Topics of the day:

1. Practice management software (Re: Andrew Kohl)
2. Osteointegrated implants
3. Coverage during vacations
4. American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics May 2004, Vol. 125, No. 5
5. ESCO - The Electronic Study Club for Orthodontics

Andrew,

The practice I joined 6 years ago had OPMS Dos in use and it did a fine job for what it was intended to do. We connected 2 offices via a relatively stable dial up modem and networking system.

About four years ago we decided to take the plunge and upgrade our systems. I researched OPMS, Orthotrac, Orthoii, and Oasys. I wanted to stay in my familiar Windows environment and therefore did not explore Tops (I hear good things though) and others.

Over a long period of time I had added to my "wish list" that I kept in my Palm Pilot all of the things I desires in my next system.

I caught our regional rep with now Practice Works on his way out the door to another company and had a truly abysmal time of trying to just obtain a coherent and timely quote. Calls to management were similarly ineffective. Coupled with what I perceived as intentionally vague responses when queried about how long OPMS Dos would be supported, I was done with Practice Works.

By far and away, Oasys offered the most impressive list of useable features. More importantly, I needed to now have some kind of high bandwidth connection between the offices and strongly wanted to maintain a single server. I connect to my remote office via a T1 line (~400/mo in Cincy, OH) using Windows Terminal services. Basically, Windows Terminal services uses thin client technology. Your remote office terminals have no moving parts, no OS to maintain (there is one but there is no need to touch it). The desktop image I see both at home as well as at my remote office is generated by the server in my main office. Think of this as your television just representing the feed from the broadcasting station. Therefore, update your software on the server once and you've just updated every session that connects to the server. This greatly alleviates your time to do dentistry, not computer management. Other companies offer this, but Oasys embraces the Windows Terminal services utility with gusto.

I now have 19 computers plus 3 users connecting from home via Windows Terminal services. When I connect from home, I see the exact same screens as I would from either of my offices. I can also run reports from home and print there as well. I absolutely love the software. Great patient checkin system that we can't function without, excellent imaging (my staff capture images on each of their 5 tablet pc's), office messaging and system triggered assignments, integrated timeclock, electronic claim submission, electronic treatment card, a wealth of customizable reports. Every piece of the software is permission restricted by you or someone you've given the permission to do so. Should chairside assistants be able to view the patient ledgers? Sure, but refinance or delete them, no. There are many things I really think makes Oasys strong:

1. User customization. If you prefer Notepad to Microsoft Word, look elsewhere for your next system. I send my staff to the user meetings and they return pushing me to further utilize the system. It is nice that the system's capabilities outpace your own. I have intensively customized my new patient phone call, exam process, and professional correspondence. At the end of my exam, I print out a summary to the referring doc, and if applicable, a treatment plan, Truth in Lending statement as well as office protocol forms for signature. This is all possible via a very flexible system called Workflows whereby you create (or use existing) fields that are basically questions with predefined answers. The answers can be then kicked into a letter or translated into entirely customizable translations for the intended recipient of the letter (eg. referring doctor, patient's family, inter office document, etc...) All of these fields can be searched via the reports. Very powerful tools!

2. Responsiveness on the part of the support staff as well as programmers. If you want custom code, just ask. The code is always evolving and the updates are reflective of the desires of the end users. Feature that, a sort of open code!

3. One source for many bits and pieces of the puzzle that runs the orthodontic office. Time is money. Oasys helps me in a busy office to both stay informed about a myriad of tasks my staff perform on a daily basis as well as tightly coordinate all of our functions to work together as a team. Take "Assignments" for example. Every time a patient schedules for debonding, the system (with no further input on my part after I initially setup the original assignment) send my financial coordinator a message to both check to see if the patient ever had a full fee contract and that the balance is fully paid. Other Oasys users may not use this, but it's there for them. Another example: In the checkout workflow I added the executeable "ldgview.exe" which brings a copy of the patient financial ledger up right before the next appointment is scheduled. Again, nobody at Oasys told me I had to do this but it is indicative of how powerful and flexible the software can be.

As you can tell I am very passionate about Oasys. I am very pleased with the software, support and good people at Oasys. I apologize for the length of the discussion. I find it difficult to enumerate all of the attributes I appreciate so much. There is far more than the above to discuss.

In the spirit of financial disclosure I will note that Oasys knocks a few hundred dollars off my yearly support fees in exchange for helping out around the booth at the AAO. This year I approached Tom Gwaltney and offered too help. I do this primarily because I truly value the software and I enjoy the people at Oasys. Tom knows that my primary purpose for attending the AAO is for the lectures. When not with family at Disney or in a lecture, you'll see me at the booth. I hope this does not diminish anyone'e view of my thoughts above.

P.S. Oasys had originally been recommended to me by an ESCO subscriber.

Sincerely,
Alex Cassinelli

Dear Colleagues,

I am still searching for a practical way to utilize osteointegrated implants as anchorage to close lower first molar spaces. I have many patients that lose their molars to decay and have perfect third molars (see attached photograph).
In the Maxilla, palatal implant works perfectly, but my surgeon says there not enough space in the mandible for retromolar implants.
I would be grateful for any suggestions,

Thanks,
Sandra Kahn

Hi Everyone,

Just wondering how my fellow colleagues handle orthodontic emergencies while away on vacation? My office will be closed with no staff available.

Thanks,
Rob Bruno

American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics
Table of Contents for May 2004, Vol. 125, No. 5
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?db=c&id=od
--------------------------------------------------------------
Guest Editorial
The World Federation of Orthodontists: Why should I join?
Lee W. Graber, DDS, MS, PhD
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604002161

Editorial
The 31st Annual Moyers Symposium
David L. Turpin, DDS, MSD
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as088954060400215x

Original Articles
A comparison of current prediction imaging programs
J. Dempsey Smith, DMD, MS, Paul M. Thomas, DMD, MS, William R. Proffit, DDS, PhD
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604001210

Controlled slicing in the management of congenitally missing second premolars
Roberto Valencia, DDS, Marc Saadia, DDS, MS, Gerardo Grinberg, DDS, MPH
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540603010874

Clinical response to allergies in patients
Robert P. Kusy, BS, MS, PhD
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604000848

Effects of an anteriorly titrated mandibular position on awake airway and obstructive sleep apnea severity
Satoru Tsuiki, DDS, PhD, Alan A. Lowe, DMD, Dip Orthodont, PhD, FRCD(C), FACD, FCDS(BC), Fernanda R. Almeida, DDS, MSc, John A. Fleetham, MD
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540603010710

Long-term changes in pharyngeal airway morphology after mandibular setback surgery
Katsuhiko Saitoh, DDS
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540603010254

Comparison of tongue functions between mature and tongue-thrust swallowing—an ultrasound investigation
Chien-Lun Peng, DDS, PhD, Paul-Georg Jost-Brinkmann, Priv Doz, Dr med dent, Noriaki Yoshida, DDS, PhD, Hsin-Hua Chou, DDS, PhD, Che-Tong Lin, DDS, PhD
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540603010862

Morphometrics for cephalometric diagnosis
Demetrios J. Halazonetis, DDS, Dr Odont, MS
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604000319

Objective assessment of occlusal and coronal characteristics of untreated normals: A measurement study
Simone Currim, BDS, MDS(Ortho), DNB, M Orth RCS (Edinburgh), Prabodh V. Wadkar, BDS, MDS(Ortho) http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604001180

Changes in the curve of Spee with treatment and at 2 years posttreatment
Kyle R. Shannon, DDS, MS, Ram S. Nanda, DDS, MS, PhD http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540603010849

Association between vertical development of the cervical spine and the face in subjects with varying vertical facial patterns
Alf Tor Karlsen, DDS, PhD
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604001192

Comparison of the effects of 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol and prostaglandin E2 on orthodontic tooth movement
Selin Kale, DDS, PhD, lken Kocadereli, DDS, PhD, Pergin Atilla, MD, PhD, Esin Aan, MD, PhD http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540603010850

Focal hyalinization during experimental tooth movement in beagle dogs
Martina von Böhl, DDS, Jaap C. Maltha, PhD, Johannes W. Von Den Hoff, PhD, Anne Marie Kuijpers-Jagtman, DDS, PhD, FDSRCSEng http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604000277

Clinician's Corner Extraoral appliances: A twenty-first century update Stanley Braun, DDS, MME, PE http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540603010217

Clinician's Corner Practice efficiency: The customized treatment process
Al E. Atta, DDS, MSD, MBA
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540603008941

Case Report Management of congenitally missing second premolars with orthodontics and single-tooth implants
Roy Sabri, DDS, MS
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604000022

AAO Continuing Education AAO continuing education
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604002525

Techno Bytes The OrthoCAD bracket placement solution
William J. Redmond, DDS, MS, M. John Redmond, DDS, MS, W. Ron Redmond, DDS, MS http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604000745

Litigation, Legislation, and Ethics Releases and minors Laurance Jerrold, DDS, JD http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as088954060400201x

Reviews and Abstracts Lingual orthodontics, complete technique, step by step (English translation)
Alex Jacobson
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604001945

Thesis abstract: Spontaneous mandibular arch response following rapid palatal expansion: A long-term study on Class I malocclusion Anna Carolina Lima
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604001933

Ortho News News, comments, and service announcements http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604002173

Meeting announcements
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604002628

Directory Directory
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as088954060400263x

Readers' Forum Editor's choice
David L. Turpin, DDS, MSD
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604002148

Ask us Harry L. Legan, DDS
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540603010266

Letters to the editor: Close space to treat missing lateral incisors
Donald L. Tuverson, DDS
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604002136

Reader's Services Editors
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604002604

Information for readers
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604002616

Availability
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604002677

Editors
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604002689

Bound volumes
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604002690

Receive the Journal's Table of Contents
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On the move
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604002719

Estate planning
http://www.mosby.com/scripts/om.dll/serve?article=as0889540604002720

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