Dental Software: Tools for Success (Contd.)

Dental software isn't just about integration, it is also about implementation.
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Dental Practice Management Software

Dental practice management software requires proper implementation before it can be declared 100% functional. Different offices will have different workflows and some of the software systems will not match up at all with the needs of the practice. In addition, for any sort of software implementation to work properly, it must never be attempted without it being carefully planned out.

For example, the worst form of dental software implementation is a complete conversion without testing. Without professional help, you have a good chance of massive data loss, needed functions for office staff not working, and a lot of unnecessary stress. Data loss is one of the most troubling problems. Without backups of the data, a practice could, in a worst case scenario, end up closing its doors. Data in a practice is usually medical records of patients as well as things such as fiscal information. That's why if you run a dental practice, you must err on the side of caution where converting your software is concerned.

Dental Software and Its Implementation: Final Thoughts

Compare with the template presented by the developers and reflect objectively on the possibilities. Ask yourself a bunch of questions. Any legacy systems that will need to be incorporated? What about records? Should you go for a partial conversion, a phased conversion, or a complete switch over? Installing a trial version, if available, is perhaps the best way to determine if the specific brand is perfect for your practice. Consider the long-term goals. An investment such as this should be capable of serving your needs for a long time with periodic updates. If it the design is not in line with the future of the dental practice, you should look for one that is more flexible. Changing your system after some time is expensive and inconvenient.

Finally, your ideal choice should be user-friendly. It may not seem like a key aspect but it is what determines how well the other functions will serve you. Most programs are designed in such a way that the user will figure it out intuitively with minimal guidance. Your staff should be able to quickly figure out how to work with it so that the transition will be easy. Think about all these features before you purchase. Remember choosing the best dental practice management software is about meeting your practice's present as well as future needs.

Read more on this subject...

DentiMax, LLC
4115 E. Valley Auto Dr.
Suite 101
Mesa, AZ 85206
(800) 704-8494
(480) 396-1798
http://www.dentimax.com

Dental Software: Tools for Success

Having the right dental practice management software is crucial in attaining success. Technological advance has changed the way schedules are organized and finances are managed. There are a number of management programs available in the software market and some are tailored to suit the exact needs that are faced in dental practices.

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Dental Software:  Which One is the Right Fit?

Choosing dental software that is the right fit will mean that the staff will work together more seamlessly and you will have an automated program to account for the flow of funds. There are charting options available for these programs that will allow the dentist to record notes more efficiently and store the information more efficiently.

The Key Factors to Consider

Developers have provided different tools and it is imperative that the practice chooses the most ideal match. Some established companies as well as the newer designers have presented dental practice management software. Some brands have already gained popularity and are already being used in many offices. When choosing your perfect brand, you should consider some aspects. The most popular or the most expensive is not necessarily the right choice for your practice. You should also recognize that these programs do receive frequent updates to make certain that they are running well. Choose a brand that has flexibility and provides periodic enhancements for the software.

Financial management is perhaps the most important part of management software. Efficiency in dealing with funds within the practice should be high. Proper accountability goes beyond income and expenditure. A good program will allow you to have the individual details for all the patients and have quick access when required. There are also various monetary details that should be covered efficiently to avoid unforeseen confusion. You will also enjoy easy access to your financial reports as often as you would like. You will get proper insight on the working of your dental practice and consequently, it will be easier to make vital decisions.

Final Thoughts About Software for  Your Practice

Consider several things where dental software is concerned.  First off, can your practice afford it, or or more accurately, what's your budget?  Next, will it work with your existing platforms?  Finally, how easy is it to use, and does it require training?

When you know the answers to these questions, and you find a vendor that can provide support as well, then you know that you've found the right dental software for you, your practice, and your employees.

You also need to know some key points regarding implementation...

DentiMax, LLC
4115 E. Valley Auto Dr.
Suite 101
Mesa, AZ 85206
(800) 704-8494
(480) 396-1798
http://www.dentimax.com

Dental Software and the Modern Practice (Contd)

For it to be any good, dental software has to have a lot of features and selling points...

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Dental Software: Features, Training, and Support

If you are looking for dental office management software, you will need to make sure that its features are a good fit for your practice. However, there are other things that you have to have along with your purchase or you run the risk of your practice losing money.

Training and Support

Once you have explored the various features offered by a dental software program, the next step is to determine the kind of training that will be required to allow you to use it. Proper training is necessary to make it easy for dental practice staff to adapt to not only using the software but to use it effectively. Find a program that is willing to offer the kind of training required to use them when you make a purchase. Training is the only way to ensure the program is integrated into the practice and it should not be overlooked.

Support is another important consideration to keep in mind when selecting dental practice software. Most dental practices overlook the expenses they will incur to access ongoing support. Choose a program that offers a comprehensive support package. You need to find out if there are any updates that will be required particularly in the initial year. It is also important to determine how much the updates will cost you in the long term. Establish the channels used to offer support such as email and chat and whether there are time restrictions.

Picking Dental Practice Management Software

When it comes to selecting dental practice software, you need to identify what is important and then compare the various features offered by the different program options. Consider the support and get objective details from practices that are currently using the program to determine if it is appropriate for you. In addition you want to make sure that there is full support for the program. Some software is dirt cheap, but any support you'll have will be minimal at best.

So remember, you want a lot of different things, such as features, hardware and software compatibility, training and support and more.

When you have all of those things lined up, then it is simply a matter of checking your available budget versus the cost of the dental software you want for your practice.

DentiMax, LLC
4115 E. Valley Auto Dr.
Suite 101
Mesa, AZ 85206
(800) 704-8494
(480) 396-1798
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Dental Software and The Modern Practice

Dental software plays an essential role in a modern practice’s success. This is because there is a shift from manual to electronic medical records. Various programs have been developed over the years to make it easy for dental practices to record patient information. However, all dental practices need to consider various factors when selecting software. 

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Dental Software For Your Practice: What You Must Know

Factors for picking the right dental software include:

Software and Hardware Platform Compatability

This should be one of the first considerations when choosing software for a dental practice. It is advisable to choose a program whose software and hardware platform allows for expansion in the future. A dental practice may expand its operations in a few years and this makes it necessary to acquire a program that can accommodate the changes. It is also important to note that today’s dental practices apply a variety of technology and for this reason, it is better to purchase software that can easily integrate them.

Features

Once you have identified a few dental software options, it is essential to explore the features offered by each. The variety of programs available can actually be overwhelming. There is no perfect software and you will have to consider your needs and determine if the features provided meet them fully.

Most programs come with several features but most dental practices only use a limited number for their electronic medical records. There are certain critical features that you should look for including:

• Insurance estimation
• Insurance processing
• Patient management
• Practice parameters
• Scheduling
• Treatment planning
• Patient registration

Good dental software programs offer both clinical and administrative features. Look for a program that easily fits with your processes and practice in general. A well-designed program will not force you to make changes to accommodate it.  On that subject there are other things to consider when you're looking for a program for your practice.

Dental Practice Management Software:  Ease of Use

Any well-written dental practice management software program should also have some other features  before you install it.  For one thing it should either have the ability to communicate with any legacy systems that your practice may still be running, or if it cannot communicate with them, it should replace them as seamlessly as possible.  Above all else, your software should be easy to use with a clean and uncluttered interface.  Even with training and support, if the program is too complicated, you are likely going to stress out and freeze when you need to do any practice related tasks.

So, remember, not all software is the same.  Some are too complicated to use, others simple, but they don't have any features.  Ultimately, whichever program you decide on, make sure that it is the right dental software for your practice.

DentiMax, LLC
4115 E. Valley Auto Dr.
Suite 101
Mesa, AZ 85206
(800) 704-8494
(480) 396-1798
http://www.dentimax.com

The Five “Hidden” Costs of Digital Sensors (Contd)

Read the first part of this article about digital sensors...

Welcome to the Digital Age| Try our Digital Sensors |(800) 704-8494

As we covered previously, sometimes digital sensors have hidden costs..

Digital Sensors and Their Hidden Costs

#4 –Bridging Software

Practice management compatibility can be a confusing aspect of digital sensors and their corresponding imaging software.  Most imaging programs can link, bridge, or integrate with your practice management software.  This may be an additional cost that is buried in your sensor quote.  Or, worse, it is sometimes omitted completely.  In addition, make sure that you understand how the bridge works, as well as which “side” is responsible for “bridging” the systems.  The last thing you want is finger pointing when the bridge stops working.  If yours is a new practice and you are not already “married” to practice management software, consider purchasing  sensors and practice management software from the same company.  Companies like DentiMax offer both systems, which completely removes the possibility of this type of finger pointing.

Imaging Software and Final Points

#5 – Imaging Software

The imaging software that comes with your sensor more than likely will not work with a competitor’s sensor.  Unfortunately, your new sensors will not last forever, and when the time comes to purchase a new sensor, if your software only works with one manufacturer’s sensor, you will be forced to purchase their sensors at their prices – no other option.  The deal you are now getting to purchase their initial system may not be the deal you get down the road.  In addition, the company that has the best sensor today may not be the company that will have the best sensor in five or ten years.  Choose a company that provides software that gives you the freedom to use any sensor, digital pan, and/or digital camera.   Fortunately, DentiMax and a few other companies offer “universal” imaging software that works with most sensors on the market.   Locking yourself into a closed software program may make you feel a bit trapped and claustrophobic when it comes time to shop for a new sensor – a real, unfortunate opportunity cost.

Summary

Make sure you figure all fees into the total price of your digital sensor purchase.  By looking at the individual costs for support/maintenance, warranties, updates, bridges, and imaging software, you will know your sensor system’s true price.  And armed with this knowledge, you will be able to  cut through sales “talk” and make the best, most informed decision possible.

This concludes our two part series on digital sensors

DentiMax, LLC
4115 E. Valley Auto Dr.
Suite 101
Mesa, AZ 85206
(800) 704-8494
dentimax.com

The Five “Hidden” Costs of Digital Sensors

There are a lot of purchases you can make for your practice. Some like dental software are a needed asset and require very little thought. With digital sensors, however, you have to be ready for more...

The Five “Hidden” Costs of Digital Sensors

By Jim Ramey

The sensor itself is just one component of your total digital imaging system’s cost.

When shopping for a new digital sensor, become familiar with the various costs associated with the sensor, other than simply the cost of the sensor itself.  Some of these costs are fairly obvious, such as the extended warranty cost, and others are not so obvious, such as monthly recurring fees and opportunity costs.  Applying my five cost factors will help you determine a sensor’s true cost and provide you the information you need to make accurate cost comparisons between today’s sensor market offerings.

#1  – Monthly Fees

Monthly fees can add up fast and are something that you may pay as long as you own your sensors.  Find out what these fees are before you make your purchase decision.  Monthly fees can show up as software support agreements, warranty fees, or maintenance fees.  These fees can run as much as several hundred dollars each month.  I have heard many practices make the complaint, “we can’t even talk to a real person until they make sure our support fees are current.”   Make sure that you know what these total monthly fees are, and multiply that figure by how many years you plan to keep your practice.  You may be surprised how much monthly fees can add to the true cost of the sensor.

#2 – Warranties

Most companies automatically include a limited manufacturer’s warranty with their sensors and offer an extended warranty for an additional fee.  Extended warranties vary greatly as to what they cover, how long they last, and how much they cost.  It usually is a good idea to get an extended warranty on your sensor – especially if you only purchase one sensor.  But the terms and costs, as well as the conditions of these warranties, vary widely.  Not only do you need to include the total warranty cost in your total price of the sensor (some warranties are paid monthly for the life of your practice), but you need to be aware of the terms and conditions so you know how and when you can get a replacement sensor or a loaner sensor while your sensor is being repaired.

#3 – Updates

Many companies charge fees to get updates and bug fixes for their imaging software.  Make sure that you ask about software update fees, the frequency of these updates, and then add these amounts to the cost of your imaging system.  Better to ask now than to be surprised later.

Digital Sensors and Smart Buying

As you probably see, purchasing digital sensors may be more complicated than you might think.

More about digital sensors...

DentiMax, LLC
4115 E. Valley Auto Dr.
Suite 101
Mesa, AZ 85206
(800) 704-8494
dentimax.com

DIGITAL X-RAY VIRGINS Contd

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Digital X-Rays?

After doing a good deal of research, the system I finally chose was DentiMax. There were several reasons I choose that company’s Dream Sensor. The first was that I found the quality to be amazing and the price was the lowest I had seen anywhere. This made me skeptical, but further research with CRA and other literature helped convince me that this sensor—and its low price—was not too good to be true. I was delighted to find the sensor was very highly rated. This, of course, made them an incredible value.

Another reason I chose this system is the open architecture software. This lets me use my current wireless RF Systems intraoral camera in conjunction with the x-ray imaging software and keep my patient photos organized in the same place as the digital x-rays. Another nice feature is that the Dream Sensor is thinner than most other sensors I looked at, and it has rounded corners. These details helped curb my concerns about patient discomfort.

My final concern, of course, was the diagnostic quality of the digital sensor in my own office. I had seen the studies and the comparisons, which were all favorable, but what would the x-rays look like on my monitor? DentiMax was especially helpful in extinguishing this concern and let me test the Dream Sensor in my office before I bought it.  They also provided all the support I needed to achieve stunningly clear images, which had me diagnosing carious lesions I had missed on previous film x-rays.

I am still in my first year of losing my digital x-ray virginity, and it has been fun to see that my patients have responded favorably to the new technology. They have been much more prompt in scheduling appointments because I can now show them exactly what is wrong and they clearly understand the need for the proposed treatment.

I have zero regrets about the transition to digital x-rays, and I still haven’t seen a better system out there with a better value.  If you still exist in the realm of Digital X-Ray Virginity, I hope my experience will ignite a desire in you to take the plunge. You’ll never regret making the move.

DentiMax, LLC
4115 E. Valley Auto Dr.
Suite 101
Mesa, AZ 85206
(800) 704-8494
(480) 396-1798
http://www.dentimax.com