Caries/Restorative Charting

Caries / Restorative Charting

Within Dentrix you can document your patient’s existing restorations or conditions, restorative work that will need to be treated and treatment that has been recommended and completed. This system provides an accurate history of the patient’s dental care and existing dental problems. It also provides a quick reference for a treatment plan.

To begin, access the patient’s chart from the scheduling book. The dental chart will appear. There are a few views available from which you can choose. You can modify your view but clicking on the toolbar at the top of your screen. Click view and a drop down list will appear. Choose Panels – then you can select to adjust your screen to show only procedure codes or procedure buttons.

You may also choose to view both view options in one screen. Choose the chart layout option from the view icon and select work chart. From the Procedure codes view, you can select a specific category to locate the condition or restoration that you choose to note in the chart. First highlight the teeth that you choose to identify as having an existing condition. Then select the appropriate navigation button – such as, conditions– and a drop down panel provides choices of existing conditions.

Other common procedures that you may chart are restorations. From the procedures codes panel highlight the specific tooth, then select restorative from the drop down panel and choose the desired restorative material. Click this navigation button and another text box will appear offering the choice of tooth surfaces that are involved. Select the appropriate surfaces and then click ok.

Continue throughout the mouth selecting the appropriate teeth and procedures. Post the treatment recommended or existing condition and then click complete.

There are four icons located in the toolbar which indicate the status of restorations or conditions. Existing Other : is for work completed by another provider or practice; Existing: is for work done by the current provider, but is just now being entered into the Patient Chart; Treatment Plan: is for treatment planned procedures; Completed: is for completed procedures. Choose the correct status of an entry and select completed. You will also see that all procedures charted on the graphic chart are also noted in the patient’s progress notes.