Search

The article discusses the use of e-services in dentistry. It describes e-services as online, automatic services that use digital information. It cites examples of the use of e-services such as checking insurance eligibility of patients, e-billing, and contacting and reactivating nonresponsive patients.

The article introduces new dental technology solutions for a dental practice. Handheld X-ray devices like the NOMAD from Airbex replace the wall-based X-ray units, wherein the bone density of the teeth can be assessed while holding them like mobile phones. Digital video procedure scopes like MagnaVu from Magnified Video Dentistry replace the overhead surgical light in dental screening and documentation through digital imaging and enhanced magnification.

The article discusses the utilization of digital workflow in dental practices. It explains the concept of paperless system of records, charting and scheduling workflow. The author describes the advantages of transferring data from paper to digital. He argues that digital data changes everything in dental practices and it offers a positive future for the field of dentistry.

The article focuses on the emergence of digital technology into dental photography. It says that conventional photography, which uses a camera, photographic film, chemicals, processing and printing materials, limits the ability to send impressions and storage. In contrast, digital photography permits users to capture, process, display, store and transmit the photographs. It adds that digital photography helps design a restoration using computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM).

The article describes several application software designed for the dental profession. These include Yet Another Practice Interface (YAPI) for improving communication between a dental practice's team members, Smile Reminder for sending reminders to patients via a text or email, and Dental Sharing for sharing of digital images of patients.

In the article, the author discusses the various misconceptions concerning the use of digital radiography in the dental practice. He cites the opinion of XDR Radiography founder Doug Yoon on the use of digital radiography, particularly the two different types of resolution used in digital radiography. The resolutions are the spatial resolution and contrast resolution.

The article evaluates the return on investment (ROI) of high technology products that are being used by dental offices. It discusses the Practice Activator that was set up at the clinic of Dr. Irina Ganzha in San Jose, California with 300 U.S. dollars as monthly fee. It also notes the Cubex program installed by the Marlborough, Massachusetts New England Dental Group at the cost of 28,450 U.S. dollars and 129 USD monthly payment for Cubex Smart Inventory Management (SIM). It notes how ROI will increase with the use of the systems mentioned.