A few tips & tricks from your Open Dental experts

In this tips & tricks post, we’ll show you how to tell if you’re on the Server computer, where to go to stay up-to-date on Open Dental Announcements, and the benefits of using the Layman’s Term field in procedure codes.

Am I on the Server Computer?

There are times when you’re on a call with us, and we’ll ask you to go to your Server computer. We’re often told we’re connected to the server but in actuality, it’s not. How can you tell if the computer you’re on is the server? Here’s how to know for sure.

1. On the computer you believe to be the server, log in to Open Dental.
2. Inside Open Dental, go to Help> About. You’ll see a window like the one shown below.
   Notice in this example that the Client or Remote Application Machine Name and the Server Name match.
   CONFIRMED: We are on the server computer!
   (If these two don’t match, you are not on the server.)
   

When there’s an urgent announcement from Open Dental, how will I know about it?

When we become aware of an issue that may be affecting our customers (like an integrated service provider who’s experiencing a service interruption), we make a concerted effort to issue an announcement as quickly as possible. Announcements like this are posted on our website home page under Customer Announcements (lower right).

On Facebook and Twitter, you’ll see them as “pinned” and they will appear at the top of our feed. If you’re a member of the Open Dental User Group on Facebook, you’ll see it as an Announcement.

Once the issue is resolved, these notices are removed.

I see a field for “Layman’s Term” in my Edit Procedure Code window. What is this, and what’s the benefit of using it?

In the Edit Procedure Code window, the “proper description” of a procedure code shows up in the Description field. This is the description that usually shows on the treatment plan, and in the patient’s Account.

In this example, Prophylaxis – adult makes perfect sense to us, but patients may find it confusing. To clarify the treatment for our patient, we’ve entered “Cleaning – adult” in the Layman’s Term field.

Now, when the treatment plan is presented, the Layman’s Term is displayed.

The Layman’s Term will also display on the patient statement.

Don’t worry! When a claim is created, it will show the proper description: Prophylaxis – adult.

Need a quick answer to a simple question, give chat a try! If you need troubleshooting help or need to have us remote-connect with you, please give us a call.