in an attempt to provide dental care to those who are unable to visit our practice, we offer online consultations. For those who are wondering what an e-consultation in Stevenage is, it is a way of digitally examining a patient’s dental wellbeing and working alongside them to create a unique treatment plan.

Benefits of an e-consultation in Stevenage

One of the main benefits of an e-consultation in Stevenage is that patients have time to explain their dental concerns and treatment goals to a professional through an online messaging system. This can be helpful for many patients as they may struggle to properly voice their concerns and wishes during a physical consultation as they have ample time and can carry out their digital consultation at a time and location in which they feel comfortable and relaxed. This ability to choose when they carry out the online consultation is another key appeal for those who are busy working from home and cannot spare any time to visit our practice to carry out a physical consultation.

Six Month Smiles treatment

One of the most common concerns which patients commonly voice during their online consultations is the misalignment of their teeth. Many of the patients who voice concerns about having crooked teeth have refrained from getting their teeth professionally straightened because they are convinced that treatment will vastly affect their outward appearance for as long as twelve months as conventional, fused metal braces often do. However, through treatments such as Six Month Smiles, we can straighten a patient’s teeth in such a way that it yields positive results in just six months – and without having a massively impacting effect on their outward appearance.

How does Six Month Smiles work?

The Six Month Smiles system operates through two different branches of cosmetic orthodontics, with both being tailored to meet the needs set by each individual patient. The first method is ‘Invisible braces’ which are discreet orthodontics which operate in a similar method to conventional braces, only they yield results in a shorter time frame. The ‘invisible’ nature of this method comes from the fact that the brackets used are specifically color-matched to blend in with the patient’s teeth and the wire used is made of transparent plastic and as such is far less visible.

The other alternative Six Month Smiles treatment which we offer here at Smilecraft is the removable retainer method. This alternative method of dental alignment, which doesn’t require anything to be attached to a patient’s teeth, is purely made up of a single transparent retainer. This retainer is made out of a digital impression of every patient’s unique tooth shape and is both transparent and wafer-thin. When worn over the patient’s teeth, the retainer uses pressure points that are built within it to push their teeth together until they are straight.

Adapting with the times

At Smilecraft, we recognise that the face of conventional dentistry is changing. In the past, patients only typically sought out any dental treatments through their dentist when it became unavoidably evident that help was required. Toothaches, breaks and chips were the bread and butter of most local dental practices. Today however, things have changed and people from all ages and social demographics are actively seeking out cosmetic dentistry procedures as a way of improving the way their smiles look and how they feel about themselves. In order to adapt to this new wave of patients, here at Smilecraft, we can provide patients with a e-consultation in Stevenage to allow those who need it to complete a consultation over the internet.

What is an e-consultation?

An e-consultation in Stevenage is a new and adaptable strategy which we operate here at Smilecraft. The basis behind an e-consultation in Stevenage is to allow patients who cannot attend the practice physically to have their dental concerns and issues listened to by a professional. Nowadays, an increasing amount of our patients do not work within the standard parameters of nine till five, and as such sometimes find it difficult to arrange a physical consultation with one of our professionals at Smilecraft. Another reason as to why a patient may wish to book an e-consultation rather than a physical, in-practice consultation, is that the patient may suffer from a varying degree of dental phobia or anxiety, and may feel more comfortable carrying out the initial stages of arranging a treatment plan from the confines of their own home.

Why are consultations important?

Consultations, whether digital or physical, are arguably one of the most critical and crucial stages of every patient’s dental journey through us here at Smilecraft. The reason for consultations playing such a vital role in a patient’s treatment journey, is that they mark the beginning point from which any and all treatments are carried out. Another reason for the importance of consultations and their value, is that they are essential to determine whether or not a patient is dentally healthy enough to carry out a certain procedure. Before almost every dental procedure that we carry out here at Smilecraft begins, one of our experts will take stock of the health level of the patient’s gum tissue and teeth. This is essential, as if the patient’s gums are in poor health and signs of periodontal (gum) disease are evident, then the patient may not be dentally fit enough to carry through with the procedure. As such, it is essential that any signs of gingivitis or periodontal disease are recognised during a consultation, prior to beginning any course of treatment. Another reason as to why consultations are a vital stage in any treatment process here at Smilecraft, is that they let the patient familiarise themselves with both the procedure which they are planning, as well as the practitioners and staff here at Smilecraft. By meeting and speaking with our expert practitioners, digitally or physically, patients typically feel more included throughout the process and therefore more comfortable with what they can expect from treatment and the timescale therein.

Often with dental problems that need attention, patients first come in to consult on their issue and depending on how long it will take to fix, a second appointment is made. For example, if you have a chipped tooth, a dentist will take a look at it before deciding on how and when to treat it and then liaise with their receptionist to fit you into the diary. However, with the COVID-19 virus that has caused the world quite a lot of upheaval, we at the Smilecraft dental practice want to eliminate the need for this initial face to face consultation wherever possible and replace it with a SmileMate virtual consultation, which can then be followed up with a regular voice call or video call via a Zoom call.

What is an e-consultation in Stevenage and what can existing patients use it for?

We rely heavily on the photos you send us in the SmileMate consultation to give us the best idea of what to expect from your particular case and how to fit it into our work week, as well as accommodate your needs, particularly if they are urgent. A sore tooth could mean many things and obviously you can’t take a picture of a back molar that may have a cavity. In the case of this kind of pain where the cause is not obvious it may be required that you have a face to face consultation, so that we can see what’s bothering you, but if you are unsure, give our practice a call and we can help guide you through the process safely. In the cases where we can tell a lot from a photograph, the following can be done via the virtual consultation:

Broken tooth or filling

We can easily make an assessment of how quickly you need to see a dentist in order to get a tooth fixed just by looking at a few pictures of it. We can follow up on the submission of your photographs with a call and set up an appointment to fix your tooth, so that you only have to come in once.

Swelling and trauma

In the case of facial trauma where perhaps a tooth has been knocked out or there is significant swelling to the face, we will be able to get more or less of an idea of what your needs may be at a physical appointment and book you in for treatment as quickly as possible if it is urgent.

Cosmetic procedures and orthodontics

If you are looking to transform the look of your teeth with either an orthodontic appliance of cosmetic procedures like veneers or whitening, a simple set of photos of your smile will help us determine what you need so that we can get you in and out of the chair as soon as possible.

What is an e-consultation in Stevenage and how can new patients use it?

For new patients who have not yet been to our practice, we would like to know more about what your expectations are, in order to decide how we can accommodate you best. There is a detailed section on the SmileMate questionnaire that addresses this, as well as a chance to upload your smile photographs in order for us to get a better idea of what we are dealing with.

This process is designed to streamline our dental practice in order to make things more comfortable, convenient, and safe for you.