Archives

Archive for October, 2008

How to Buy a Digital Photo Frame - Reviews by PC Magazine

Digital photo frames are a great way to display before and after images in the reception room or a consultation room. PC Magazine has a guide on how and what to buy.

Plain old picture frames are so last century. After all, they don’t do much more than show off one shot. Snore. Digital photo frames, [...]

JADA Downloads record high

Another sign that the Internet is taking over and enhancing our ability to access information. JADA reports the highest level of downloads yet and of course that will just keep growing. The most downloaded in 2008 the new AHA guidelines for prophylatic antibiotics.
When will the paper version of journals etc. disappear? Maybe sooner than you [...]

New Video

( General )

Check out the new video from You Tube I added to the Technology on the Rocks info page here: Great tourist information about Sedona.

ADA.org: 150th Anniversary Celebration

( General )

New ADA web site celebrating 150 years.

In August 1859, 26 men representing several existing dental associations gathered at Niagara Falls, NY, and formed what would become the American Dental Association.

ADA.org: 150th Anniversary Celebration.

Switching Management Software

In a recent post I advised against switching from one practice management system to another. That refers only to switching from one major product to another. On the other hand if you are using an older system upgrading now is a good idea. The following is from Lorne Lavine and as usual I agree with [...]

The List - Resources

( General )

You may not be aware that my main web site has a complete section with links to all kinds of online resources. Everything from Cone Beam CT to the dancing baby. Follow the link below.
The List - Resources.

The 20 Biggest Tech Disasters - Features by PC Magazine

Not every innovation is going to be a hit. These technologies—from the IBM PCjr to Facebook’s Beacon—will forever be branded as losers.
Author Chuck Palahniuk once wrote that “only after disaster can we be resurrected”; only once we’ve hit rock bottom can we get a second chance and create a better life.

The 20 Biggest Tech [...]

Concerned about CBCT radiation dose?

The link below will take you to a British study on radiation dosage and CBCT.

Image quality vs radiation dose of four cone beam computed tomography scanners

Image quality vs radiation dose of four cone beam computed tomography scanners — Loubele et al. 37 (6): 309 — Dentomaxillofacial Radiology.

S-Curve of Change

( General )

Technological change does not follow a linear progression. We tend to see change as slowly happening over time, that each year a few more people have adapted a particular new thing. That kind of change is represented by the straight black line on the drawing. However most of the time change does not happen in [...]

Should you switch Practice Management Systems?

I sometimes get this question from dentists; Should I switch practice management systems?
The answer; Are you nuts?
If you are currently using one of the leading systems (Dentrix, Practiceworks, Eaglesoft or Softdent) then there is very little benefit to switching and a great deal of cost and aggravation. These systems are all good. Each has [...]

Probing Dental Math

Dental Math: If an adult has 28 teeth and you probe six areas on each tooth: 26 x 6 = 168. If you record three findings, pocket depth, attachment loss and bleeding for each site: 168 x 3 = 504. If you record mobility, furcation involvement, plaque index, calculus and exudates you easily can add [...]

Freedom of Choice in Health Care

( General )

On Election Day, Arizonans can give the nation the gift of a good example. They can enact a measure that could shape the health care debate that will arrest or accelerate the nation’s slide into statism.
George Will : Freedom of Choice in Health Care - Townhall.com.

Guide to “Going Paperless”

Is it really possible to go paperless? How can I turn all this junk into a digital record? And why should I even bother?
The fact is that it is possible to create a completely paperless dental record. And going paperless can save you tens of thousands of dollars.
My comprehensive technology guide, “How to go paperless [...]

Tablet PC?

I am not a big fan of tablets in the dental office. They appear to be really cool but in actual use have been awkward. However if you are eager to try one out the Lenovo Think Pad X41 or the newer X60 have received the editor’s choice from PC Magazine.

The new ThinkPad X41 Tablet [...]

Get Rid of Your Cable and Watch TV on Your Cell Phone

( General )

I received the following interesting e-news from Francine Hardaway and Stealthmode Partners.
theinfrastructure is here for both digital and mobile digital media, butthe monetization models are not and the content owners are growingdesperate. We are at the disruptive stage, where newspapers and TVstations are laying off and only SOME players have figured out how tomake money [...]

Anatomage

Anatomage is a third party software that can take any cone beam CT image and create these kinds of amazing results.

More information here:

NEVER run out of anything

Inventory control in the dental office can almost always be summed up in two thoughts: I don’t want to ever ever run out of something when I need it…and I can’t bear to face my supply closet because I know it is filled with expensive stuff I will never use.
Dental inventory control is usually assigned to a [...]

What’s Your Excuse?

( General )

Some wise words from Computime. I think they are wise because they essentially agree with my believe and experience. 

One of the most common reasons dentists give for not implementing new technology is that it costs too much. On the other hand, one of the primary benefits dentists cite when they do invest in technology is [...]

Professional Healthcare Pager

Another idea for intra office communications. It is sorta a combination light pager, instant messenger, walkie-talkie.

Welcome to a new era in intra-office communications. iPAGER™ is easy to use with no contract fees! Tired of chasing each other around the office? iPAGER™ is the solution. Fits comfortably on your belt or desk. Completely programmable for everyone [...]

Walter E. Williams : Affordable Health Care

( General )

This isn’t related to technology but does relate to dentistry.

One of the campaign themes this election cycle is “affordable” health care. Shouldn’t we ask ourselves whether we want the politicians who brought us the “affordable” housing, that created the current financial debacle, to now deliver us affordable health care? Shouldn’t we also ask how things [...]