1. Begin with the End in Mind:
Have a plan and a goal before you start

2. Establish a technology infrastructure:
Integrated practice management software

Computers networked in the treatment rooms

3. Add the “Big 2”:
Digital images

Digital radiography

4. Non-dental programs:
Word processing

Checkbook

Anti virus

5. Add advanced dental applications:
CAD CAM

Digital Diagnostics

Computerized probes

6. Keep a future focus; be open to evolving technologies:
Internet

3D Images

Mobile

From PC Magazine.

 Tablets are becoming thinner, lighter, more powerful, and more affordable than ever. Whether it’s a new dual-screen form factor, transforming dock, or sub-$200 price tag, tablets are poised to make significant strides in 2012.

via 5 Great Tablets at CES 2012 – Slideshow from PCMag.com.

Tablets were big news at CES last year. They are still big news however the fact we are still talking about them as a future technology indicates we still haven’t really incorporated them into everyday work.

In dentistry I see tablets as a valuable extra but not as a replacement for desktops in the treatment rooms. A tablet will be the computer each team member caries with them from room to room to read and write notes view images and communicate with the rest of the office. However we will still need a treatment room computer to capture and process diagnostics such as x-ray images.

Related iPad 3

From Dr. Bicuspid (Registration Required). The article notes that the research  confirms the safety of Nomad (one of my favorite products) and that there are 6000 handheld devices in use in the US.

January 16, 2012 — Dental care providers and their patients need not worry about radiation exposure when using the Nomad handheld intraoral xray device (Aribex), according to a new study in Health Physics (February 2012, Vol. 102:2, pp. 137-142).

via DrBicuspid Imaging.

More, and more fun too.

Dentists often ask about touch screens for the treatment rooms. I am not sure this is a good idea. Touch screens offer some minimal asepsis benefits but require the user to go to the screen to enter data or access something, like an x-ray and I believe the actual work-flow of a treatment room is hampered by touch screens.

On the other hand this may be a very nice option for a reception room kiosk or patient use terminal.

Pros: Large, responsive touch-screen display. Blu-ray player. TouchSmart interface is great. Screen tilts and reclines. Wireless keyboard and mouse.

via HP TouchSmart 9300 Elite Review & Rating | PCMag.com.

One of my favorite products is the Nomad handheld x-ray machine. The Nomad is obviously economical and flexible but it is not so obviously a great benefit to certain patients. For example, wheelchair patients.

In the past wheelchair bound patients would either have to transfer to the dental chair, which was often very difficult or impossible, or stay in the wheelchair and we would try and take radiographs with limited success. The Nomad allows us to take radiographs anywhere not just in an overcrowded treatment room.

It is also a benefit for young and or anxious patients. The hygienist taking the image stays in the room next to the patient and she/he can reassure and calm the patient resulting in faster results with fewer retakes and happier patients.

As a dental practice consultant, I’ve observed one of the fastest growing trends in dentistry is putting computers in the treatment rooms. The question then arises…OK now that I have all these computers, where the heck do I put this stuff?  Many dentists either just assume there is no room for a computer or they stuff it somewhere between the sink and the glove dispenser … then wonder why it doesn’t work very well.

My comprehensive technology guide, “Computers in the Treatment Rooms” lists the six keys to computers in the operatory and it will answer the basic question…Why bother?  It then provides step by step help in setting up the computers, including the four access points, avoiding mistakes and resources for hard to locate parts and accessories.

“Computers in the Treatment Rooms” will answer all your questions, provide a plan and show you how to save money… all delivered in a fun and easy to understand style.

Follow the link to order your copy today.

If you want to use video to entertain or distract patients in the dental office do not get a DVD player just use your Internet connection and stream movies or TV to them via a treatment room monitor, an iPad or even video glasses. The newest online movie system is Vudu which is reviewed below.

Vudu, the Wal-Mart-backed streaming video service aims to replace all of those services courtesy of a slick Web player, compatibility with a nice array of devices, and same-day-as-DVD releases. Still, it could benefit from having more movies available for rent,

via Vudu Review & Rating | PCMag.com.

Pole Mounts

Placing computer monitors in the treatment rooms so that both the patient and the dental team can use them is a challenge. If your dental chair/unit has a light pole the obvious solution is a pole mount. These work, however they are less stable than wall or ceiling mounts. Every time the light or chair is moved the monitor can shift. They are also often in the way when seating or dismissing the patient. The dentist may not be able to reach the monitor or will have to reach way across the patient to get it.

There are pole mounts from general supply companies like ICW and Ergotron, or from dental equipment manufacturers. I will leave it to experienced dental shoppers to figure out which is the most expensive.

For more help with computer hardware and where to put it check this out:

According to the semi scientific results from the TV show Mythbusters computer keyboards have more “nasty” germs than a toilet seat.

Finally, Adam and Jamie decided they needed a larger sample size to provide better results. They enlisted a group of biology students at UC Berkeley to collect more samples from the top five dirtiest surfaces. After collecting and analyzing these samples, the final list was as follows.

kitchen sponge (most dirty)

money

computer keyboard

toilet seat

light switch (least dirty)

via MythBusters Episode 135: Hidden Nasties.