Re: Dental Software Prices - Too High?

From: Dr Steve (nospam_at_home.net)
Date: 11/01/04 

Date: Mon, 01 Nov 2004 15:46:06 GMT

Hi John,

If it was an ES product, I would just be getting the product as part of my
package, and using what I liked and ignoring what I did not like.

The discussion about my garage (in case you did not know) is due to the fact
that I have 5 vehicles build in England. Ranging from a 1960 TR-3A to a
modern LR. I also, have a 1957 Isetta and two 2-stroke SAAB's. A yugo
would have more luxury features than half of my cars. But, that part was
mostly for fun.

I checked the sample package you offered for evaluation a while back. It
was nicely done, but did not really offer anything (with the exception of
the 3D bitmap landscape) I did not already have. As far as video is
concerned,,,,,,, back in the 1980's, when I bought my Fugi DentaDam, I
could save 4 images from a particular exam and could print them. If I
wanted more, I used a VCR machine and simply recorded live video off the
camera. I would then return to the taped session with the patient and
review pertinent findings by still framing the VCR. Not super high tech
compared to today, but it worked. The problem was that is was cumbersome to
use. Even though it was all on one cart, it required doing a lot of things
at one time, imaging, taping, pausing on important parts of the video exam,
etc. Your product may be better, as we had to pause the camera over a
surface to get an image which would show up well when still framed on tape
later.

Today, with the camera hooked up to a networked computer, I still pause over
any images I want to show the patient, and say "freeze", if the image is
good (meaning I did not move my hand), then I say "save", and the image is
captured to the patient's digital record. I can capture 20-50 images in a
full exam this way almost as quickly as I can run the camera around the
mouth. Then, sit the patient up and review each image one at a time. Would
I use live video if I had it? no. I only see that as using more storage
space on the hard drive for a bunch of data I would not be using.

Interestingly, the DentaCam handpiece had the camera head at the same angle
as a typical dental mouth mirror. You could click a button on its processor
and invert the image (so that it looked like a mirror image), and work off
the video screen at 14X magnification. Very interesting to do dentistry
that way. It even had a defroster which blew a stream of air over the
camera lens to keep it from fogging up.

Back to topic again....... I would be happy to change my mind in the
future, but right now, today, with all the time I spend doing imaging, I see
no reason I would want to have your 3D or video components. That does not
mean the product is NOT well done (sorry for the double negative--I am
trying to say the product looks like a good quality product), it just means
that in the real world of doing digital dentistry in a day-to-day method, I
don't think it would be very useful. Just like adding color to a
radiograph. It makes for more WOW, but does not help you see anything you
could not already see.

What I find truly helpful is having a brightness and a contrast tool built
in the same tool. I can take the cursor and move it in a circle over the
radiograph and brightness and contrast change as I move the cursor. The
live time viewing of changing contrast and brightness will often make the
very vague features stand out.

BTW, (I suppose your product allows for this too), you can easily have your
staff record a series of images in the other room, review them at your desk,
then be prepared when you walk into the treatment room. Or, your RDH can do
the video exam, then move the patient to the other room, and bring all the
images up on the PC in that room. Plus the convenience of being able to
print off any combination of images for documentation is great. Having your
imaging system networked throughout the office is the only way to go.

I used to (in the DentaCam days) get short VCR tapes and offer a copy for
the patient to take home. I discover no one wanted a copy to take home.
They simply did NOT want it. Perhaps with the modern digital imaging and
computer imaging, this may be different now.

Please understand I am not saying your product is no good. I am saying I see
no real market for the 3D and video portions of it. The remainder is just
your version of what is already there. Again, I am willing to change my
mind in the near future. 

-- 
~+--~+--~+--~+--~+--
Stephen Mancuso, D.D.S.
Troy, Michigan, USA
....................................................
This posting is intended for informational or conversational purposes only.
Always seek the opinion of a licensed dental professional before acting on
the advice or opinion expressed here.  Only a dentist who has examined you
in person can diagnose your problems and make decisions which will affect
your health.
......................
"John Chewter" <john@LESS_SPAMchewter.f9.co.uk> wrote in message 
news:cm4obp$555$1@sparta.btinternet.com...
> Hi Steve.
>
> Firstly, let me thank you for engaging in this little debate.
> Its very refreshing change from the Drew 'Dog & Pony Show'.
>
>
> "Dr. Steve" <drsteve@no-spam.com> wrote in message 
> news:cloao01t7hrk1io1tp2j5uc3faur97ku9o@4ax.com...
>> If you saw a couple of cars in my garage, you would realize a Yugo
>> would fit right in.  One could fix-up and tune a Yugo to be very
>> useful.
>
> But Anerican Dentists dont drive Model T's or Yugos any more - they moved 
> with the times for more usability and performance.
>
> Did you try the 2D X-Ray scanning filters and 2D Enhanced ? (Curious) - I 
> have not seen anything like them elsewhere.
>
>>The video and 3D stuff
>> is neat for showing off, but I see no useful clinical application for it.
>
> This is like saying that a Cam Corder will never sell because you have a 
> stills camera and can look around the Grand Canyon while you are there!
>
> You can discuss the mouth views while the patient does not have his mouth 
> full of camera!
> The videos do not need to be taken by the dentist - they can be taken by 
> other suitable staff (depending on local regulations) which saves time
> You can cherry pick stills, make your stills from the video, while 
> discussing with the patient
> The video clips can be stored in the database (they are very small in 
> size) and compared later - for tracking perio/ortho  progress etc
> Emailed to consultants / orthodentists
> Videos can be to patients to take away - yes we are getting requests for 
> this.
>      >I have my monitors placed so the patient can see EVERYTHING I
> You DONT NEED the extra monitor(s) - most dentists only have one monitor 
> anyway.
>
>> However, I think his product is not going to do well on this side of
>> the pond.  His competition is too BIG.
>
> You would be very, very surprised if you knew who I was in discussions 
> with. You may soon see this UK software in American Big Vendor livery, 
> wrapped in the Stars & Stripes, sitting by the Lincoln Memorial and 
> whistling Dixie.
>
> If this was a new Eaglesoft offering I suspect you would be viewing this 
> in a different light.
>
>
>
>
>