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User: Dr. Daniel G. Raether, Plymouth, MN  Thoughts: Dr. Raether is into digital radiography and has also gone away from using paper charts. Because of this he loves the ability to take a tablet PC from operatory to operatory, easily taking all the information he needs with him. PEB XLDent just released XLPortal, a Web portal designed to make communication easier. It enables patients to access front desk services via a secure Internet connection. “Using XLDent and the Motion Tablet PC technology helps make getting and inputting information easy and accessible,” he said. “From paperless charting to digital x-rays, I would never go back.” 
User: Dr. Walter Chitwood, Murfreesboro, Tenn. Thoughts: At Dr. Chitwood’s implant and general practice he finds a need for patient education all the time. “This adds a whole new level of education for the patient,” said Dr. Chitwood, who believes the 3D animations make this system very effective. “I use it all the time; probably 30-50 times a month. It’s priceless.”
When patients visit, Dr. Chitwood is more than ready. “A person will drive 2 to 3 hours to my practice and we’ll use cone beam, show them results in 3D form and we’ll follow that up with an animation that shows them the restorative process and the patient almost always agrees to the treatment right there.” User: Dr. John C. Comisi, Ithaca, N.Y.
Dr. Comisi was “intrigued by the science behind the fluorescence visualization” used with the device. “By exciting the natural fluorophores in the oral cavity, this survey mechanism can help identify potential cancerous lesions before they have the chance to develop. This ‘discovery’ of these potentially dysplastic areas at an early stage of development can help to reduce the mortality rate of our patients dramatically. Coupling this screening device with other adjunctive procedures, such as brush biopsy or liquid cytology, can help further reduce the risk of a lesion developing into a stage 3 or worse stage 4 cancers and thereby essentially saving a person’s life.” Dr. Comisi said VELscope delivers better care and a nice return on investment. “Some doctors get ‘sticker shock’ when they look at the retail price…but after thinking about the potential to save a patient’s life that shock began to subside, plus I have found it can pay for itself in less than half a year. We charge an annual fee for the screening, which is equivalent to the fees we charge for bite wing x-rays, and we screen the patient at every recare visit. The sundries necessary to use the device are reasonable in cost, and reduce the per use costs to my office. It has helped me become a better oral detective and diagnostician.”
User: Dr. Sheri Doniger, Lincolnwood, Ill.
The patients are involved and learning while his practice is using the software. “Periodontal education occurs with every charting experience the patient has. He/she listens to the input of the charting as the hygienist does the evaluation undisturbed by outside influences. Additionally, a comparative charting record and written periodontal evaluation is printed out and evaluated in a co-diagnosis mode before being given to the patient at the end of the appointment. I believe this is improving the treatment compliance by my periodontal patients, which is a huge benefit for the patient and my staff.” The reports generated are simple, yet comprehensive, and evidence-based.
User: Dr. Dale Townsan, Lynwood, Wash. Thoughts: After researching the available voice command periodontal training programs, Dr. Townsan selected PerioPal. “PerioPal is easy to learn and use. Both of my hygienists were not computer literate, and yet, they learned the program and were capable of using it consistently and accurately in an hour,” he said. “The relationship between the hygienist and patient is maintained without interruption and intrusion of a third-party to do data input.”
User: Dr. Tom Trinkner, Columbia, S.C.
He is not the only one who likes having it around. “The movement sensor means the light is ready for a single click cure as soon as I pick it up, no waiting for it to ‘wake up’ from sleep mode. This puts a smile on my dental assistant’s face, too. My assistant loves it s shape, ease of use, ability to clean and weight. I love it for the confidence of cure, settings if needed, and most importantly that it is so portable.”
User: Dr. Robert Margeas, Des Moines, Iowa
Choosing the right handpiece is clearly a critical factor in a successful practice, Dr. Margeas said. “When it comes to equipment the most important thing is a handpiece. This is what makes you profitable,” he said. “You can have all the digital x-rays, intraoral cameras, and all the gadgets, but the electric handpiece allows you to be more efficient and accurate with your restorative work. The Bien-Air set up is versatile and you can get by with just one handpiece for all your restorative work. The ability to change speed makes it ideal as a lowspeed and highspeed with just one handpiece.”
User: Dr. Mark Colonna, Whitefish, Mont. Thoughts: “The Powerlase AT is just a more efficient hard-/soft-tissue laser,” said Dr. Colonna, who trains dentists at advanced laser courses. “I am not sorry for my exuberance and excitement with laser dentistry. It gives me great pleasure EVERY DAY, and I actually look forward to getting to work and using the laser for as much as I can.” He also likes his ROI. “When I bought my first lasers, back in 2001, I spent $75,000 on a diode and a hard-tissue laser,” he said. “I had never spent that type of money on a piece of dental equipment, especially a specialized piece like a laser.” He tracked his laser use while preparing for a training meeting and, “Boy was I surprised. My payments for the lasers were $1,400 a month, and my production had increased by more than $800 a day. Working four days a week that added up to $9,600 a month in increased production. I was paying my laser payment, and lo and behold, earning a profit!” 
User: Dr. James Jesse, Colton, Calif.  Thoughts: Dr. Jesse has used digital x-rays for quite some time, but likes the speed and clarity offered by his SuniRay system. “I needed to be able to have my x-rays faster,” he said. “I do a lot of root canals and take a lot of pictures. I needed them NOW. With my new SuniRay it’s a fraction of a second and they’re on my big screen. No waiting in line.” Improved diagnostics are also a big benefit, he said, and so is the fact that he no longer uses chemicals to process film. “My advice to dentists thinking about this is ‘what took you so long?’ ” Dr. Jesse said. “It gets your patients involved in the diagnostics and when patients see it right away you ‘wow’ them.”
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