As more and more dentists upgrade their office technology systems, they are often faced with a tough choice. Many dentists use camera systems in the workplace for a variety of reasons. Cameras can be used to document cases, simulate treatment results, to communicate more easily with labs, and to correspond with fellow colleagues. While analog intraoral cameras and film-based 35mm cameras were the standard for many years, most of the newer systems are digital.

Recent surveys from various dental journals suggest that the vast majority of dentists have become computerized in the last decade. Most dentists would have difficulty handling their schedules, billing, insurance, and a host of other functions without the use of a practice management system. While the use of a computer system in the front office has become almost mandatory, these computers are nowhere near as prevalent in the treatment rooms.

For the graduating senior dental student or recently graduated dentist, there are an unbelievable number of decisions that must be faced. Some of these include whether to buy, associate, or build a new practice, choosing which supplies to use, your lab, and a whole host of other details. In the modern world, however, the choice of technology systems is often the most crucial of these decisions. Most practices would have difficulty functioning without their practice management software.

The hi-tech dental office has undergone a number of changes in the recent past. While it used to be considered cutting-edge to have a computer in the practice, this is no longer the case. The development of intraoral cameras, digital radiographs, patient educations systems, and cosmetic imaging has expanded the scope of services that the typical dentist can provide.