Voice Recognition Periodontal Charting

Did you ever wonder what takes the dental hygienist so long to clean your teeth?

That’s because they are doing a full assessment of your mouth before they even begin cleaning your teeth. Did you know that it is mandatory that an assessment be done prior to any dental hygiene intervention (Farinaccia, 2015). “When treating a new client, it is imperative that the dental hygienist has full baseline assessment data in order to properly design a treatment plan that takes the client’s best interests into account. The baseline data required is dependent on the procedure being done,” (Farinaccia, 2015, p.11).

The periodontal examination is a lengthy part of the assessment phase for the appointment; measuring the health of your gums, as well as checking for any bone loss, mobilities, root exposure, bleeding etc.

Did you know that the hygienist has to mark down 6 numbers per tooth, in order to get all readings for each tooth. That means, they must measure and chart 192 various readings for a single adult mouth who has all 32 of their teeth!

Dentrix VoicePro is a voice recognition periodontal charting program that marks down all the readings for the dental hygienist. All the dental hygienist has to do is say the tooth number, area (ex: distobuccal), and measurement, while the Dentrix VoicePro does it all! It automatically marks down everything as the dental hygienist is saying it! (Schein, 2019)

Could that mean… SHORTER APPOINTMENTS?

Yes! As a dental hygienist, you are lucky if you have an assistant to help you chart, otherwise, you are on your own. “On your own” does not sound too bad! But, here’s a little taste of what it it’s like for the dental hygienist: memorize as many numbers as you can for as many teeth as you can, twist and turn over to the chart, which is on the back table, and write out the measurements you remember while trying to answer any questions the client has. It’s like a mini circus! This is also a very lengthy process for the client who just wants their appointment to be done!

The Dentrix VoicePro is also hands-free! (Schein, 2019)

In dentistry, hands-free technology means minimal cross-contamination. By minimizing the amount of items we touch, we are minimizing the amount of bacteria that can travel. This will protect both health care workers, clients and you from possibly coming in contact with various germs.

That’s not all! Have you ever wondered about the findings related to your oral health and what they mean? The Dentrix VoicePro allows you to get involved!

Imagine you buy a new pair of denim jeans with pockets that hug the jeans. Then, once you start adding items to your pocket, such as your wallet, change or a phone, your pocket begins to lose its’ form, loosen and sag down.  That’s what the periodontal assessment is for. It measures that pocket to see how deep it is. During a periodontal exam, the numbers from 1-3 mean your gums are healthy, and the numbers 3 and above mean the pocket is deeper, and there’s potential for bone loss.

Now you are aware of what each number means for the periodontal exam, and what dental hygienists are assessing! The Dentrix VoicePro will allow you to hear all the numbers that the dental hygienist reads out, allowing you to stay updated, and have a good understanding of your oral health. (Schein, 2019)

Here is a link which demonstrates the periodontal charting process using the Dentrix VoicePro program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=685TyUaDwNk

-Kaila Monsour

Resources

Farinaccia, R. (2015). Record Keeping: What Is a Dental Hygienist Required to Record? Milestones,11. Retrieved May 27, 2019, from http://cdho.org/docs/default-source/pdfs/milestones/milestones_mar15.pdf

Schein, H. (2019). Voice-Activated Perio Charting and Clinical Note Dictation. Retrieved May 25, 2019, from https://www.henryschein.com/us-en/Dental/PracticeSolutions/VoicePro.aspx
Shein, H. (2019). Dentrix VoicePro. Retrieved May 26, 2019, from https://canada.dentrix.com/products/voicepro