According to Harrogate News, an orthodontist from Wetherby, England, has become one of the first dental specialists in the UK to develop her own iPhone app.
Megan Hatfield, BChD, MDentSci, FDS, MOrth RCS (Eng), of Wetherby Orthodontics, developed the SendASmile app, which allows users to take a photo of their teeth and then send it in for orthodontic assessment.
Hatfield (pictured) said, "It can be hard for patients to give accurate information over the phone about how crowded their teeth are or what their overbite is like, so a photo is very useful and means I can often spot things the patient or their dentist might not notice."
She hopes the app will help patients currently undergoing treatment to keep in touch and anyone considering orthodontic work to make initial inquiries. She believes it will be particularly useful for reaching out to the growing adult orthodontic market.
SendASmile was designed by Wetherby technology firm Appware, whose offices are based in Megan’s former dental practice. It’s free to download and has been developed to include a Twitter feed, blog posts, links to Facebook and YouTube, directions to her practice, and an information video.
Hatfield added, "I’m a bit geeky when it comes to technology, and I’m also very conscious that it’s no longer enough for a business to simply have a Web site. Phones are used for so much more than just calling people, and anything that makes it easier for people to get in touch has to be a good thing."
