With Dentrix, you can take measurements using any of five predefined navigation scripts. To speed up entering periodontal exam data, once you enter a measurement, the data entry cursor automatically advances from site to site and tooth to tooth. You can enter data using a keyboard or mouse. Since different providers chart in different ways, you can add your own custom general navigation "scripts." These scripts indicate which measurements (PD, GM, CAL, and so forth) are recorded and in what order.
To enter perio measurements
Note: If this is the selected patient's first perio exam, a new perio exam opens and the Data Chart is blank. If you saved a previous perio exam for the selected patient, that exam appears in the Data Chart. To save time, you can change only those measurements that have changed since the previous exam. When you save your changes, a new exam is created with the current date, and both the changes you made and the unchanged measurements from the previous exam are saved.
2. From the Script Selection toolbar, select the script that you want to use. For example, to enter probing depths, select Dentrix Default Script or Dentrix Probing Depths.
In the Data Chart, the data entry cursor moves to the first measurement location of that script.
3. Type the measurement directly in the Data Chart, or click the appropriate measurement in the Data Entry number pad.
The measurement appears in the Data Chart, and the data entry cursor moves automatically to the next measuring point according to the script you selected. To enter measurements greater than 9 mm, click "Entering measurements greater than 9 mm."
Tip: To enter measurements using a keyboard, remember the following:
· Numeric Keypad - Works the same as the number pad on the Data Entry section.
· Number Keys - Work the same as the number pad on the Data Entry section.
· Arrow Keys - Work the same as the arrow buttons in the Data Entry section.
· Enter - Advances the data entry cursor to the next measurement site in the currently selected navigation script.
· Page Up - Works the same as the Prev button on the Data Entry section.
· Page Down - Works the same as the Next button on the Data Entry section.
· Home - Moves the data entry curser to the first position in the currently selected navigation script.
4. If necessary, under Perio Navigation, do one or more of the following:
· Click Next to skip to the next position in the script.
Text describing the new position appears on the button.
· Click Previous to go back to the previous position.
· To resume entering measurements according to the script, click Resume.
Note: Your current position is tracked above the script buttons.
5. When you have entered all the data for the selected script, select a new script, and then enter the data for that script. Repeat this process for all desired scripts.
6. If necessary, under Tooth Information, enter Furcation Grade, Bleeding, Suppuration, Mobility, Plaque, and Bone Loss by clicking the appropriate buttons or by typing the shortcut key:
· "F" and the corresponding furcation grade measurement
· "P" and the corresponding plaque measurement
· "M" and the corresponding mobility measurement number
· "L" and the corresponding bone loss measurement
Note: You can enter this information for each tooth as you enter the other information on the script, or you can return to each tooth individually to enter the information.
When entering mobility information, use the following scale provided by "The Color Atlas of Dental Medicine Periodontology, 3rd Edition":
0 - Normal (physiologic mobility)
1 - Detectable mobility (elevated mobility)
2 - Visible mobility (up to .5 mm)
3 - Severe mobility (up to 1 mm)
4 - Extreme mobility (vertical tooth mobility; tooth no longer functional)
7. If needed, create or change a perio exam note.
8. To save the exam, click File, and then click Save Exam.