The Difference Between a “Dental Chart” and a “Periodontal Chart”
Not all dental charting is created equal. Sure, there is the standard set of 32 teeth, and everyone should chart restoratively as well as record pocket depths, but our experience shows that there is a vast difference between how a General Dentist and a Periodontist chart cases.
The key here is not only in which data fields are recorded but also how the recorded data are viewed.
Dentists typically do not collect detailed clinical information beyond the status of their restorative needs and when they do it's often just screening data (CPITN or BPE). They usually will refer patients when they find periodontal issues such as deep probing depths or mucogingival deformities. As a result, most dental software products especially those included in practice management software, are only designed to accommodate the general dentist’s needs and leave an open-ended platform if further analysis or documentation/ details are required.
Dental charting often includes a...
How to Streamline Periodontal Charting
If you could change one thing about the periodontal charting process, what would it be?
Speed up the data collection and entry process? Customize it to the way you want to work? Simplify the look and feel of charting?
We’ve heard a variety of answers to this very question, and they all relate to a key point: periodontal charting isn’t a quick and easy task - and it could be costing you more time, money, and resources than it should.
Why Better Periodontal Charting Is Needed
If you’ve tried to break away from traditional charting in favour of electronic record keeping, you’ve likely noticed that most solutions are made for general dentistry and not for the specialty of periodontics. It’s a major limitation on the data you’re able to collect, view, and analyze, which forces you to pursue other options to capture the details you need.
Visual elements play an equally important role in charting, but many traditional solutions don’t offer the big...
