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One of the oldest computer idioms is GIGO: Garbage In Garbage Out. What that means is that for the computer to provide useful and accurate information the correct data must be entered in the first place.
Today I was trying to evaluate the effectiveness of a technique we were using to attract new patients. As I ran the numbers I realized that some of the new patients had not been entered with the proper referal information. So now my results are almost useless.
If you want to use your technology to make good decisions you need to be able to rely on the data. Be sure your office protocols are effective and in use. For example “referred by” data is entered on all new patients; not just the ones the staff gets around to. Grrrr.

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I can’t imagine being a dentist today without my diode laser. Today I had a difficult access case replacing an old broken alloy that went well below the tissue, it was all inflamed and bleeding. Before laser it would have been impossible to get a good impression. Today I did it quickly and easily using the laser to expose the margin and control the bleeding.

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For all dentists, it’s important to do community outreach work. Today after lunch, I went to career day at the local high school to speak to seniors about the different dental field career paths, from front desk to hygiene to becoming a dentist. These students may not have the opportunity to learn about dentistry as […]

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From Dr. Donald E.  Wetmore from the Productivity Institute http://www.balancetime.com [1]
“ The average person uses 13 different methods to  control and manage their time.     “ The average person gets 1 interruption every 8  minutes, or approximately 7 an hour, or 50-60 per  day. The average interruption takes 5 minutes,  totaling about 4 hours or 50% of the average  workday. 80% of those interruptions are typically  rated as “little value” or “no value” creating  approximately 3 hours of wasted time per day.     “ On an average day, there are 17 million meetings  in America.     “ 20% of the average workday is spent on “crucial”  and “important” things, while 80% of the average  workday is spent on things that have “little value”  or “no value”.     “ In the last 20 years, working time has increased  by 15% and leisure time has decreased by 33%.     “ A person who works with a “messy” or cluttered  desk spends, on average, 1 1/2 hours per day looking  for things or being distracted by things or  approximately 7 1/2 per workweek. “Out of sight; out  of mind.” When it’s in sight, it’s in mind.     “ 90% of those who join health and fitness clubs  will stop going within the first 90 days.     “ ”A project tends to expand with the time  allocated for it.” If you give yourself one  thing to do, it will take all day. If you give  yourself two things to do, you get them both done.  If you give yourself a dozen things to do, you may  not get 12 done, but you’ll get 7 or 8 completed.     “ Delegation is an unlimited method to multiply  time for achieving results.     “ 1 hour of planning will save 10 hours of doing.     “ The average person today receives more  information on a daily basis, than the average  person received in a lifetime in 1900.     “ The “20/80 Rule” tells us we will typically  accomplish 80% of our results through 20% of  our effort. The other 20% of additional results  comes from about 80% of additional effort.     “ ”Stressed” spelled backwards is “desserts”.     “ We retain 10% of what we read. We retain 20%  of what we hear. We retain 30% of what we see.  We retain 50% of what we hear and see. We retain  70% of what we say. We retain 90% of what we do.    

[1] http://www.balancetime.com/

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GUI (pronounced GOO-ee) Graphical User InterfaceA computer interface that uses graphics to make programs easier to use. The two best known Graphical User Interfaces are Microsoft Windows and the one used by the Apple Macintosh. They feature the following basic components:
Pointer : A symbol that appears on the display screen and that you move to select objects and commands. Usually, the pointer appears as a small angled arrow. Text -processing applications, however, use an I-beam pointer that is shaped like a capital I. Pointing Device : A device, such as a mouse or trackball that enables you to select objects on the display screen. Icons : Small pictures that represent commands, files, or windows. By moving the pointer to the icon and pressing a mouse button, you can execute a command or convert the icon into a window. You can also move the icons around the display screen as if they were real objects on your desk. Desktop : The area on the display screen where icons are grouped is often referred to as the desktop because the icons are intended to represent real objects on a real desktop. Windows: You can divide the screen into different areas. In each window, you can run a different program or display a different file. You can move windows around the display screen, and change their shape and size at will. Menus : Most graphical user interfaces let you execute commands by selecting a choice from a menu.

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D4D Technologies, LLC || The evolution of dentistry is coming. [1].
Click the link above for a look at the new D4D web site and the exciting new CAD CAM system called E4D. The new site has lots of video and excitement.

[1] http://www.d4dtech.com/

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Notes from the 2007 Annual Meeting of the Dental Trade Alliance offer many statistics that may interest you, as a dentist. The DTA is an organization of companies that provide products, services, supplies, materials, and equipment for the dental industry. In the notes, and with data attributed to DENTSPLY, the global dental market was valued […]

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This looks like a phone add on. However if it reduces noise would this be useful to improve voice activated charting. Interesting.

CrystalTalk™ (kris’t?l-tôk). n. Noise-canceling technology manufactured by Motorola; “a bundling of microphone noise reduction and noise adaptive speaker enhancements meant to improve the clarity and intelligibility of speech while you are in a noisy environment.” – Motorola.com
Motopure H12 = H680 + CrystalTalk – Gearlog#more [1].

[1] http://www.gearlog.com/2007/11/motopureh12_h680_crystaltalk.php#more

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A very simplified version of laser mechanics, the laser produces a beam of light energy that is coherent and collimated. That means the light is all the same wavelength and it is focused into a fine beam.
The various lasers used in dentistry are usually identified by the resonating material such as Yag, diode, chromium, CO2 or Alexandrite. This material is what determines the wavelength of the laser.
Different wavelengths of light energy are absorbed by different substances. For example some wavelengths are absorbed by water and some wavelengths pass right through water. If a substance absorbs the laser energy it will immediately take on the energy of the laser, usually as heat. The rapid heating of the tissue is what causes the changes we see with a laser.
Each wavelength will effect the tissues in quite different ways. For example a diode laser is absorbed by dark colors such as hemoglobin. That makes it ideal for cutting soft tissue but it will have no effect on tooth structure.
It is possible to focus the laser energy into a very narrow band so that it effects the tissue practically on a cellular level.

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