The Voodoo that You Do

In more consolidation news, HP has acquired PC-maker Voodoo PC. Voodoo has always been known for their very high-end systems, aimed mostly at gamers. This news comes on the heels of Dell’s acquisition of Alienware earlier this year. And, as some of you know from my earlier posts, I believe that HP may be acquiring Kodak’s Imaging Division, which would include Softdent, PracticeWorks, and Trophy. You can read about the acquisition right here.

Some Easy Lessons

I’m always impressed when websites go out of their way to provide information to people that can help them in their daily lives. One of my favorites is Lifehacker and their Geek to Live series. They have put up a summary of their tutorials which you can find here. It covers some interesting topics, such as setting up servers, free software, passwords, backup, and many other areas.

Welcome Home, Baby Jake!

Well, I know this is a technology blog, but I just couldn't help myself :-) After 23 long and frustrating days in the NICU, my son Jake has finally come home. We are thrilled to finally get him home and I look forward to many sleepless nights.

Thanks to everyone for your continued support and nice wishes.

Pump Up The Jam

PC Magazine just published an excellent article on how to Pump Up Your Home Network, and they cover many areas such as wired speed, wireless, security, media streaming, and remote control. The vast majority of these tips would work great for a typical dental office as well as the home. Worth the read.

Free Online Virus Scanner

I know that some of you (you know who you are!) are just too busy to take the time to download and run anti-virus software. Well, you are running out of excuses. Kaspersky, a well-known anti-virus software vendor, is now offering a free online scanner. No software to download (except the Active-X control), and doesn’t cost a penny. Check it out.

Backing Up

As many of you know, I take backup very seriously. While the solutions can get very complex, it’s always a good idea to return to the basics to figure out what to back up and why. Tech Hints has a short 3–page review, which I think is a great motivator to get people to start thinking about their backups.

Free is Good

I’m always on the lookout for free and open-source software. Here’s a superb list of the best of the best. Make sure you scroll down as there are two pages of these.

Flying High

One of the things I love about my Lenovo X60 laptop is the built-in EV-DO wireless, which allows me to get online anywhere that has cell reception. However, the $60–$80 per month isn’t so great, although very cost-effective for me with the amount of traveling.

If you don’t travel as much but still want to connect online when you’re at the airport, I found this great site which lists the wireless connections available at all 218 US Airports. I was pleased to see how many were free of charge, although many still are not.

Keeping it Safe

As many of you know, we often recommend external hard drives for backup, as they are dependable, easy-to-use, and cost-effective. One thing that we rarely do is to encrypt the data, as the data normally requires that someone have the program that it came from in order to read it. For people who prefer to have another layer of protection, then consider encryption. There are many free programs that do this on the fly; one of my favorites is TrueCrypt. I also found a nice site that walks you through the process, with screenshots to boot. Pretty easy and free way to add more security.

New "Wireless" Sensor

This is from my friend Claude Berthoin at Video Dental Concepts:

Hi Lorne,

You may want to mention the new WDS Bluetooth Sensor we just showcased at CDA and will be releasing at ADA. WDS will be marketed by MacPractice (Mac market) and Video Dental Concepts (PC market). We own the exclusivity for the Mac market but will open up the PC market to others.

Sensors are available in size 1 and 2. The device comes with a TWAIN interface and does not require any USB interface or Docking Stations. Only a Bluetooth Dongle which costs about $40 per computer is needed for windows users. The Mac hardware already has Bluetooth, this means ZERO cost for additional workstation.

WDS should work with most software that have a TWAIN interface. We tested with Apteryx and Dentaleye so far. Works great! Other benefit includes very low readiation. Tpipycally 70KVP and .03 to .05 s! The sensor wafer is from Hamamatsu. The unit is manufactured in Italy.

CDA Recap

If you subscribe to The Digital Dentist Newsletter, you’ll get this information in a few hours. But if not, here are the main things of interest from last weekend’s CDA Fall Meeting in San Francisco:

Air Techniques, as I mentioned in my blog, are coming out with a new unit called the Duo, which can allow two people to use it at the same time. This will be released at the ADA next month. On the bad news front, they have abandoned their automatic bagger, the Seal-X. Seems it was just too tough to manufacture.

I heard some rumors (not confirmed) that Kodak's long announced plan to sell their Health Imaging Division may be finalized in November. No idea on the buyer, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was HP. Just a guess for now…

Dentrix came out with a new intraoral camera, the ImageCam HD. Image quality is excellent and pricing will be in the same $5500 range as the older model.

Dent-X, maker of the Eva sensors, had a monster machine that looked like a Cat-Scan called the NewTom 3G. Very slick Cone Beam CT system. No official pricing, but I imaging you could find cheaper houses in many parts of the country than what the puppy will cost.

I saw a really nice and tiny video camera called the SupaCam, which also doubles as a digital camera and MP3 player.

TouchFree Computing was showing a glass keyboard for use in the ops.

PT Dental, whose paperless practice products I continue to like, showed off their latest version of the software, 4.5. It looks like many (most) of the bugs from earlier releases are now gone.

Owandy had two new digital x-ray devices. Their pan is called the i-max Easy, and they have a new sensor with over 26 lp/mm resolution

New Update to Caesy

Patterson Dental Debuts CAESY Enterprise 5.7

ST. PAUL, Minn. – (September 18, 2006) – Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. introduces CAESY Enterprise 5.7, the newest release of the server-based patient education software. With 26 new and 34 updated multimedia presentations for the operatory, CAESY Enterprise 5.7 continues to provide the most comprehensive, up-to-date choice for patient education. The release also features a whole new look with enhanced navigation for Smile Channel, the reception area program included with CAESY Enterprise.

The 90-minute Smile Channel video loop now features 12 new and 11 updated presentation topics, as well as eight new commercials to subtly promote the benefits of esthetic dentistry and the importance of proper hygiene in the reception area. Plus, the latest edition of Smile Channel marks the debut of two new original programs; Hayley, featuring educational interviews in a talk show format, and Science in Dentistry, which answers patient questions and delivers valuable health information.

“CAESY Enterprise 5.7 provides practices with the latest technology and streamlined information to conveniently educate patients – from the front office to the operatory,” says Kevin Burton, director, CAESY Education Systems. “The engaging programs and dynamic presentations are easy for staff members to use and patients to understand.”

CAESY Education Systems has been dentistry’s premier developer of leading-edge patient education technology and content since 1993. CAESY was acquired by Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. in May 2004. The award-winning multimedia information on preventive, restorative and esthetic treatment options helps dental practices nationwide educate their patients and grow their practices. The CAESY content is distributed via video and computer networks or DVD players throughout the clinical and reception areas of the dental practice. The family of products includes CAESY DVD, Smile Channel DVD, CAESY Printables, CAESY Pediatrics, CAESY Online, and CAESY Enterprise, which includes CAESY, Smile Channel, ShowCase, and Image Master. For more information, visit www.caesy.com or call 1-800-444-6035.

More Space

Here’s a great tip on how to free up extra space on your hard drives if you are running low. It basically involves removing the folders that allow you to uninstall Microsoft patches and updates…something I’ve never done. I tried it on my own system and found over 200 MB of space. Great idea and really easy to do.

Free eBooks

While I still prefer the paper variety, many folks like to read books on the computer. Did you know that one site, Project Gutenberg, has over 19,000 titles? Go check it out and download something you'd like today.

Worst...Sites...Ever

Here’s a little fun and games for the weekend. PC World has named their 25 Worst Web Sites. It’s a fun review of some of the dot com’s biggest failures and what they did wrong. Happy reading.

CDA-Bound

I’ll be spending the entire day on Friday at the California Dental Association’s Fall Session in San Francisco. As regular readers of the blog know, I’ll be posting a full report of all the technology news from the meeting, so stay tuned this weekend or next Monday for the report.

Speed Offenders

This won’t come as a surprise to anyone that uses a computer, but certain programs tend to slow down your system to a snail’s pace. I found a great site that ranks many different programs and how they slow down a computer. If you’re too tired to go over to the site, the worst offender is…. (and I already knew this would be the #1)…Norton Internet Security, with a whopping 58% slowdown!

Exciting News from Scan-X

My spies have been busy at finding information about a rumored new Scan-X, and we hit paydirt. Called the Duo, it is essentially a miniature version of ScanX but only provides 2 scanning tracks versus 4, auto erase along with the ability to handle sizes 0-4.

Another added benefit will be that through software, each track will be able to be independently controlled simultaneously by two operators. What this means is that the unit, which can easily fit into a pass-through, can allow two people to process their individual x-rays chairside and at the same time, all for an anticipated $9995 retail.

Here's a sneal peek of the new unit:

Trouble for Biolase?

Doesn’t sound too serious, but still a concern:

BIOLASE Comments on Receipt of FDA Warning Letter

No Material Impact on Operating Results Anticipated

IRVINE, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- September 11, 2006 -- BIOLASE Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLTI), a medical technology company that develops, manufactures and markets lasers and related products focused on technologies for improved applications and procedures in dentistry and medicine, announced today that on September 7, 2006, it received a Warning Letter from the Los Angeles District Office of the United States Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") following an inspection of the Company's Irvine, California facility in August 2006.

The Warning Letter indicates that certain aspects of the manufacture, packing, storage or installation of the Company's devices are not in conformance with the FDA's current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements for medical devices. A substantial portion of the identified issues relate to actions or inactions that occurred prior to 2006, some of which continue to date. The Warning Letter instructs the Company to take prompt action to address the concerns and states that failure to do so may result in regulatory action being initiated by the FDA. Until the Company resolves this matter to the satisfaction of the FDA, certain government requests will not be granted or approved.

Jeffrey W. Jones, president and chief executive officer, commented on the development, "Compliance with FDA guidelines is taken very seriously at BIOLASE and we have given this matter the highest priority within the organization. We are working very cooperatively with FDA representatives to take any necessary action to expeditiously resolve all of the cited matters to their satisfaction. We do not anticipate that this matter or its resolution will have any material impact on our operating results."

New Wireless Sensor

I was just informed that Dov Glazer, the founder of Uappoint, has just been granted a patent for a new digital wireless sensor, called the DDXRay. I first saw a mock up for this sensor about two years ago, so I’m pleased that they are moving forward on it. It seems to combine a sensor with a positioner.

Here’s a photo along with the press release:

New Orleans, LA (PRWEB) September 1, 2006 -- Digital Dental X-ray, Unlimited (DDXray) is pleased to announce that on August 15, 2006 its founder, Dov Glazer, D.D.S. was granted Patent Number 7,090,395 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The invention is a Wireless Digital Dental X-Ray Sensor with Positioning Apparatus.

Exploiting advances in digital photography and radiography, the inventor was able to combine the workings of a digital camera, an x-ray scintillator plate and a set of five oral x-ray positioning instruments into a single universal dental x-ray sensing device, just slightly larger than a conventional bitewing holder. There are several version of the device described in the patent. The common element is having a digital dental x-ray sensor directly connected to the bite block, which in turn has all the necessary electronic built inside the paralleling and targeting portion of the device. In one version there is an onboard display screen and removable storage media, another has the devise placed on a docking station from which dental x-ray images can be printed, transmitted to a computer or the Internet, and yet another version has a built in transmitter that instantly transmits the images to a nearby computer monitor.

The invention was born out of necessity. “As a practicing dentist, years ago I appreciated the advantages of digital radiography” reports Dr. Glazer. “I tried several systems in my office, but with the cords, the bulkiness and the steep learning curve, I was disappointed, and knew there had to be a better way.” Having some experience with digital photography, and working with the Tulane University Department of Biomedical Engineering, the solution finally emerged.

A digital x-ray is much like a digital photo; the main difference is that the sensor in the digital camera is sensitive to the “visual” portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, while the x-ray is sensitive to the “x-ray” waves of the spectrum. Place a scintillator in front of the photo camera sensor and the energy is converted so that we humans can see it. That’s how every digital x-ray works. “Remove the lens, the flash, view finder and then stuff the remaining electronics (including battery, media storage) into the paralleling potion of the holder and you’ve go the camera that senses x-rays”. Glazer continues: “Because the sensor is directly attached to the holder, with the placement of hinges, similar to those found in cell phones, we are able to rotate the sensor so that the one instrument can take a full mouth series of digital x-rays”.

It is expected that this innovative digital x-ray devise will make it easier, faster, and less expensive to take and produce dental x-rays than conventional film. In addition, greater diagnostic acuity is possible through manipulation of the digital image.

About DDXray
Digital Dental X-ray (DDXray) is a sister organization to UAppoint, Inc., and Dr. Glazer is a co-founder of both. The company is a bootstrap start-up dedicated to improving all aspects of dental diagnostic imaging.

Hooking Up

Two of my favorite online dental sites, DentalTown, and DentalCompare, have hooked up to form a synergy between their respective sites. Here’s the Press Release:

Dentalcompare partners with Dentaltown to offer product directory and editorial to greater audience

 

September 11, 2006 - S. San Francisco, California – Dentalcompare, an online buyer’s guide for dental professionals, today announced their partnership with Farran Media, parent company of Dentaltown and Hygienetown websites and magazines focused on building interactive dental communities among dental professionals, their colleagues and manufacturers.  Farran Media offers dental professionals a unique opportunity to learn and share experiences through free online message board communities and forums, as well as personal referrals, press releases and online continuing education.  The partnership would allow Dentaltown and Hygienetown users to access Dentalcompare’s unbiased product directory, product reviews and technology spotlights directly from their websites and magazines.

Matthew McLean, COO, Dentalcompare: "Our alliance with Farran Media demonstrates our commitment to furnish the best possible service to dental professionals. We believe in empowering dental professionals by providing thorough product information and editorial. By expanding our audience to the Dentaltown and Hygienetown visitors, we will be able to help an unprecedented number of dentists make informed purchasing decisions and find the best products for their practice."

Visitors accessing Dentalcompare product information through Dentaltown or Hygienetown can search and compare products without leaving the respective website.  Dentalcompare’s unique editorial content will also be searchable directly from the Dentaltown or Hygienetown websites and featured in product spotlights in the corresponding magazines.

Howard Farran, DDS, MBA, MAGD, Founder and CEO, Farran Media: "Our relationship with Dentalcompare underscores Farran Media's efforts to develop synergistic partnerships that enhance our content for the dental community. In this way, dental professionals who use Dentaltown or Hygienetown as their main source of referrals and information can also search and compare dental equipment and services easily through the Dentalcompare product directory.  Our audience also benefits from Dentalcompare’s in-depth technology spotlights written by dentists on a type of equipment, and unbiased reviews which include “the good, the bad, and the bottom line” for each product.  Dentalcompare will truly be a welcome addition to the Dentaltown and Hygienetown websites and magazines."

Speeding Along

One of the most annoying things for many people is how their systems tend to take forever to boot up over time. That nice zippy machine seems to slow to a crawl over a few months. Here’s a nice site I found that gives you some suggestions on how to improve the boot time so that you can be computing faster.

Diamonds in the Rough

I’m always on the lookout for websites that will inform and entertain, especially ones that others haven’t heard about. Thankfully, PC Magazine has created a list of the Top 99 Undiscovered Webs Sites which makes it easier to learn about them. Of course, by publishing the list, they won’t be undiscovered for long. Enjoy!

Sensor Holders for Kodak

One of our favorite sensor holder, Clik-Ray, just announced a deal with Kodak. Here’s the press release:

Kodak Chooses ClikRay Sensor Holders for Its Digital Radiography Systems

 

Buffalo Grove, Illinois June 15, 2006.  ClikTech, Inc. announced it has designed and built a full line of sensor holders for the Kodak RVG 5000/6000 series dental sensors. Kodak Dental Systems will provide the sensor holders to its customers with every new Kodak digital sensor system.  ClikRay™ sensor holders are designed to fit most digital sensors or dental x-ray film.  This versatility allows the user to complete a full mouth series of radiographs with only one basic sized instrument.  

 

ClikTech, Inc. CEO Dr. Harold K. Schmulenson comments, “Kodak Dental Systems was looking for a reliable and durable sensor holder for its series of sensors.  The ClikRay™ T1 and T2 systems have been designed exclusively to fit Kodak digital sensors.”  ClikTech, Inc. was able to fulfill Kodak’s need for top-of-the-line sensor holders based upon its existing revolutionary ClikRay™ sensor holding system. The ClikRay™ system is composed of the Size 2 “U”, Size 0&1, “01” and the ClikGuide “G” universal cone guide ring and rod. The “G” series fits all ClikRay™ products from the “U”, “01” to the new Kodak size 1 and 2, the “T1” & “T2”.

 

Tim Joseph, Digital Imaging Product Line manager at Kodak, says:  “We are very excited to partner with ClikTech, because their line of products is outstanding.  The Founder of ClikTech is a dentist who understands what dentists need – a reliable tool that allows them to put their patients first.  This line of sensor holders will give our customers an added value for their Kodak sensors.”

 

The new ClikRay™ sensor holders for Kodak systems will be available through dental dealers by August, 2006.

 

About ClikTech, Inc.

ClikTech, Inc. provides a unique approach to meet the needs of specialized industries. The company’s team of engineers and professionals combine their respective talents to innovate new ideas. The goal is to create the right product that satisfies an existing need. ClikTech, Inc. was founded by Dr. Harold K. Schmulenson.  As a practicing General Dentist with over 20 years in private practice, Dr. Schmulenson is in the unique position to recognize the need for creative ideas and thoughts within the profession. Prior to his development and patents for ClikRay™ and ClikGuide™, Dr. Schmulenson was instrumental in the start of Ghetzler Aero-Power, a hi-tech aerospace company.  Dr. Schmulenson has co-authored patents in the Aviation Industry. His diversity and experience provides the basis for development of ClikRay™ and ClikGuide™.

For more information about ClikTech, Inc., call 1-877-251-0594 or visit www.clikray.com

Working the Word

I’ve mentioned a few online word processors in the past, such as Zoho, Writely, and ThinkFree. As they have started to mature, I wanted to revisit the different programs…but found a website that had a nice review of them. You can see the details here.

Welcome Baby Lavine!!!

Jacob Rossi Lavine arrived today at 1:48 PM. Although 6 weeks early, baby and mother (and father!) are doing great and we hope to have him home in a few weeks. The blog postings may be a bit erratic over the next few days; thanks for bearing with me.

Help is Out There

As a company that provides computer hardware, Dental Technology Consultants always tries to be there for our clients. However, even our techs need sleep, so we can’t be there 24/7. However, there are many good online resources for computer help. One of my favorites is PC Help Forum, where there seem to be many folks willing to answer your tech questions and problems. Give them a try next time you have a real stickler.

Big Things in Small Packages

One of my favorite Small Form Factor system manufacturer, Shuttle, has come out with their new X100 model. This thing is really sharp. It has all the power of a full desktop system, but can easily fit in a bookshelf or under a counter. The fully loaded version runs around $1000, so it’s priced right and is super quiet. Except for the fact that it cannot do dual monitors, it’s a great option for dental operatories.

Pay it Forward

One of the most difficult exercises for many offices is learning how to deal with their networking and especially, online access. Many applications, such as remote access, require you to “forward” a port. As I know this may be Greek to some folks, I found a great site that explains it in an easy-to-understand format: just choose your router, then choose the application, and it will walk you through the steps. Really nice site.

Looking Good

One of the concepts that seems to have never taken off in dentistry is 3D glasses. I think these can be a great asset for a practice, but the bulky size has always been a hindrance. I just saw these new glasses from Icuiti, and they look really sharp. The image quality is higher than previous models…as is the $500 price tag. Still a novelty, but worth checking out for folks who don’t have an easy way to mount a patient monitor.

Enough is Enough

One of the topics that I’m frequently asked about are the ideal specs for computer systems. Everyone wants to know what processor to get, the amount of hard drive space, and most frequently, the amount of memory, or RAM, that is needed. Here’s a great test that was done to determine this. While it’s a bit technical, the answer may surprise you: for the vast majority of users, 1 GB is enough and jumping to 2 GB shows only minimal improvements. So, save your money and get the 1 GB machine.