dentalblogs.com

dental news for dentists from the best minds in dentistry today

dentalblogs.com header image 2

Entries Tagged as 'Office Design'

Smile Radio Soothes the Savage Beast…and the Dental Patient!

February 18th, 2010 · 6 Comments

MEDIA RELEASE February 17, 2010 New Digital Music Service Designed Just For Dental Practices Boulder, CO – Dental offices now have a better alternative for their in-office music. Custom Channels, a company that creates custom on-line and on-premise radio stations for nationally known brands, has launched Smile Radio – a music service specifically designed for […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Administrative · Office Design

Dental Office Design Competition 2008 – Matsco

May 22nd, 2009 · 2 Comments

Are you considering designing or redesigning your detnal office? Be sure to look at the three practices that won Dental Office Design Competition 2008 by Matsco. This month’s Dental Economics features an article, with great photos, by Dr. Terrance Swonke of Swonke Family Denitstry, owner of the practice that won the competition.

[Read more →]

Tags: Administrative · Office Design

Dentists can “Wow” within Reason

June 17th, 2008 · Comments Off on Dentists can “Wow” within Reason

What makes your practice different? What makes patients want to come back? It’s a hot term in the industry, The Wow Effect or The Wow Factor. What is it? Dr. Joe Blaes, editor for Dental Economics and a renowned dental speaker and educator, wrote about Wow-ing patients in “Focus On: Equipment” in the May 2008 […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Office Design

Multiple Monitors, Expert Help by PC Magazine

December 18th, 2007 · No Comments

I am a big proponent of multiple monitors everywhere in the dental office. See the PC Mag article linked below for instructions on how to do it. Here is my office manager Jackie with two monitors at the front desk.

I’m going to assume that you have Microsoft Windows XP or Windows Vista. Given that, you’ll need a graphics card or graphics subsystem that supports multiple displays. Any video card manufactured in the past three years—even the budget cards—can do that. But take a minute to refer to your PC’s manual if your system has only integrated graphics hardware—that is, a graphics adapter that’s built into your system’s motherboard chipset. Some integrated graphics systems can handle more than one display, but others can’t. The bottom line is that you need a graphics adapter with two physical connectors—either VGA or DVI—and two displays with appropriate connections. If you have a video card with two DVI ports, but one or both of your displays has only VGA connectors, you can obtain DVI-to-VGA adapter dongles.
Multiple Monitors, Multiple Questions – Expert Help by PC Magazine [1].

[1] http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2704,2193386,00.asp

[Read more →]

Tags: Hardware · Office Design

Mini Silver Keyboard

December 4th, 2007 · No Comments

A good source for small foot print keyboards; ideal for treatment rooms.

Mini Silver Keyboard Price $79.95
Product Details
Features 11.81″W x 5.91″D x 0.71″H 88 standard size keys. Functionality of a 104 keyboard. Great for desk with limited work space. Available in PS/2, USB or USB with bilt-in Hub Scissors keycaps makes typing silent, stable and comfortable Fully compatible with Windows 95 98 Me, NT 2000 XP
Mini Silver Keyboard – See Options [1].

[1] http://www.ergonomicsmadeeasy.com/index.asp?pageaction=

[Read more →]

Tags: Hardware · Office Design

Dual Entry

November 27th, 2007 · No Comments

A simple and inexpensive, yet very powerful component to effective use of technology in the treatment room is multiple inputs. Input refers to any device, which allows the user to access the computer. The most common input devices are a keyboard and mouse. However there are other options as well such as light pens, touch pads, track balls, pen tablets, mini keyboards, voice and even bar code scanners.
When we first moved computers to the back we used the desktop model and had a single data entry point with a keyboard and mouse on the assistant’s side. As we developed the electronic chart and started using digital radiology, computerized notes, digital imaging and patient education we soon discovered we needed more input access.
For example, if the doctor wanted to view or manipulate a certain x-ray he would have to ask the assistant to bring it up on the screen and then manipulate it. As you can imagine this was a problem and ended up taking two people to do the job of one in a pretty ineffective manner. The same problem occurred with chart information. If the dentist wanted to read the previous appointment notes or review the treatment plan he had to ask the assistant, in front of the patient, to do it for him. Or worse yet he had to get up and move to the other side of the room, break asepsis, and do it, again in an ineffective manner.
The solution was a second input device on the doctor’s side of the room. This can be any type of input; we used a pen and tablet, a touch pad and even a wireless infrared keyboard. However we found what really worked well was a simple mouse.
In recent years the introduction of inexpensive and reliable wireless mice and keyboards has made this easier to accomplish.

[Read more →]

Tags: Hardware · Office Design

Ultra Small mini Computer

November 26th, 2007 · No Comments

I received an e-mail from Tom Block regarding a new ultra small computer he has been putting in dental offices. You can read what he has to say below and contact him at www.blockdata.net [1]

“These are awesome and very versatile machines, I think they will transform dental computing in the near future. We have them installed in four different offices to date and our clients love the size and mounting options.  Plus they are just plain cool (literally) at 95 Watts.
We did a show special featuring the 945-D with slot loading DVD-RW, Intel 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo CPU 667MHz FSB, Intel 945 Chipset, 2GB DDR-2 SODIMM 667MHz RAM, 80GB HDD, and XP Pro for $999.00.”
 

 

[1] http://www.blockdata.net/

[Read more →]

Tags: Hardware · Office Design

More Than a Chair: Ergonomics in Dentistry

November 21st, 2007 · Comments Off on More Than a Chair: Ergonomics in Dentistry

Comfort for your patient; comfort for you…it means a lot, doesn’t it? Easy access to essential tools. Convenient light positioning. A monitor close at hand. Positioning that reduces stress on your musculoskeletal system. Today’s ergonomic dental chairs and equipment offer all the good things that can make your guests comfy and your team efficient, healthy, […]

[Read more →]

Tags: Just for Fun · Office Design · Uncategorized

The Third Eye

October 12th, 2007 · No Comments

I missed this at the ADA but heard about it from Lorne Lavine. It is an interesting idea, The web site is linked below. I don’t find the web site very impressive I hope the product is better than the site.

ThirdEye – a unique dental camera !Intra oral cameras there are plenty on the market. They are useful for documentation of findings and for patient education and patient motivation. But, what if you want to document a whole treatment with audio ? Extensive prosthodontic, orthodontic or surgical treatments, patients´ educations or to proof valid evidence in possible cases of recourse. What if you want to to demonstrate your skills to your audience in live transmissions during educational courses Intra oral cameras are not suited for shooting and recording complete examinations, prophylaxis sessions, or whole treatments. Though being video cameras intra oral cameras are only suitable to grab still images. Believe us, today there are better ways to take still images than with video cameras
camera [1].

[1] http://www.dental-cameras.com/English/us-camera.htm

[Read more →]

Tags: Cameras · Office Design

Glass Keyboard

October 12th, 2007 · No Comments

This innovative keyboard is a giant step forward in the elimination of bacterial contamination in your operatory. The surface is a completely smooth piece of tempered glass. The keys are printed on the underside of the glass where specialized touch-capactive circuitry detects the slightest touch of a human finger – even when you are wearing surgical gloves!
To clean, simply and quickly wipe the keyboard with your choice of disinfectant. With no nooks or crannies to harbor dirt and infection, the Glass Keyboard is a must in your operatory.
Glass Keyboard [1].

[1] http://www.touchfreecomputing.com/Site/Glass%20Keyboard.html

[Read more →]

Tags: Hardware · Office Design