By Danielle 
The University of British Columbia says a new secure app is helping connect seniors in long-term care with dentistry students, addressing both patient needs and student training.
The ToothPortal app, created for Dr. Chris Wyatt, director of UBC’s Geriatric Dentistry Program, allows caregivers to upload oral health concerns—including photos, medical history, and personal details—directly to UBC servers.
“The app guides them through a series of questions: What is the problem? How urgent is it? It includes medical and dental history, contact information, and images of the patient’s mouth, all in a secure digital environment,” Wyatt said. “From there, it’s sent to our dental team for triage, so we can determine urgency and schedule appointments.”
Since January, supervised third-year dental students have used the app to screen patients in long-term care. Once image quality and patient information are confirmed, the data is passed to fourth-year students, who deliver the care. “It’s an end-to-end educational experience—from digital triage to hands-on treatment—and it’s all happening in real time,” Wyatt said.
The app has already helped reduce unnecessary appointments by enabling digital consultations and treatment planning.
The news comes as the global teledentistry market, valued at about US$2.02 billion in 2024, is projected to more than double to US$4.8 billion by 2030, growing at an annual rate of 15.3 per cent, industry analysts say.
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Research shows persistent oral health needs
Studies also show older adults, particularly those in nursing homes, often have poor oral health and limited ability to self-care. The proportion of Canadians aged 65 and older is projected to rise from 18.5 per cent in 2021 to between 21.6 and 29.8 per cent by 2068, with the population of those 85 and older expected to more than triple, from 871,400 in 2021 to between 2.8 million and 3.6 million.
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Access to dental services also remains unequal.
Seniors in lower-income households or without dental insurance are significantly less likely to seek care than their wealthier or privately insured peers. According to the 2022 Canadian Community Health Survey, only 60 per cent of seniors had seen a dental professional in the past year, and 21 per cent avoided dental visits because of cost. The survey also highlighted an “inverse care law”: seniors who perceive their oral health as poor are less likely to see a dentist, while those confident in their dental health are more likely to seek care.