Teledentistry: A Game-Changer for Accessible Dental Care

Online oral health appointments are helping to expand access to dental care for underserved groups.

Going to the dentist isn’t exactly the average person’s idea of a great time, but for many, it’s not even an option. Cost, scheduling, and a lack of access to providers can make regular checkups impossible. And without regular checkups, small issues can go unnoticed, snowballing into major life-altering (and expensive) emergencies.

But what if a dentist could come to you—at least virtually? That’s where teledentistry comes in.

What is Teledentistry?

It’s exactly what it sounds like—dentistry, but online. Using video calls, photos, and digital tools, teledentistry lets you consult with a dentist without stepping into a clinic. Long commutes? Gone. Waiting rooms? Eliminated. Pants? Unnecessary—but you better still be wearing them anyways. All you need to do to talk to a dentist is just hop on a video call, or send in photos of your teeth for review. A dentist on the other end will take a look, then give you advice on your next steps.

It’s no replacement for in-person visits, but it’s a great option for the simple things—like consultations, follow-ups, and basic screenings—the ones where you would have had to block out half a day for only a 10 minute conversation.

Who Can This Help?

The short answer? A lot of people.

• People in rural or underserved areas – Many communities don’t have easy access to a dentist, but a virtual consultation can help determine if an in-person visit is even necessary.

• Busy individuals and families – Instead of taking time off from work or school, patients can get quick guidance from a professional online.

• Houseless individuals – Housing struggles can make it difficult to find opportunities to see a dentist, even with low-cost or no-cost options available—but teledentistry allows anyone to see a dentist as long as they have a device with internet access.

• Those facing financial barriers – Teledentistry is often more affordable than a full office visit, with some services even being covered by Medicaid or low-cost programs.

What’s the Catch?

You’ll never get a filling over Zoom. Teledentistry won’t ever replace in-person visits, but it can bridge the gap for people who otherwise wouldn't see a dentist at all. And that’s a big deal.

More clinics are starting to offer virtual consultations, and as tech continues to improve, this could become a game-changer for dental care access.

Want to learn more about teledentistry? Check out the nonprofit CareQuest Institute for Oral Health and see how teledentistry stacks up against traditional care.

The Power of Natural

Homemade Pesticides

Using chemical sprays to control pests has proven to have many seriously harmful damages on the natural environment and human health. Reversing damages to ecosystems, plant and animal species, water contamination, crop loss, and human health has cost billions.

However, there was a time when products like Roundup did not exist and people used more natural methods to control pests. Biological Control is the practice of using natural means to maintain pests and plants. There are natural ingredients that can be used as effectively as chemical pesticides but lack the harmful side affects. Using these alternatives can lower your contribution to environmental pollution and economic cost by decreasing the dependency on chemical pesticides.

 Here are a few of the many many mixes you can make to use for pest control. These options won't harm your family or pets! You can find more here

Pesticide	Ingredients	Instructions
Oil spray	Combine 1 tablespoon dish soap + 1 cup cooking oil, add 4 tsp soap and oil mix to 1 pint of water	Spray generously once every 7 days to control aphids, thrips, spider mites, and whiteflies
Baby shampoo spray	Combine 2 tablespoons baby shampoo with 1 gallon water	Spray generously and let sit for several hours before rinsing off with water. Do use the spray in the sun of on plants with hairy leaves
Garlic Spray	10-12 garlic cloves with 1 quart of water in a blender, allow to sit for 24 hours, then strain mixture through a cheesecloth into a jar and add 1 cup cooking oil. When ready to use combine ½ cup of garlic mix with 1 gallon water	Apply liberally to plants. The scent of garlic keeps many little pests away
Red pepper spray	Combine 1 tablespoon of red pepper powder, 6 drops of dish soap and 1 gallon of water. Mix thoroughly	Spray generously on plants for control of pests like leafhoppers, spittlebugs, beetles, and loopers
Salt spray	Combine 2 tablespoons salt with 1.5 gallons of warm water, allow to come to room temperature	Spray generously to control spider mites, caterpillars, cabbage worms, and chewing insects
Citrus spray	Boil 4 cups water, remove from heat, add 2 cups orange or lemon peel, let cool and strain.	Spray to repel white flies
Peppermint tea spray	Mix together 1 tablespoon peppermint essential oil with 1 quart water	Spray liberally, repels ants
Chrysanthemum flower tea	Boil 100 grams of dried chrysanthemum slower in 1 liter water for 20 minutes, strain and let cool	Spray generously. Chrysanthemum has a chemical component that attacks insect’s nervous system. Add organic neem oil for enhanced effectiveness.

Minimal Maintenance, Eco-Friendly, Creative Lawn Alternatives

Sometimes an easier solution is a better solution. There are a number of ways to build and maintain a lawn, but if given the choice or opportunity to start from scratch, there are multiple methods of developing one’s own lawn that are both easy and sustainable.

This article (houzz - 7 Low-Maintenance Lawn Care Alternatives) outlines seven alternatives to the traditional grass lawn. While the aim of its points is to present ideas which are easier than maintaining traditional grass lawns, the end result is using far less water by volume, and far fewer mowings. Mowing with the average, gas-powered consumer lawnmower is one of the most damaging aspects of lawn maintenance, so if one can diminish the number of times a lawn needs to be mowed, perhaps the savings can be passed onto replacing the gas mower with a more economical solution like a manual mower.

Pictured: a non gas-powered lawn mowing solution

The main takeaway here is that creating and maintaining an economically-friendly lawn doesn’t necessarily have to be a lot of hard work. There are many different ways to behave and live more sustainably; hopefully, options like these can tap into a busy demographic who may be afraid that embracing sustainability equates to personal hassle.