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Entries from June 2006

Get the Most

June 13th, 2006 · No Comments

Two things are required to help an office get the most out new technology. First the dentist must be involved and committed to the process. It is amazing how many dentists do not want to have anything to do with the computer. In fact some of them seem to be actively hostile. The dentist will never get the full benefit of the system unless they take the lead and actively use the computer. The improvements in office efficiency and the benefits from easy access to practice and financial data will easily pay for the system and ultimately increase office income. However it is unbelievable how many dentists not only don’t use the system but actively undermine office productivity by refusing to use the systems they have paid for. For example, some offices use an electronic chart but still keep a paper book. That is absurd; burn the book.

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Tags: Administrative

Business Books You Should Read

June 13th, 2006 · No Comments

Artful Persuasion,  Harry Mills
Selling the Invisible,  Harry Beckworth
Fish, Stephen C. Lundin, et al
The E-Myth Revisited,  Michael Gerber
First Break all the Rules,  Marcus Buckingham
The Tipping Point,  Malcolm Gladwell
 

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Tags: Administrative

RAID 1 (Not RAID 5)

June 13th, 2006 · No Comments

The most devastating computer failure for most dental offices would be a hard drive failure of the server. If the hard drive failed or was damaged it is possible to loose data and it could take days to get your computer system running properly again. There are many safeguards designed to prevent this and to help you recover data. However one of the best is to have a mirrored RAID (random array of inexpensive disks) hard drive installed on the server.
A mirrored hard drive automatically copies all data to two hard drives simultaneously. In that way the office has an up to the second back up copy of everything. In the event of a drive failure it is possible to keep everything running without even a moment’s confusion. A simple mirror device using two drives is called RAID 1.
Commonly vendors will propose a more complex three drive system called RAID 5, which requires the use of costly SCSI based drives. This system is even better than RAID 1, but it is A LOT more money. Like five times more; but it isn’t five times better.
The vast majority of dental offices should have a RAID 1, but do not need to spend the extra money on a SCSI Raid 5.
 

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Tags: Hardware · Security

New Oral Cancer Diagnostic

June 12th, 2006 · No Comments

LED Dental Inc., has been granted FDA clearance to market its Visually Enhanced Lesion Scope – or VELscope
The VELscope system consists of a light source and direct viewing handpiece that will be used during oral cancer and mucosal screenings as part of routine dental hygiene visits on all adult patients. Specifically, VELscope is an adjunctive screening device that utilizes a narrow band of high-energy blue light and specialized filter technology to help evaluate oral mucosa for abnormal areas of concern, such as potentially cancerous lesions that can be undetectable under white light.
“We are extremely pleased that the FDA has made such a swift determination on VELscope – a device that we firmly believe will help dentists, hygienists and other oral healthcare providers save countless lives by identifying oral mucosal abnormalities that are or may lead to oral cancer,” said LED Dental Inc. president, Wayne Rees.
See the web site here [1]

[1] http://velscope.com/

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Tags: Just for Fun

Compact Mouse

June 12th, 2006 · No Comments

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Tags: Hardware

Sedona is AWESOME

June 10th, 2006 · No Comments

I just got back from a scouting trip up to Sedona and it was great. The place continues to amaze me with its incredible scenery. The weather was perfect. I strolled along the galleries and shops and enjoyed a very pleasant evening. And I did manage to get in a couple of mountain bike rides.
There is still time to sign up for the Technology on the Rocks Seminar, June 22–24. Look here for details [1]. E-mail me if you are interested or have questions.

[1] http://www.drlarryemmott.com/general/speakingbike.htm

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Tags: Just for Fun

Comodo Personal Firewall 2.0 review by PC Magazine

June 8th, 2006 · No Comments

Read the whole review here: Comodo Personal Firewall 2.0 review by PC Magazine [1]

Comodo Personal Firewall is a kick-ass free firewall. It keeps hackers out and tricky unauthorized programs off the Internet. And it resists being terminated. It works as well as all but the best for-pay firewalls—and did I mention it’s free?

[1] http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1969207,00.asp

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Tags: Security · Websites & Internet

From Kodak Web Services

June 8th, 2006 · No Comments

The following was not written by me (Dr. Emmott) but is from Kodak.
“The primary functional role of the Internet is to provide a universally accessible network through which information can be communicated.   The typical vehicle used for information exchange on the Internet is a website, which supports updatable information and content that can be browsed by anyone with Internet access.   Over time, websites have evolved from read-only sources of information to fully interactive sites providing access to a variety of public and private information.  Provider-specific websites have increased in popularity, particularly as more interactive capabilities have been added to the information available at the site.  The ability for patients to check their balances, confirm and schedule appointments, download forms or make payments online is driving interest in websites among dental healthcare professionals.   Kodak’s business agreement with TeleVox provides professionally developed and hosted website solutions that include two way integration and online payment processing to its customers.
In addition to interfacing with a website, the Internet may be leveraged more subtly “behind the scenes” to support these dental electronic services.  Claims and statement submissions, as well as real time transaction services, utilize the web portal concept to transparently communicate information between applications on the Internet.  Rather than providing a graphic interface that the user manipulates, a web portal supports automation that allows secure data exchanges to occur over the Internet with minimal user interaction.  Kodak practice management systems launch an independent application thread that initiates a real time exchange of information via a secure HTTPS Internet session (using encryption techniques that meet HIPAA privacy and security standards).  The user continues to use their practice management software to perform other tasks, while in the background information is being exchanged through the web portal.  When the background task completes, a window pops up in their software, notifying the user that the task has been completed, and providing information on the results as appropriate.  This process represents one of the significant improvements in workflow in the dental practice that has come about directly as a result of the availability of the World Wide Web.”

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Tags: Administrative · Websites & Internet

Florida National Dental Convention

June 8th, 2006 · No Comments

I will be speaking here: FDA [1]: at the Florida National Dental Convention, June 15
The annual meeting of the FDA, the Florida National Dental Convention (FNDC), consistently offers the highest quality continuing education available, presented by expert clinicians from across the country. Over 250 exhibits will be on display  Special Disney rates available for attendees.
 

[1] http://www.floridadental.org/FNDC/index.html

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Tags: Just for Fun

Podcast from the AACD exhibit floor.

June 5th, 2006 · No Comments

I covered the exhibit floor at the AACD meeting in San Diego in May 2006 and found the best new and innovative products.  This podcast is a series of five minute interviews with the representatives of these products.  There is information on web sites, electronic patient communication, skin treatments, digital photography, new whitening systems, electronic […]

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Tags: Chairside CAD/CAM · Continuing Education · Dental Websites · Digital Photography · Digital Radiography · Events · News · Podcast · Search Engines · Teeth Whitening