Glossary

AI that listens to the clinical conversation and drafts notes, charting and codes automatically.

The contract a vendor signs to take on HIPAA obligations for the PHI it handles for you.

The share of presented treatment that patients agree to and schedule.

Cone-beam computed tomography: 3D X-ray imaging used for implants, endodontics and orthodontics.

The ADA’s Code on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature used on US dental claims.

The EU conformity marking for medical devices under the Medical Device Regulation.

A service that checks, formats and forwards dental claims from the practice to many payers.

A practice management system hosted by the vendor and used through a browser, with no on-site server.

Moving patient, clinical and financial records from one practice management system to another.

A financing promotion where interest is waived only if the full balance is paid before the promotional period ends.

The record of each tooth’s condition, existing restorations and planned treatment, kept on a tooth chart.

The standard file format and protocol for medical images, including dental X-rays and CBCT.

A company that provides business operations to multiple dental practices.

The electronic explanation of a claim payment sent by a payer, which a PMS can auto-post to the ledger.

FDA permission to market a medical device shown to be substantially equivalent to one already on the market.

The US law that sets privacy and security rules for protected health information (PHI).

A design where a person reviews or approves AI output before it takes effect.

Collections divided by net production: the share of collectible fees a practice actually receives.

A documented, publicly available interface that lets other software read and write a product’s data.

Whether a digital system accepts and exports data from other vendors’ scanners, software and machines.

Recording gum health tooth by tooth: pocket depths, bleeding, recession, mobility and furcation involvement.

The core software that runs a dental practice: scheduling, charting, billing, insurance and reporting.

Instant verification of a patient’s insurance coverage and benefits from inside the PMS.

An independent audit of a vendor’s security controls over a period of time (usually 6–12 months).

A credit inquiry that does not affect the applicant’s credit score.

Open 3D file formats used to exchange scans and designs between scanners, CAD software, labs and printers.

Everything a product costs over its life: subscriptions, setup, hardware, maintenance and add-ons.

The letters and numbers used to say exactly where on which tooth a condition or restoration is.

When a connected tool saves its result directly into the practice management system instead of a separate screen.