Turnabout is Fair Play

As many of you know, you can easily run PC software on a Mac by using programs like Parallels and Boot Camp. But, did you know that it took all of about 3 days for someone to figure out how to run the new Mac operating system, Leopard, on a PC? The explanation is a bit technical and requires downloading a file that is of questionable legality (which I would never condone you do). But, if you have a PC and want to turn it into a Mac, it can basically now be done.

Don't Click that Link!

In news that I have not seen before, it seems that the bad guys have now figured out a way to get malware into PDF files. This could be a huge problem as most email gateways that your ISP manages do not filter out PDF files. As I've recommended before, NEVER open an attachment from a stranger or that you were not expecting. You can read about this here.

Leopard vs. Vista

With the release last week of the latest Mac operating system, Leopard, there are many folks trying to debate between the two of them for new computers. Here's a great head-to-head comparison of them.

Not Gimpy

While I'm a fan of Photoshop, I'm not a fan of he price and the steep learning curve. One of the alternatives I have recommended for years is Gimp...but it hadn't been updated in close to 3 years. That changed today with the release of version 2.4. You can check out the updates here and of course, the software is free to download and use.

Sync It Up

Many people, myself included, keep copies of the same file on different computers, such as office, laptop, and home. However, wouldn't it be nice to ensure that we have the same copy of each file in all locations, and that changing one copy will change the others? Enter a free software program from Microsoft called SyncToy that can handle this.

A short blurb from their website:

SyncToy, a free PowerToy for Microsoft Windows, is an easy to use, highly customizable program that helps users to do the heavy lifting involved with the copying, moving, and synchronization of different directories. Most common operations can be performed with just a few clicks of the mouse, and additional customization is available without additional complexity. SyncToy can manage multiple sets of folders at the same time; it can combine files from two folders in one case, and mimic renames and deletes in another case. Unlike other applications, SyncToy actually keeps track of renames to files and will make sure those changes get carried over to the synchronized folder.
Read the rest and download it here.

More Dell Goodness

The news was leaked today that Dell has a new all-in-one called the XPS One. These are unique systems, where you have a wireless keyboard and mouse, and everything else is built into the monitor: processor, RAM, DVD drives, etc. A really neat concept, especially if you are challenged for space. Pricing should be in the $2000 range.

Dell Does Staples

In suprising news, Dell announced that they will begin to sell their computers through retail Staples stores. I'm a huge Dell fan but I'm curious to see what models and pricing they will offer through Staples. In most cases, I still recommend you get your computers through me as I can get better pricing and unless you're in California, there's no sales tax either.

Useful Sites

Here's a link to 15 Useful sites...this seems to have something for everyone.

Get it Done

Most of us are very busy and if you're like me, you have trouble keeping track of everything you need to do. Well, here's a nifty website that can mange this for you: Vitalist. It uses David Allen's GTD (Getting Things Done) philosophy.

Share and Share Alike

I know that many people use a Mac at home and PC at the office, but few have both PC and a Mac in the same setting as they worry about them working together. While that was true many years ago, Macs and PC can co-exist very well nowadays. Here's a great primer on how to get them to see eye-to-eye.

Free QuickBooks

Yup, you read it correctly. QuickBooks has released a free version of their software called Simple Start 2008. It has many of the features of the full version and this is not a trial version. Now, it doesn't have some of the features you may want like Payroll, but if you want accounting software and want it cheap, this is the way to go.

Online Office Manager

Here's a really neat idea that I think has a lot of potential: an online office manager that can perform many of the functions of a traditional office manager. Here's the press release:

On-line office management service reduces embezzlement risks and cuts overhead costs

New service one-of-a-kind in the dental profession

For Immediate Release – An all new service by Online Dental Manager (ODM) provides office management utilizing the Internet to connect to the office’s practice management software. Billing, receivables, coaching, collections, and payable are all managed remotely by ODM’s experienced staff. ODM can help the doctor decrease payroll overhead and employment taxes while adding protection from fraud.

The ODM staff can access the office’s practice management system using secure and password-protected encryption software via the Internet. On a daily basis ODM will perform all the regular office management functions that an on-site office manager might perform, or assist an on-site staff member in completing these tasks. ODM’s experienced staff and proprietary approach to management and organization can perform these daily tasks in a significantly shorter amount of time. At the end of the day the doctor receives a set of reports that provide a comprehensive report of the day’s activities.

ODM can help a doctor reduce the risks of fraud and embezzlement. A daily, off-site connection to the dental practice provides an immediate accountability trail. Because no one person has responsibility for receivables and payables, ODM creates a natural "check and balance" system.

ODM was founded by Dr. Rob Thorup and Debbie Lamb, a veteran dental office manager. After Dr. Thorup discovered his long-time office manager had been defrauding his practice, Dr. Thorup turned to Ms. Lamb, who proffered the idea that she could manage Dr. Thorup’s Utah-based practice remotely from her Las Vegas, Nevada home. After experimenting with different types of Internet-based connections, Dr. Thorup and Ms. Lamb perfected a reliable and secure solution with vender partners Dental Design Systems, and then applied their collective practice management experience to develop processes and procedures that would allow daily tasks to be completed quickly and remotely.

“On-line Dental Manager can help my colleagues protect their dental practice finances from employee misconduct, provide the highest level in managerial services, and do it all at a significant savings,” said Dr. Rob Thorup, one of ODM’s founding partners. “Utilizing today's technology with our highly trained team members, ODM can increase your office manager's capabilities, allow you to completely manage your office with one auxiliary team member, save you money on payroll expenses, and increase practice revenues through proven management tactics.”

ODM’s value-added service will cost most offices $600-$1200 per month for comprehensive services, plus a one-time start-up fee. “Because of ODM's years of experience with insurance coding, product and procedure differentiation, and other shared business opportunities, every ODM client is pleasantly surprised with an increase in direct revenue,” said Dr. Thorup. “We help our clients save money, make money, and protect money.”

Doctors and staff can learn more about ODM’s services by visiting www.onlinedentalmanager.com or by calling toll free 877-788-6361.

Tools Of The Trade

Ok, so you've invested thousands of dollars to make sure you have a modern web page that will bring patients to the practice...do you really know if your site is optimized and designed well? Here's a great list of 65 Tools to monitor, track, and measure your site. If this is all Greek to you, just give it to your webmaster/designer...they'll know what to do with it.

New Dental Center

Here's the press release; sounds like a great idea and I encourage you to call to get more info.

Dental Innovation Center to be Built

FARMINGTON, CT: October 15, 2007 – The Center for Research and Education in Technology Evaluation (CRETE) has announced the creation of a model state-of-the-art dental innovation center that will bring the most current services, technologies, equipment, and products to dental education. The practice-oriented education and continuing education facility, to be housed at the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, will be the first such center in the country developed through a partnership between the dental industry and a dental school.

The CRETE Innovation Center will be constructed to allow equipment and products to be easily changed as new technologies are developed and readied for evaluation in a practice setting. The facility will contain a reception area, and dental operatories for demonstrating new procedures, teaching novel technologies, and showcasing new products, to ensure that dental students have experience with next generation dentistry. The operatories will be equipped to allow broadcasting to locations within the dental school as well as remote locations. The broadcasting of procedures in real time will help manufacturers accelerate their research and development process. By avoiding costly mistakes, manufacturers will be able to expedite the flow of products into dental practice.

A unique feature of the CRETE Innovation Center is that it will be administered by a board composed of representatives from the dental industry, the dental school faculty, and dental students. The board will have oversight of all operations and management. This governance arrangement is designed to promote the introduction of the next generation equipment and products into dental schools and to facilitate their introduction into dental practice.

CRETE is actively seeking partners to assist in the creation of the Innovation Center by donating products, funding, or expertise through participation on the Planning Board. To learn more and find out how to participate, contact Dr. Ed Rossomando at 860-679-2622 or erossomando@uchc.edu.

Home is Where the Heart Is

Many of you will be hearing about the latest addition to the Microsoft software line, Windows Home Server, over the next few months. This is a very interesting operating system and I think it might be a good fit for many homes (but not your office). Here's a very in-depth review of the system and its features.

New Caesy Released

Here's the press release:

ST. PAUL, Minn. – (Oct. 15, 2007) – Offering over 280 multimedia presentations and 21 different topics, Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. introduces CAESY Enterprise 6.0, the newest version of server-based patient education software. The debut of CAESY Enterprise 6.0 features nine hours of content, including two hours of Smile Channel video content and seven hours of CAESY multimedia presentations, making it the most comprehensive, up-to-date choice for patient education. CAESY Enterprise 6.0 offers smooth controls for enhanced navigation and bright, new graphics for both CAESY and Smile Channel, the reception area program included with CAESY Enterprise.

The Smile Channel video loop now features six new and 14 updated presentation topics, as well as the return of Invisalign programming. Users also can now customize the presentation playlist for specific patients in the waiting room. Plus, the latest edition of Smile Channel features the original programs, Hayley, featuring educational interviews in a talk show format; and Science in Dentistry, which answers patient questions and delivers valuable health information.
"With a diverse assortment of dynamic presentations and streamlined menus, CAESY Enterprise 6.0 enables practices to conveniently educate and entertain patients – from the front office to the operatory and beyond," says Michelle Anderson, Patterson Technology marketing manager.

CAESY Enterprise 6.0 integrates seamlessly with Patterson EagleSoft clinical and practice management software, making them an excellent combination for practices interested in optimizing the latest in technology to promote a well-rounded patient experience. Additionally, CAESY Enterprise 6.0 can serve as a marketing tool by enabling users to produce practice-branded CDs to attract new patients and garner referrals from the existing patient base.

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 worldwide 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, and CAESY Enterprise, which includes CAESY, Smile Channel and ShowCase. For more information, visit www.caesy.com or call 1-800-294-8504.

SP3

Every so often, Windows will come out with an SP: a Service Pack. It's basically a compilation of all the security patches and often some new features as well. With Vista's release, many though that SP2 would be the last one...but SP3 is coming. It has many new features and while there is no official release date, this is just one more reason to avoid Vista as long as you can. You can read the details here.

ADA Recap

In case you missed it, this went out Thursday in my newsletter. You can sign up for the newsletter on this blog or my webpage. Let me know if you need a copy of the newsletter with the links and I will gladly email it to you.

The Best Products at the ADA

Product of the Show

This one was kind of easy, as the criteria I used was to see which product had the most people crowded into their booth. The hands-down winner was the E4D, which was shown in the Schein booth. While I could have awarded this award to them the past few years, the product was never close to shipping and I took a wait-and-see approach. Well, the waiting is over. I was told that they have 100 units in production and have already oversold the mandatory training class, so expect to see these hit the street in November. You have to really sit down with one to get a feel for it, but they have some very unique features, such as the ability to superimpose the real teeth in the software rather than drawn teeth, and the ability to use the system like an iTero to take “impressions” and have the restorations created somewhere else. I wasn’t a huge fan of the tiny keyboard, but that’s a minor quibble.

In other highlights:

Belmont was showing their ADR Digital Upgrade Kit. Many of the companies I’ve worked with in the past for pan conversions cannot handle the X-Caliber EX-1000, so this is a welcome addition to the field.

Speaking of digital pans, Planmeca was given FDA approval last Friday night at the show for their newest digital pan, the ProOne. This appears to be targeting the lower end of the cost spectrum, although no word on whether this will be replacing the Proline XC.

I continue to be impressed with the Sikka Dental Practice Optimizer. If you are setting your fees based on anything other than good data (and, your neighbor’s fees or raising you fee a set % each year doesn’t qualify), you owe it to yourself to get this program.

Ivoclar was showing the newest addition to their diode laser line, the 3Watt. This is a really nice soft tissue laser from a company that has been doing this a long time.

Claris had their USB intraoral camera, the i310D, on display, and I still say what I’ve been saying for years: this is the best USB camera out there, period.

While Claris is the best USB portable camera, best image quality still goes to the Imagin cameras, and they were showing their newest member of the family, the HotRod.

A Digital pan/ceph I hadn’t seen before, the BelmaX CM from Belmont, was on display. You can also get this system without the ceph arm.

With the explosion of Cone Beam or 3-D imaging, it’s been my experience that the software has a long way to go. That’s why I continue to recommend Dolphin for managing these images.

The PreViser system is one of the easiest and most comprehensive systems for evaluating a patient’s risk for periodontal disease, and they have made some exciting new changes to their software.

My favorite digital x-ray company, XDR, was in full force and their booth was jammed as always. They had some excellent show specials and I continue to support small companies like this with great products and a commitment to customer service.

TouchFree Computing had an interesting product, CleanKeys. It’s a glass keyboard that is surprisingly responsive to the touch. The glass allows you to completely wipe it down between patients, which is not something that any other keyboard can claim.

While I still write for most of the dental journals, the online forums are where you’ll find the latest and greatest info. You should check out DentalCompare, which is becoming more popular every day.

While I still have some hesitation about using Mac computers in dentistry, there’s little doubt that MacPractice is the cream of the crop. This program has made huge strides since I first saw it a few years ago (and they seem to have dropped the “DDS” after the program’s name).

Sirona was showing their cone-beam system, the Galileos, with the new software. The software seems to be a major improvement over the past version.

Gendex had their new x-ray head, the expert DC, on display. The previous version, the 765DC, did not have a great track record so I was glad to see that they have corrected the problems with a new system.

I saw an interesting product called the Win Teleseminar Series. It seems to be a cross between practice management and personal growth to improve your life and practice.

AFP was showing their latest 3-D system, the NewtomVG. Unlike their 3G which requires the patient to lie down and a large room, this is a stand-up unit about the size of most digital pans.

Another cool product was the Third Eye. This is basically an intraoral camera that you attach to your patient light, thus freeing up your hands during an exam. They have a ton of recording options, such as recording exams to a DVD. Very slick.

I saw the newest version of the Dental Rat, a hands-free footpedal for recording periodontal exams. The new unit is much smaller and offers a wireless option as well.

Florida Probe had their newest version here as well. This is easily the finest system on the market for periodontal probing, and it now links to pretty much every practice management software.

An apparent newcomer to the field of online dental CE was HDiQ Dental. The content isn’t great yet, but they seem to be adding more all of the time.

A really cool “why didn’t I think of that?” product that I saw was the Magic Clamp. It was developed over in France and I’m not sure who will be selling it here, but it takes a standard rubber dam clamp and adds large side phalanges, which keeps the tongue and cheek out of the way. A very “high tech” low-tech product.

There were a number of companies showing their cone beam systems all in one area. I still believe that the Picasso is a name you’ll be hearing more and more about over the next few years. The new system, the Master, will offer a sitdown option and larger field of view.

Steve Seltzer was showing his latest version of the Technology Lighting Center, formally known as the Chair Potato. This is an excellent system and has the highest “wow factor” of any product that we routinely install for offices.

Another cone beam system that I didn’t know much about (but, my friend Dr. Steve Buchanan, swears by them) is the J.Morita system, the 3D Accuitomo. The images they had in their booth were outstanding.

Staying in Touch

This is from my friend Dr. David Burton, the creator of the excellent EasyNotesPro software:

One of the age-old dilemmas that face dentists is how to access data from your home. Remote access works great, but sometimes it's tough to setup and difficult to transfer files. For some offices, having a VPN makes sense, as this allows your home computer to act as if it were part of your office network. The problem is that VPNs are challenging at best to install. Enter WallCooler, a very easy-to-use software VPN that works great and is free! You should definitely give this program a look.

New Kid on the Block

While the digital impression system from iTero is getting all the press, there's another contender on the horizon that should be forgotten: ImpressionFree dentistry from Brontes Technology. It has many of the same features as the ITero and a few unique ones as well. While it's currently in beta testing, their acquisition last year by 3M should make them a major player when it hits the streets.

TV 101

Not really dental-related, but still a question I get from many offices that I work with:

Your favorite TV show is coming on at 9 PM so you need to clear your calendar to make sure you are free to watch it, right? Puh-leeze! That is so last century. Assuming you don't have Tivo, here are Six Ways to Catch Your Favorite TV Shows...and I think they are all free.

Ten Tips for Trouble

Even those of us in the IT industry find that we sometime see problems that we've not seen before. PC World has just posted 10 Troubleshooting Tools and while I'm not familiar with many of these, they seem like a great set of utilities.

Banta Expands

One of the best practice management consultants out there is Lois Banta, who happens to be a dear friend. I was very pleased to get this press release today, announcing her hiring of two other friends who happen to be leaders in the dental field:

Banta Consulting offers the secret to practice success.

October 15, 2007 Grain Valley, MO – Do you want the secret to success for your practice? Lois Banta, CEO of Banta Consulting, may have the answer. Ms. Banta is proud to introduce her new team of specialists, Anastasia L. Turchetta, RDH and Laci L. Phillips, rounding out her suite of consulting services.

Ms. Turchetta has worked in the dental field for over 19 years, and has been making waves on the speaking circuit with her energetic emphasis on health and wellness issues as well as assisted hygiene. Ms. Phillips brings 15 years of dental experience with her emphasis on Technology in the Dental Office to the team for the past 5 years. This power packed consulting team embraces proven techniques to grow doctors’ practices to the next level, utilizing a team based philosophy to practice management strategies, evidence based hygiene services and the most current technology.

Got TEAM? Get the Total TEAM Package!

The 3 key elements that are essential to your practice success for becoming & remaining a cohesive team plus a stress free atmosphere are granted via the team specialists; Lois Banta, Anastasia Turchetta & Laci L. Phillips.

Patch Tuesday is Coming

Microsoft has announced 7 new patches to fix security flaws in their software, and these will be distributed on Tuesday, October 9. All the more reason that you should configure your computer to do this automatically. If you don't know how, go to Start, Control Panel, Security Center, Automatic Updates, select the top option of Automatic, and then be sure every day is selected, as well as a convenient time (most people use the default of 3 AM). There are some out there who argue (and I agree) that some patches can mess up your system, but for me, the reward of these patches far outweighs the risk of problems.

Password Recovery

Here's a great utility that is free: You need to figure out a password that just shows up as a series of dots or asterisks on an application or website? Enter Asterisk Key, which does this easily and doesn't cost a penny.

A Little Fun

I usually warn people about downloading screensavers. many are on less-than-honest websites and often contain malware. However, here's a list of some very cool and definitely clean screensavers you can play with. Screensavers lost their place when LCD monitors became popular, but these are still a lot of fun.

Health 2.0

Here's one that I'm not sold on quite yet: online health database. I'm all for having access to medical records online...it can be huge, especially in an emergency situation and considering how often people move nowadays. However, I don't know if I would trust it to Microsoft and their brand-new HealthVault. They do offer articles on health for patients among other features, but the core of the site is to save your health data for easy access to those you designate can receive it. My opinion may change over time (as it did with online backup), but I'm taking a wait-and-see approach.

100,000 Club

Sometime tomorrow morning, I'll hit 100,000 visits to my blog. THANK YOU to all of you who have supported this. I'm now at 927 consecutive days with at least one post. Also, while we average close to 200 daily visitors, another 450 of you get the email updates sent to you daily.

Please let me know if there are any products, services, or topics you want me to cover for the future.

Wi-Fi Fun

If you are like me, you use Wi-Fi networks, whether it's at home, the office, or when you travel. Many of you may not know, though, that there are plenty of ways to secure, boost, and overall tweak your Wi-Fi experience. Here's a great list to get started.

Search Done Right

While it may take a lot to drag me away from Google searches, Yahoo is certainly making the effort. They announced this week a new feature called Search Assist, which is designed to help you find what you want faster. Reports so far are that it's a major improvement over standard Yahoo searches.

Still the One?

One of the newest products at the ADA (it got FDA approval late Friday night) was the newest Planmeca digital pan, the ProOne. I didn't get too much time with it, but it's priced on the lower end of the scale and has TWAIN drivers to work with other imaging software. Stay tuned for more.

May the Force Be With You

Here's an idea that makes a lot of sense. There's a ton of software to protect you from virus, phishing, spam, spyware, etc. However, what many fold really need is software that can protect you while you are surfing. That's the concept behind Zone Alarm ForceField, which uses a combination of virtualization and threat detection to keep you running safely. Check it out.

ADA

I just got back from the ADA and will have a full recap of what I saw there in my monthly newsletter next week. I've already chosen by Product of the Show (think CAD-CAM) and will have a review of many other items of interest.