Importing extraoral X-rays

You can import image files (.bmp, .png, .jpg, and .tiff files) of extraoral X-rays to attach to a patient's record in Dentrix Ascend Imaging, such as in the following scenarios:

  • Importing images from another office or provider (most common).

  • Importing images acquired in your office with non-integrated third-party imaging software.

To import an extraoral X-ray

  1. If the correct patient is not already selected, use the Patient Search box to access the patient's record.

  2. On the Patient menu, under Clinical, select Chart, Progress Notes, Quick Exam, Perio, Tx Planner, or Imaging.

    The patient's clinical record opens with the Chart, Progress Notes, Quick Exam, Perio, Tx Planner, or Imaging tab selected.

  3. On the Imaging tab's menu, select Acquire Images.

    Notes:

    • Alternatively, you can press Alt+X to start the acquisition process (instead of using the Acquire Images option on the Imaging tab's menu). To use this keyboard shortcut, you must be viewing the patient's clinical record (on the Chart, Progress Notes, Quick Exam, Perio, Tx Planner, or Imaging tab).

    • If the acquisition agent is not installed, the Acquisition Activation dialog box appears. Click (or tap) the Click here link to download the acquisition agent installer. Then, click (or tap) Done. After you install the acquisition agent and the drivers for your acquisition devices, you can begin acquiring images.

    • If you have not already accepted the diagnostic use policy, the Diagnostic Use Warning dialog box appears. To begin using the imaging features of Dentrix Ascend, you must select the I accept the above-mentioned policy checkbox, and then click (or tap) Accept & Go to Imaging.

    The options for acquiring images become available.

  4. On the navigation panel, select one of the following tabs:

    • Favorites - This tab contains the imaging procedures for the current location that have been marked as favorites. This tab is available only if there are favorite imaging procedures for the current location. If there are favorite imaging procedures for the current location, this tab is selected by default.

    • Standard - This tab contains the standard imaging procedures that come with Dentrix Ascend Imaging. This tab is available for all locations. If there are not any favorite imaging procedures for the current location, this tab is selected by default.

    • Custom - This tab contains custom imaging procedures. This tab is available only if custom imaging procedures exist.

      On the Custom tab, you can filter procedures according to the following options:

      • Organization - Displays all custom procedures that were created in your organization.

      • Location - Displays only the custom procedures that were created in the location that you are currently viewing.

      • User - Displays only the custom procedures that were created by the user whose account you are currently logged in with.

      Note: By default, Location is selected the first time you access Imaging. Whichever option you select after that is saved for the next time you view the custom procedures list.

  5. Select an imaging procedure that corresponds to the acquisition type for an extraoral X-ray: Panoramic or Cephalometric.

    The options for the selected procedure become available.

  6. Under Billing Options, set up the following options:

    • Without interpretation/analysis - If no interpretation or analysis of the imported image will be done in your office, to use an alternative procedure code, do one of the following:

      • For a panorex, select the Without interpretation/analysis using code D0701 checkbox.

      • For a cephalogram, select the Without interpretation/analysis using code D0702 checkbox.

    • Apply charges - Do one of the following:

      • If you are importing an image from another office or provider - Ignore this setting because it will become unavailable when you select the Existing procedure option in a later step.

      • If you are importing an image acquired in your office with non-integrated third-party imaging software - Either select the checkbox to post the fee for the selected procedure (such as D0330), or clear the checkbox to post a zero amount for the procedure.

    • Bill to insurance - Do one of the following:

      • If you are importing an image from another office or provider - Ignore this setting because it will become unavailable when you select the Existing procedure option in a later step.

      • If you are importing an image acquired in your office with non-integrated third-party imaging software - Either select the checkbox to bill the patient's insurance carrier for the procedure, or clear the checkbox to not bill the patient's insurance carrier for the procedure.

    • Select provider - From the list, select the provider who you want to associate with the procedure.

      Note: Only providers who have access to the current location and who are flagged as charting providers are available for selection. Also, the provider who is selected by default is determined by the current location's Default procedure provider setting.

  7. Do one of the following:

    • If you are importing an image from another office or provider - On the Import tab, select the Existing Procedure option, and then specify the date that the procedure was performed.

      Note: With this option selected, the Apply charges and Bill to insurance checkboxes under Billing Options become unavailable because the procedure will be posted with a zero dollar fee and will not be billed to insurance. The procedure (which will have an "Existing" status) will appear in the patient's clinical record but not on the patient's ledger.

    • If you are importing an image acquired in your office with non-integrated third-party imaging software - Do one of the following:

      • On the Input tab, select the Import From File device on the Available Devices menu if it is not already selected.

      • On the Import tab, select one of the following options:

        • Existing Procedure - Use this for a procedure that was performed prior to today (and may already have been billed to the patient's insurance carrier). Specify the date that the procedure was performed.

          Note: With this option selected, the Apply charges and Bill to insurance checkboxes under Billing Options become unavailable because the procedure will be posted with a zero dollar fee and will not be billed to insurance. The procedure (which will have an "Existing" status) will appear in the patient's clinical record but not on the patient's ledger.

        • Completed Procedure - Use this for a procedure that you performed today. Today's date and time will be associated with the procedure.

          Note: The procedure (which will have a "Completed" status) will appear in the patient's clinical record and on the patient's ledger.

  8. Click (or tap) Start.

  9. Import an image:

    1. In the Import File dialog box that appears, select the correct image file.

    2. Click (or tap) Open.

      The image is saved to the patient's record.