Putting the Digital into Dentistry...

In the digital age we live in, why is dentistry still living in the dark ages when it comes to integration and collaborating with other health care providers?

Imagine a system where dentistry is on par with the rest of health care. That could mean:

• having shared access to electronic patient records(EPR) with GPs

• being able to view patient summary care records(SCR) from secondary care

• electronically prescribing (EPS) to pharmacy

• having an intelligent dental referral system (ERS)

Is this real life or is it a fantasy? It is quite a future reality! The Dental Leadership Clinical Fellows at Health Education England discussed the art of the possible at the Digitally Enabling Dentistry Conference on the 26th August 2017, demonstrating how other sectors in health are supporting the digital agenda set by NHS Five Year Forward View and the Wachter Review.

Community pharmacy not only receive electronic prescriptions from GPs, but they too can now access SCR. GP practices have data sharing agreements allowing them to securely share patient records with neighbouring GP practices and services, and trusts such as South London & Maudsley have a cloud based EPR system allowing them to access patient records regardless of location and environment.

Digital dentistry is not just about the latest scanners and imaging systems, it goes further as part of shared responsibility with other healthcare providers. With the advent of an aging population, chronic long-term conditions and medicine related interactions, surely the dental profession should be aware of the risks their patients carry? Having whole patient information at the touch of a button ensures decision making when it needs to be made. Now is the time to put digital into dentistry.