Software Update: Stable Version 24.4 Highlights

Open Dental’s latest version 24.4 has been released as stable! Read on to learn more about some of the version highlights, including a few highly requested features from users like you!

Copy Appointment Views

You can now easily copy an existing appointment view using the Copy View button.

Once the view is copied, you can easily edit it to show different operatories or assign it to a different clinic. Any visible fields and settings are quickly copied to the brand new appointment view saving you valuable setup time.

Perio Chart Enhancements

Once an implant is marked as removed (the procedure graphics are hidden), the implant icon will be removed from Perio Chart.
A new field was added for Attached Gingiva. This is auto-calculated based on the probing and MGJ measurements.
There is a new option in Perio Setup to determine if the term “Gingival Margin” or “Recession” is used on the chart.

Fee Schedule Enhancements

Fee Schedule Notes

Users can now add notes to a fee schedule. This can be helpful to maintain a record of why fees were changed.

Added notes can be seen from the Procedure Code window, by right-clicking a fee column for a selected fee schedule.

Fee Schedule Effective Dates

Effective Date options have been added across several Fee Tools.

This makes it possible to import, increase, or otherwise change fees and have them go into effect at a later date (think increasing fees, but not wanting them to go into effect until the new year). Once the Date Effective hits, the new fees will be used for any new procedures.

Report Changes

Incomplete Procedure Notes Report

There is a new filter option for the Incomplete Procedure Notes report to “Include all procedures with no notes”.

This makes it easier to find procedures that may have slipped through the cracks and still need to have notes added or finished.

Daily Procedures Report

The daily Procedures report has now been split up into two separate reports: Procedures and Production by Procedures.

The Production by Procedures report looks similar to the prior daily Procedures report, but now it will always group procedures by code.

Use the Procedures report to see itemized procedures.

This report is interactive, so you can change the filters in the report window and easily refresh the results. You can also right-click to quickly go to the selected patient’s chart.

eServices Enhancements

Automated Messaging

You can now set a custom time format to display when an automated message (e.g., eReminder or eConfirmation) is sent.

Message-to-Pay

Message-to-Pay messages can now be sent to the account guarantor when sending a single patient statement.

In Payment Portal Setup, you can now set the default Payment Type for Message-to-Pay payments.

For users who may not be using Message-to-Pay, there is new preference to hide the Message-to-Pay option in the Payment dropdown of the Account Module.

Web Forms

Typed signatures from Web Forms will now display the signed name.

eForms

eForms is an updated way to create forms for your patients to fill out on the eClipboard app. eForms allow you to have dynamic fields, so patients only see fields applicable to them. This new feature is designed to be used with the forthcoming new version of eClipboard. Keep an eye out for more information on this release!

Other Changes

Chart Letter Feature: Chart letters are useful for specialties that require additional security for patient notes. This feature uses Microsoft Word’s letter merge capability and notes are accessible from the Open Dental Chart.
Query Monitor Filters: Users can now create filters to prevent certain queries from appearing in the Query Monitor window.
Sales Tax Procedure: You can now bill sales tax to a single procedure using the Add Proc dropdown in the account. Sales tax is automatically calculated using the Sales Tax Percentage set in Preferences and selected procedures. We do not recommend using this in conjunction with sales tax adjustments. Your office should choose one preferred method for sales tax.
Imaging Module Permissions: ImageSignatureCreate allows users to add a note or signature to an unsigned image. SignedImageEdit allows users to make any edits to a signed image.
Payment Plan Sheets: If you’re using sheets for Payment Plans, you can now choose which sheet to print per individual Payment Plan. Sheet definitions can also be assigned to Payment Plan Templates making it even easier to print the sheet you need depending on the Payment Plan.
Code Group Ranges: You can now easily add a procedure code range to a Code Group, instead of individual procedure codes (e.g., D2391-D2394)
New Static Text Sheet Fields: We’ve added some additional static text fields for secondary insurance.

Accessing the Manual

Starting with version 24.4, new versions of the Open Dental manual will be accessible from the Help feature within the program. You can access the manual in the following ways:

Use the ? icon in any Open Dental window to quickly navigate to an applicable manual page for that window.

Go to Help > Online Help – Documentation to go to the manual home page where you can navigate using the Table of Contents.

Go to Help > Online Help – Search to navigate right to the search page where you can find the page you’re looking for. You can also use the Shift+F1 shortcut in Open Dental to quickly access the search.