For hygienists, the Perio Chart is your bread and butter. A large portion of your day is spent using this feature. So whether you’re brand new to Open Dental, or simply have not had time to explore all of the bits and bobs of the Perio Chart, this post is for you!
Navigating the Perio Chart
There are multiple ways to navigate the Perio Chart.
- Use the cursor to click into a cell to enter data.
- Use the up, down, right, and left arrows on the keyboard to quickly navigate cells.
- Type J to move to the MGJ row of the select tooth area.
- Type G to move to the Ging Marg row of the selected tooth area.
- Type F to move to the Furc row of the selected tooth area.
- Type M to move to the Mobility row of the selected tooth area.
- Type a period (.) to move to the last probing area.
Charting Shortcuts
Entering in Perio chart values doesn’t have to be a pain. There are many options for entering values that can make this process much easier for you.
Number Entry Tips
Click numbers using the on-screen buttons or use the keyboard.
- On-screen: For numbers greater than 9, click the 10 button followed by the second digit (10 + 9 = 19).
- Keyboard: For numbers greater than 9, press Ctrl + the second number (Ctrl + 3 = 13). Backspace and Delete work as normal.
- A string of alphanumeric characters entered in a different text editor can also be copied and pasted into the grid (e.g., 1B1211C22S…), using Ctrl+V.
- Plaque, Calculus, Bleeding, and Suppuration: Enter using the on-screen buttons or use the keyboard shortcuts P, C, B, or S.
Select Multiple Cells
Click and drag to select multiple cells at once. This can be useful for entering plaque, calculus, etc.
Voice Perio
Don’t want to type or click to enter charting values? Try the Voice Perio option in Open Dental. Any standard headset or microphone can be used in conjunction with Windows Voice Recognition to chart using the built-in voice commands.
To learn the voice commands, click the ? in any window in Open Dental and search for Voice Perio.
Missing Teeth and Implants
Determine how missing teeth and implants are handled in Open Dental with a click of a button in Preferences.
This saves you from manually having to skip a tooth when you’ve already marked it as missing in Open Dental, or if you still want to chart depths for implants.
ODTouch
Prefer to be a bit more mobile while you chart? Try ODTouch! All the great features from the Perio Chart can be found on a tablet device that you or an assistant can carry around with you.
Got any great tips for using the Perio Chart? Drop them in the comments below! And, as always, don’t hesitate to give our support team a call if you have any questions.