Ed Calvert, marketing manager at DentalMonitoring UKI, explains how remotely reviewing patients improves clinical outcomes.
In many NHS orthodontic practices, long waiting lists have become the norm. Schedules fill months in advance, urgent appointments are difficult to accommodate, and clinical teams often feel they are working at capacity without gaining meaningful efficiency.
This was the situation facing specialist orthodontist Dr Monica Reinach. With a waiting list stretching to 14 weeks, even small changes to diary appointments could create major disruption.
After introducing DentalMonitoring (DM) across her NHS patient base, Dr Reinach reports a dramatic shift.
‘I feel since starting DM, I’m actually more in control of the treatment. I feel it’s like I’ve seen every single patient before their visit,’ she said.
By remotely reviewing patient progress between appointments, she is able to intervene earlier, adjust prescriptions in real time, and ensure that in-person appointments are used only when clinically necessary.
From 14 weeks to four weeks
The impact on patient access has been clear and measurable.
Dr Reinach said: ‘I reduced my waiting time or booking list from 14 weeks down to four, which has led to it being a lot more flexible. We’ve been able to accommodate patients who’ve had bracket failures or had to cancel appointments. All of it has made us much more efficient and able to run our diaries in a much better way.’
For many practices, emergency appointments and cancellations create unpredictable pressure. In this case, regained control of the diary has provided space for both planned and reactive care.
Stronger collaboration, clearer clinical direction
A key change in clinical workflow has been the interaction between Dr Reinach and her orthodontic therapists.
Previously, therapists would often see patients weeks after the treatment plan had been reviewed, meaning instructions were sometimes outdated by the time they were applied.
‘Where previously there would be two visits between me checking the patient and the therapist seeing them, the prescription by the time they saw the patient was 12 weeks old. Now it will be much more up-to-date — it wouldn’t be more than three or four weeks.’
DM also supports same-day decision-making: ‘Even on that specific day, if there’s any questions, the therapist can always ring me and I can have a look on my screen quickly and just say, yes, go ahead, or no, I think we need to make a change.’
For therapists, the change has been transformative.
Sue, an orthodontic therapist in the practice, reflects: ‘The biggest change in my role has been that communication with the orthodontist has been so much nicer, so much easier.
‘Before the patient comes in, I know exactly what’s going on and I can pick up from what I see on DentalMonitoring – what I need to fix, what I need to correct.’
Her initial reaction to remote monitoring was one many clinicians may recognise: ‘At first, when I heard about DentalMonitoring, I was dead against it. I thought, there is no way I’m giving my job up for an AI company.’
But her experience changed her perspective entirely: ‘Since Monica implemented it in the practice, it’s been absolutely amazing. Not only have I got more security in my job, I’ve become more efficient, more professional in my work, knowing exactly what I need to do.’
Better experience for patients and families
The benefits are not limited to clinicians.
Danielle, whose daughter Roxy is undergoing treatment, describes improved accessibility and convenience: ‘Roxy’s brace broke. I messaged through the app and we got a response straight away and an appointment. That saved phone calls, especially where we live because our reception is terrible. It’s saved so much time and just fits into our lifestyle.’
Roxy herself highlighted engagement: ‘It’s nice to see the stages – from when it was first taken to months later and you actually see the teeth movement.’
Control, confidence and capacity
DM has not replaced clinical judgement it has extended it. By increasing the frequency and quality of review, Monica has created more capacity, more flexibility, and more confident clinical decision-making, without adding appointments or staff.
The result is a calmer diary, clearer collaboration, and more convenient care.
See the workflow in action
Want to understand exactly how Dr Monica Reinach reduced her appointment backlog from 14 weeks to four? Join the Practice Visit Waitlist to observe the system in real time and speak with the clinical team.
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This article is sponsored by DentalMonitoring UKI.
