In today’s evolving dental landscape, the integration of electronic health records (EHR) is no longer just about making our practices more efficient, it’s about creating true collaboration between dental and medical providers. Recently, during the International Dental Show (IDS) in Cologne, Germany, I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Ryan Hungate, Chief Strategy Officer for Henry Schein One, about an exciting new collaboration between Henry Schein and FDI (the World Dental Federation).
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Together, they are working to launch an integrated electronic health records initiative focused on eight core oral health indicators. This project represents a major step forward in recognizing that there is no health without oral health. And the good news? If you’re using Dentrix, you already have the tools you need to start documenting these indicators effectively. My goal is to help you optimize your software and workflows so you’re ready for this next chapter.
Let’s dive into the eight indicators and how I can help your team get ahead:
- Periodontal Health
Proper documentation of periodontal health is crucial. Dentrix users should be taking full advantage of the Perio Chart module. With features like the new “Bleeding All” button, documenting disease progression and stability has never been easier. I’ll be providing tip sheets and webinars to help your team maximize this tool and ensure your perio charting is complete, consistent, and easy to share across healthcare platforms.
- Caries and Endodontic Health
Efficiently charting caries and endodontic findings within the patient chart is critical. I’ll guide your team through optimizing your workflows to ensure accurate, detailed documentation that can easily be integrated with larger health record systems.
- Oral Cancer Screening and Examination
Early detection saves lives. Documenting your oral cancer screenings, whether routine or referral-based needs, to be a standard part of your clinical notes. I’ll show you how to build streamlined templates for documenting visual exams, findings, and referrals within Dentrix.
- Oral Health Status Measures
While this indicator is still being fully defined, it includes vital risk factors like smoking status, alcohol consumption, and diabetic health markers (such as HbA1c levels). Once clarified, I’ll help you implement smart workflows to capture this data during health history updates and preventive visits.
- Medical Devices and Implants
Whether it’s documenting an oral appliance for sleep apnea or a full-mouth implant case, Dentrix offers fields to accurately record medical devices and implants. I’ll share best practices for ensuring these are properly noted and easily accessible for outside providers when needed.
- Prescription Data
Having access to a patient’s prescription history is critical for responsible prescribing and safety. Dentrix users should leverage ePrescribe tools now and be ready for upcoming centralized data sharing systems. I’ll help you set up efficient workflows for capturing, updating, and reviewing prescription data.
- Allergies and Medical History Findings
This is one of the most important and most often neglected areas. Updating health histories properly means showing patients the data you have, not just asking if anything changed. I’ll help your team build a “show and tell” workflow using Dentrix Health History so you capture accurate, up-to-date allergy and medication information at every visit.
- Radiographs and Diagnostic Images
Sharing imaging with specialists is often a challenge because of file sizes and compatibility issues. Exciting news: Dentrix 25.5 will include Dentrix Imaging Center automatically, making image storage and sharing much easier. I’ll be offering webinars and tutorials on how to maximize this new integration to keep your diagnostic images accessible and secure.
If your dental practice wants to stay ahead of the curve, now is the time to start optimizing your documentation habits and software use. Over the next few months, I’ll be releasing podcasts, webinars, and tip sheets to support your team in becoming fully prepared for this global initiative.
Ready to optimize your Dentrix workflows and lead the way in integrated oral health? Reach out to me today I’d love to support your journey toward becoming a high-performing, patient-centered dental team.
