Practice management

Laser treatment is now state-of-the-art in many disciplines of dentistry and is rapidly being recognized as the standard of care for many procedures. Seamless, efficient, and successful integration of lasers into a dental practice takes time and effort on the part of the dentist. Restructuring of fee schedules to reflect superior laser-based care and an internal and external marketing plan are essential for the dentist to recoup his or her investment in this new technology. Training the staff in laser technology and becoming familiar with new reimbursement codes (for medical and dental insurance) may become necessary. The mission statement and practice philosophy of providing superior care with less discomfort now can be realized with the integration of lasers into a dental practice.     

Practice management in pediatric dentistry

Good practice management in the pediatric dental office is not piecemeal, sporadic, or a series of random, uncoordinated activities. Instead, it encompasses the philosophy of the practice; is centered around the patient; and is a fluid, consistent management function. It begins with the pediatric dentist as the leader and continues in all phases of daily activity. It is a well-developed, highly functioning system. It results in staff and patient loyalty and high patient satisfaction. It is an ongoing, continuously active, evolutionary process. It permits a positive attitude of professional growth for the entire pediatric dental staff team.     

New online management software and DICOM viewer for dentistry

The way we collect, store, and share dental records of our patients is rapidly becoming digital. Many programs have been designed to run on a single computer or local network to handle various tasks, so selecting a system can be complex; it can require high acquisition costs, update fees, and installation difficulties. The purpose of this article is to explain the architecture, characteristics, and advantages related to Web-based Management Software. In particular, this article describes the first Web-based Electronic Medical Record (DocSapiens.com), which is able to view and edit DICOM files directly online.