2019 Tellie Awards Winners (L-R) Angie Stone, RDH, Paul Glassman, DDS, Paul Labbe, DDS, Brant Herman, CEO MouthWatch, LLC (Miquel McRae, RDH was not able to attend and accepted her award via video conference).
MouthWatch, LLC a leader in dentist-managed teledentistry solutions, digital case presentation tools and intraoral imaging devices, recognized four teledentistry pioneers during its second annual Teledentistry Innovation Awards, affectionately known as the “Tellies”. The awards were presented during an exclusive invitation-only event hosted during the recent Greater New York Dental Meeting.
The purpose of the Tellie Awards is two-fold:
1.) Highlight the many ways that teledentistry is being implemented across a broad spectrum of dental care including public health, private practice and organizational settings.
2.) Recognize individual, forward-thinking dental providers who are realizing the full potential for connected dental care technology and who are reshaping the practice of dentistry while improving the state of oral health across the country.
According to MouthWatch Founder and CEO Brant Herman, “The Teledentistry Innovation Awards continue to grow each year thanks to expanded industry awareness and the increase of new implementations that are broadening the perception of what teledentistry is and what it can do to improve the delivery of patient care.” Here are 2019 Tellie Awards winners:
Teledentistry Pioneer Award:
Paul Glassman, DDS, MA, MBA / University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
Dr. Glassman is the first recipient in the newly created “Teledentistry Pioneer” category. He is the founder of the Virtual Dental Home Program, whereby he and his team at the University of the Pacific developed a more efficient way to connect patients to dental care through the combination of technology and innovation. This care-delivery model, combined with his efforts in education, in supporting legislative changes that support teledentistry and improve access to care have helped create a landscape where more and more programs and providers are interested in teledentistry and the opportunities it creates.
Dental Innovator:
Paul Labbe, DDS / Planet Dental, Laredo TX
Dr. Labbe is a pediatric dentist with 5 office locations. He uses teledentistry to provide care to underserved children in his community. Teledentistry enables him and his team to conduct dental screenings at local schools and then in turn, provide the parents and guardians with diagnosis and treatment plans with the option to bring their children to one of his offices for restorative treatment.
Hygiene Innovator:
Angie Stone, RDH / Hylife Oral Health Alliance, Edgerton, WI
Angie and her team of oral care specialists provide onsite hygiene services to elderly patients who live in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and private homes. They use teledentistry to document each patient visit with intraoral photos and videos and to communicate with family members and participating dentists to ensure that their clients receive restorative care when needed.
Oral Health Program Innovator:
Miquel McRae, RDH, CDHC / ToothBUDDS, Pima, AZ
Miquel founded ToothBUDDS, a non-profit that employs a team of dental hygienists to provide oral care to underserved children in her area – Many of which have some form or oral disease. Miquel and her team provide education, screenings, cleanings and fluoride treatments in local school settings. Thanks to teledentistry, they can connect children with urgent dental needs to a local dentist, so they don’t fall through the cracks. (Miquel was not able to attend the event and accepted her award via video conference.)
“We congratulate and thank this year’s Teledentistry Innovation Award winners for their commitment to using teledentistry technology to make a tangible difference in improving access to care and the state of oral health in their communities, “ adds Herman. Nominations for next year’s Tellie Awards are currently being accepted online at https://teledentistryinnovationawards.com/. Self-nominations are welcome.
About MouthWatch, LLC
Headquartered in Metuchen, New Jersey, MouthWatch, LLC is a leader in leader in innovative teledentistry solutions, digital case presentation tools and intraoral imaging devices. The company is dedicated to finding new ways to constantly improve the dental health experience for both patient and provider. For more information, visit www.MouthWatch.com.
