A relatively new concept, the electronic dental record (EDR) or sometimes known electronic oral health record is the Electronic health record (EHR) of dentistry and a contributor to the complete Oral health picture of the patients. In the United States, the adoption of EDR in dental offices took off during 2012. The full integration of medical and dental records is an important next step in the healthcare industry.
What Is Electronic Dental Records (EDRs)?
EDR is a multitude of components, consisting of the electronic dental record application, an imaging system, a prescription system, a scheduler, and additional functions.
Advantages Of Electronic Dental Record (EDRs)
- The applicable exchange of patient data, such as patients medical history, dental history, laboratory reports, and prescribed medications, between dental and medical clinics has the potential to breakdown structural barriers that obstruct medical and dental communication, allow for better cooperation between medical and dental clinics, and provide more dependable and reliable data on a patient’s overall health.
- Quick and timely access to a patient’s updated dental history and any pre-existing medical condition allows more thorough assessments in less time.
- Dental and medical fields have often functioned in separate domains—divided by policy, insurance, education, and professionalization, the EDRs movements will improve interprofessional collaboration of health care and dental care practitioners.
- Data from electronic patient records can be reused to offer better health treatment, and this attempt has suggested the potential value of exchanging patient’s dental and oral health data in bridging the dental–medical divide, helping the patients receive better service.
- Cut down on time of waiting as patient records retrieval goes electronic.
- Data reuse can help improve the identification and enrollment of eligible patients, data management, and data validation.
- They are making clinical data immediately available to researchers for studies.
- Collecting research data through electronic patient records can eliminate logistical problems that occur with paper records.
Challenges Of Electronic Dental Record (EDRs)
- It will only be feasible when a significant mass of dental and health practitioners maintain most or all of their patients’ information electronically.
- Filing and storing patients’ physical records is not an easy task, and retrieval of patient’s physical records in time is challenging.
- Management of enormous volume of patients’ records.
- Need to enable and coordinate the transfer of patients’ information between numerous medical centers or dental specialists
- The consensus from most dental researchers and practitioners is that the adoption of IT software in dentistry has reported being slower
What Needs To Be In An Electronic Dental Record (EDRs) Database?
The American Dental Association (ADA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) included the below-mentioned functional features:
- Patient Registration and Patient Demographics
- Patient Care Transactions
- Secure Capture and Exchange of Insurance Data
- Scheduling
- Health and Medication Status and History
- Medications
- Physical Exam – Extraoral and Oral Health Findings
- Periodontal Charting
- Imaging – Digital Radiography and Photography
- Dental Laboratory Support
- Patient Education
- Patient Communications
- Patient Management and
- Data Analysis and Reporting
The Need For Efficient Electronic Dental Record (EDRs) Record-Keeping Is Mainly Due To Some Crucial Factors Listed Below:
- 25% of people of 65-74 years of age have severe periodontal diseases.
- There is an increased consciousness regarding the critical importance of maintaining oral health among the elderly.
- EDR acceptance and integration into dental offices have continued to increase.
How Can The Dental Office Utilize An Electronic Dental Record (EDRs)?
There are certain technology considerations taken into account:
- Software
- System Migration and Data Conversion
- Hardware – computer workstations and other digital devices
- Network
- Facility Design
During the initial visit at our San Francisco office, Dr. Mohamed Ali will thoroughly examine your mouth and will present different options and also advise you on the best option, suited for you. The billing experts will check your insurance benefits and offer a complete treatment plan with the financial arrangements. We accept all major dental and medical PPO insurance plans. We also have an in-office Plan for Health for those who don’t have insurance. Additionally, we have partnered with various financial institutions like Care Credit, The Lending Club, Healthcare Finance Solution, to make your Dental treatment extremely affordable and pleasant. We will be happy to answer all your questions. So sit, relax, and get your dental care. To schedule your free consultation, call us at 415.391.7751.
