Past Tellie Award Winners: 2022

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  Dentist/Specialist

  Dr. Jin Xiao

  Dr. Jin Xiao has transformed the clinical examination process by pushing the limits of teledentistry and combining teledentistry and artificial intelligence. Dr. Jin Xiao is among the first to incorporate artificial intelligence into existing teledentistry technologies, making teledentistry more effective, productive, and accessible to the communities she serves. This combination has transformed how she screens for dental caries outside a traditional clinic setting, making diagnosing and formulating treatment plans as convenient and accessible as possible.

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  Dental Hygienist

  Tiffany Grant, RDH

  As an advocate and champion of teledentistry for almost a decade, Tiffany Grant has traveled around the country presenting on the topic of teledentistry and has helped launch several successful teledentistry programs for associations, dental schools, and non-profits throughout the United States. She began delivering teledentistry at the first Missouri pilot program serving schools, nursing homes, and FQHC primary care offices. Tiffany is now using teledentistry in the private practice setting at Green Leaf Dental Care to expand hygiene hours and make dental care more accessible for those in her community.

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  Educational Institution

  Fones School of Dental Hygiene, University of Bridgeport

  The Fones School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Bridgeport was awarded a $225,000 grant that enabled their students to provide dental care to children, the homeless, senior citizens, veterans, and pregnant women, using teledentistry. They plan to continue this effort by making teledentistry and mobile dentistry a clinical rotation experience for all second-year students. Additionally, the Fones School of Dental Hygiene has developed a program that educates pregnant women on their heightened risk for oral health problems while providing on-site treatments to those in need.

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  Dental Organization

  Apple Tree Dental

  Apple Tree Dental has made teledentistry an integral part of their dental services to underserved areas in North Dakota and Minnesota. Their incorporation of teledentistry played a crucial role in their mid-pandemic projects that targeted triaging urgent dental concerns and providing services to children with special needs including autism, developmental delays, and rare genetic conditions that typical dental offices are not comfortable treating. Virtual consultations were crucial to the success of their projects, as Apple Tree Dental recorded increases in pediatric patients seen, reduced wait time for appointments, and more productive in-clinic time. In-office visits were also more accessible to patients and their parents, saving them time, money, missed work time, and the need to arrange for childcare.

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  Oral Health Program

  Floss and Gloss

  Teledentistry has been a pivotal part of The Floss and Gloss Program from the Purchase District Health Department. Their teledentistry rollout in 2019 has allowed them to expand oral care accessibility to school aged children across Western Kentucky. The Floss and Gloss program has since grown and is now part of 38 different schools. This year, the teledentistry program will have two dentists and will be introducing SDF treatments on qualifying children in their pilot program to treat tooth sensitivity and slow tooth decay.