COVID-19 has forced the closure of most dental facilities across the nation allowing only urgent and critical dental procedures to occur. We fully support these protective measures to safeguard our community. It does make it quite difficult to care for our patients as we would wish though. At this time, with higher incidences in our community of Covid-19 and with the inability to get PPE’s for the protection of patients and staff, we are trying to find new means to keep patients at home and healthy yet be available for some dental needs.
We cannot offer the same level of availability as we always strive for, yet we plan to do all that we can. To accomplish this, we are now offering TELEDENTISTRY (virtual dental consultations and guidance).
HOW DOES A TELEDENTISTRY APPOINTMENT WORK?
Should you have a dental issue that you feel needs to be addressed, simply log on to www.lollinidentistry.com and click on the top tab on the main page which is called Teledentistry. Fill out the intake form at the bottom of the page. This will forward to Dr. Lollini who will contact you to arrange a time to talk when she can be by your patient records. Alternatively, you can call Dr. Lollini (925-413-8827) and leave a message or text about your situation. She will forward the same intake form to you and will set up a time for the Teledentistry appointlment.
Dr. Lollini will conduct the appointment while accessing your digital office record so that images and history may be utilized. You can choose if to connect through Facetime, Skype, Zoom or in some cases just the phone line. Visual images/video are helpful for these assessments. It may be of benefit in some cases to have the help of someone to help get an image of the situation with phone and flashlight. Any image taken can be texted to me prior at (925-413-8827).
Dependant on findings, the best course of care will be determined whether it is ok to wait, advised homecare, a prescription or a referral if appropriate. If the situation is urgent, an appointment at the office will be set up.
Should work or follow-up be needed yet not urgently, we would then prioritize and put you into the queue for when we open to routine procedures. The goal at this time is to address all significant dental needs while protecting everyone from the spread of Coronavirus.
WILL MY INSURANCE PAY FOR THIS TYPE OF AN APPOINTMENT?
Most insurance companies cover these expenses when needed. Although we can’t speak for each company, in light of the global issue and inability for most patients to get care in a dental office, most insurances have loosened restrictions.