Open Dental’s latest stable version 23.3 has been released as stable, implementing 11 features that were requested by users. Join us as we highlight the features in this version.

Click on a topic to read more.

• Appearance Changes in the software
• eServices Features
• Insurance Features
• Account Module Features
• Other New Features
• Sheets-Related Features

The OK and Cancel buttons are being replaced with a Save button. You will begin to see changes in various windows throughout Open Dental. Use the Esc key or the X in the title bar to close a window without saving.

New Preferences

Located in Setup, Preferences. Use Search to find the preference you want to enable.

• On e-claims use Optional Patient ID instead of Subscriber ID.
  • When checked, the Optional Patient ID in the insurance plan, if entered, is sent on electronic claims instead of the subscriber ID. For paper claims, this field is automatically used when entered.
• Warn users to finalize payments for received claims.
  • Gives a warning when closing the Edit Claim window when the payment has not been finalized.
• Auto-processing posts write-offs on non-primary claims
  • When set to Always, posts write-offs to additional (e.g., secondary or tertiary) claims when processing ERAs.
  • If set to Primary from ERA, posts write-offs only to claims with an ERA status of Processed as Primary – regardless of the insurance plan ordinal in Open Dental.
  • If set to Primary from Plan, only posts write-offs to claims when the insurance plan is set to primary (e.g., Ordinal = 1).

More Enhancements to Frequency Limitations

Frequency Limitations were overhauled in version 23.2 and there are a few more enhancements in this version.

• Frequency Limitations can now be linked to a Treatment Area.
• Use the ‘Add’ button to create multiple Frequency Limitations for the same Code Group. This is useful if there are limitations by treatment area and time period (e.g., two crowns are covered in a year and a crown on the same tooth is covered every five years).
• Frequency Limitations can be marked as a Patient Override (X in the Pat column), meaning they only affect the current patient instead of all subscribers/patients on the insurance plan. Previously, these were entered as an Other Benefit; this is no longer necessary.
• Check the ‘Show Procedure Codes’ box to view all the procedure codes in a Code Group at a glance.

Payment Plan Deprecation

Patient Payment Plans have been renamed Old Payment Plans and can no longer be created in Open Dental. Don’t worry – you can still edit and post payments to existing Old Payment Plans.

There are now two payment plan options: Payment Plans (formerly called Dynamic Payment Plans) and Insurance Payment Plans. The Payment Plan dropdown in the Account Module has been updated to reflect the available options (and name change). Windows and other features throughout Open Dental have been updated to reflect the name changes.

Multiple Lab Cases per Appointment

Previously, only a single lab case could be attached to an appointment; if there were multiple labs, you had to create multiple appointments. Now, you can attach multiple Lab Cases to a single appointment.

ICD-10s Assigned to Procedures by Default

Offices with Medical features enabled can now assign default ICD-10 codes to specific Procedure Codes that will be applied as ICD-10 Diagnosis Codes in the Procedure – Medical Tab when charting a procedure.

This is in addition to the Default ICD-10 code for new procedures when set complete in Preferences. ICD-10 codes on individual procedures can be edited from the Procedure-Medical tab once a code is charted.

Print Orientation for Queries

You now have the option to choose an orientation (portrait or landscape) when printing query results.

Auto Notes and Quick Paste Notes for Sheets

Auto Notes can now be assigned to Input Fields. The Auto Note is automatically added to the Input Field in the Fill Sheet window and when clicking the Input Field, users can answer any Auto Note prompts.

In addition, users can now right-click any editable text fields (e.g., Static Text or Input Fields) from the Fill Sheet window to insert Auto Notes or Quick Paste Notes.

NOTE: These new features are intended for use by practice staff and are not supported when filling out sheets on the patient-facing side (i.e., WebForms, eClipboard, Kiosk, or ODTouch).

Search when Picking Sheets

If your office has a large number of Sheets, this new feature will make things quicker and easier! In the Pick Sheet window that opens when adding Patient Forms, Web Forms, Exam Sheets, Patient Letters, and more, we’ve added a Search bar to quickly locate the Sheet you want to add.

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Support is always here for you! Online chat can get simple questions answered right away. For troubleshooting or to remote-connect, please give us a call.

Information in this post reflects features available in Open Dental Version 23.3. For the most up-to-date information, please visit our manual.