As teledentistry becomes a more integral part of modern dental practices, particularly for triage, follow-up care, and treatment planning, New Jersey dentists must keep pace with evolving compliance requirements. What began as a temporary solution during the COVID-19 pandemic has now solidified into a permanent feature of dental care. But with this shift comes tighter regulations and increased scrutiny from both state boards and payors.
The Growing Role of Teledentistry
Teledentistry offers real advantages, including:
- Efficient triage of emergency cases
- Virtual post-op follow-up and medication management
- Remote consultations and treatment planning with specialists
- Expanded access for patients with mobility or transportation challenges
However, convenience cannot come at the cost of compliance. Dental boards, insurers, and HIPAA enforcement bodies are closely watching how virtual care is delivered.
Key Compliance Areas for NJ Dentists
Licensing and Location Requirements
Teledentistry services must comply with the rules of the state where the patient is physically located. If the patient is in New Jersey, you must hold a valid New Jersey dental license. Providing care to patients in other states, especially through remote consultations, can trigger out-of-state licensure issues unless a state-specific exemption applies.
Standard of Care Must Be Maintained
Virtual visits must meet the same clinical standards as in-person care. This includes maintaining thorough documentation, obtaining informed consent, ensuring proper follow-up, and referring patients for in-person evaluations when needed.
HIPAA-Compliant Technology Is Not Optional
Using FaceTime or Zoom without a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) is no longer permitted under HIPAA’s enforcement discretion, which expired post-pandemic. Teledentistry platforms must be secure, encrypted, and HIPAA-compliant. Review your vendors’ security standards and ensure BAAs are in place.
Informed Consent and Disclosures
Patients must be informed about what teledentistry entails — its limitations, risks, and privacy policies. Obtain specific consent for virtual care, separate from your general treatment consent forms. Be transparent about the technology being used and how patient data is stored and protected.
Billing and Coding Accuracy
Teledentistry billing errors are increasingly under scrutiny. Use the correct CDT codes for teledentistry (e.g., D9995 for synchronous, D9996 for asynchronous) and ensure that your documentation supports the billed services. Verify that payor’s policy covers the services rendered
Recordkeeping and Audit Preparedness
Keep detailed records of each virtual encounter, including time, modality (video, phone), participants, findings, and patient instructions. Be audit-ready — especially for Medicaid and insurance-reimbursed teledentistry visits
Final Thought: Integrate Responsibly
Teledentistry can elevate patient care and improve efficiency, but only when done within regulatory guardrails. Don’t treat virtual visits as shortcuts. Treat them as professional encounters that carry the same legal and ethical obligations as traditional chairside care.
How Frier Levitt Can Help
If your practice is offering or considering teledentistry, now is the time to review your policies, vendor agreements, and consent forms, and make sure your team is properly trained. Regulatory compliance is a critical part of delivering modern dental care.
Frier Levitt has extensive experience advising dental practices on regulatory compliance, operational strategy, and patient care coordination. We regularly assist clients in evaluating their current processes and implementing strategies to remain compliant in response to regulatory changes.
