FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How will Panda work with my practice management software program and why can’t I just do everything there?

Practice management software products clinical modules are designed for general dentists. The Periodontal community is small and specialized so typical products on the market will not cater to you like we do. In Panda, the key differences that set us apart are the following.
  • Over 200 chartable findings on one page.
  • All findings carried over chair side transcribe themselves with no need for copy paste or duplicated entries or unnecessary editing later in Word.
  • Panda offers GUIDED and INTERACTIVE templates to ENSURE all employees complete chart notes to the fullest and most accurate requirement levels resulting in almost no mistakes.

Panda works with many practice management products on the market click here to view which companies: https://pandaperio.net/integrated-products-panda
If you don’t have a product on this page, Panda can easily be used as a standalone product and will still save you many hours of admin time not having to transcribe all the findings or copy pasting and editing notes.

Is there a steep learning curve to Panda?

No, PANDA is point and click and requires very little typing. It is very ergonomic, so getting started is fast and easy. Just follow our proven steps for success in the training portal and it’s a slam dunk.

I need to buy some other software products and hardware first?

This could be a mistake so consider your pros and cons carefully. Because Panda is an adjunct product to things you may be shopping for, you will be surprised as to what you “Don’t need” once you have implemented Panda Perio. We suggest starting Panda Perio first and then see what you need later because often customers tell us the end up not even needing anything else other than a basic scheduling and billing system.

The system requirements for Panda Perio are very easy to achieve you can see them in detail here: https://pandaperio.net/system-requirements and since Panda can be used on a Tablet PC then you can carry it around from OP to OP if you are running a low number of computers.

What is PANDA Perio?

PANDA Perio® is more than a unique and revolutionary dental software application. It represents a new paradigm in the way computer software can enhance the practice of dentistry. On its most basic level PANDA Perio is the most customizable, comprehensive and detailed digital clinical record ever devised. However the real power of PANDA Perio is its ability to formulate detailed treatment plans and automatically generate customizable letters and reports.

Why do I need PANDA Perio?

Every Periodontist knows that timely and accurate correspondence is the cornerstone of successful practice. It is also a laborious and time consuming part of clinical practice. Our research has shown that most Periodontists spend 5+ hours per week compiling these letters. This equates to 250+ hours per year of non-productive time. If this task is accomplished during the normal work day, the amount of time available to see patients is reduced. This has a direct and measurable effect on production. If letter writing is accomplished after patient-care hours, then it adds to the length of the work day and detracts from the quality of life of the Periodontist. We believe there is a better way. That way is PANDA Perio.
PANDA Perio® was specifically designed for Periodontists to manage the volumes of collected data during the course of daily practice. PANDA Perio® streamlines the day-to-day correspondence between your office, your referring doctors and your patients. PANDA Perio® creates periodontal charts, clinical reports, treatment plans and letters in real time during the examination. The best part is that this process can be automated so that it does not detract from the clinical examination. As soon as the examination is complete all the documentation and letter writing is complete!

Time saving = Cost saving = Improved quality of life
But letter writing is just the beginning. With PANDA Perio® you can create detailed progress notes, surgery notes and customizable forms, including personalized consent forms. Since PANDA Perio® is such a comprehensive and customizable digital record, in essence it allows the user to create a completely paperless clinical record. This record can then be sent electronically to referring offices, patients and insurance companies.
Digital record = Paperless solution

How is PANDA Perio® different from its competitors?

PANDA Perio® represents a new vision in clinical dental software. Truthfully, it stands alone in a category all of its own. Certainly there are a few products on the market that promise comprehensive charting, data gathering and automated letter generation. However none of them fully deliver on their promise as they lack customizability.
PANDA Perio® has been designed to allow the user unparalleled flexibility in data gathering by combining the most unique and comprehensive graphical charting application with an integrated and customizable clinical data gathering module. With PANDA Perio®’s unique tri-panel user interface, data that is added to the graphical chart is automatically filtered to the clinical write-up section. Best of all, changes in the way the program gathers and represents data are made in real time – and can be performed in seconds. Once the data has been gathered, the clinician has the ability to review the data in new and interesting ways in order to develop an accurate diagnosis of the patient’s problems. The backbone of the system is an intelligent treatment planning module where findings and diagnoses are linked to treatment options to formulate a treatment plan. From there the clinician has the ability to generate a variety of customizable letters and reports in minutes.

Is PANDA Perio® only for Periodontists?

No. Since PANDA Perio® is so versatile and customizable; it works for all dentists and dental-specialists. Many of our users are General Dentists who find PANDA Perio® an indispensable tool in their offices.

I don’t know much about computers and software. Will I be able to use PANDA Perio®?

Absolutely. PANDA Perio® was designed with the user in mind. Like all software applications it will time to develop familiarity with the application. Fortunately the patented 3-panel user interface is so intuitive that most first time users are ready to use PANDA Perio® with very little training.

I don’t want to spend time customizing PANDA Perio®. Does it ship with built in headings and templates?

Yes. Although at the heart of the application is the revolutionary ability to customize the application to the user’s individual needs and personal preferences, PANDA Perio® comes with the standardized headings we all learned at dental school – so it’s completely functional and ready to use the moment it’s installed!

I really like the way my letters look now. I don’t want my letters to look like they were generated by a computer. Can PANDA Perio® generate letters that look like my current letters?

Absolutely. Unlike competing products that force the user to accept predetermined and unchangeable letter templates that look impersonal and computer-generated, PANDA Perio®’s unique interface allows the user full flexibility to create custom templates. This means that your referring offices need never know that you have switched to an automated system. Of course they’ll love the fact that they’ll receive your letters more quickly and they will adore the best looking and most informative dental charting in the industry.

How easy is PANDA Perio® to set up and use?

Panda can be installed while you work without affecting your practice work flow. You’ll be ready to use PANDA Perio® on your network, notebook, tablet or stand alone windows-based PC whenever you are ready.

Can PANDA Perio® be used with my office network?

Yes. PANDA Perio® is designed to work seamlessly across your office network. We’ll work with your IT team to ensure a smooth installation.

Can I use PANDA Perio® outside North America?

Yes. PANDA Perio® can be setup to use either the American or International (FDI) tooth numbering systems.

Does PANDA Perio® integrate with my management software?

PANDA Perio® has the potential to integrate with MANY practice management systems through software bridges. This way patient information that is entered into your management system transfers to PANDA Perio®. Click HERE to view the list of participating Vendors.

I don’t have practice management software. Can I still use PANDA Perio®

Yes. PANDA Perio® can function as a completely stand-alone application.

Can I use my own stationery?

Yes. You also have the option of using plain paper and having PANDA Perio® print your details. The choice is entirely yours.

What are the top 10 unique features of PANDA Perio®?

  • Fully customizable and completely automated letter writing module
  • Completely customizable clinical data gathering module
  • Findings-based diagnosis and treatment planning module
  • Probing depths and recessions can be recorded at 6 sites on single rooted teeth, 5 sites on maxillary molars, and 6 sites on mandibular molars. Or, if you prefer, at 6 sites for all teeth.
  • Clinical measurements can be recorded up to 15 mm
  • The horizontal depth of Class II furcation defects can be recorded in 1 mm increments
  • The severity (slight, moderate and heavy) of bleeding on probing and suppuration can be recorded
  • Full occlusion charting
  • The only application where dental and periodontal findings can be viewed
    simultaneously on the same chart
  • Template creation system to streamline implementation of frequently entered or reported data

What is the Tri-Panel interface?

This is our unique user interface that makes PANDA Perio® intuitive, powerful, versatile and most importantly really easy to use. It works like this. When entering data into the application, other than through the graphical charting interface, you will be presented with 3 vertical panels – LEFT, MIDDLE and RIGHT. Just like reading and writing, you start on the left and work your way to the right. Making a selection in the LEFT panel typically opens up questions in the MIDDLE panel. When these are selected the RIGHT panel is populated with answers.
For purposes of clarity, let’s call LEFT panel items as CATEGORIES; MIDDLE panel items as QUESTIONS and RIGHT panel items as answers.

Ok. So how does it work?

Let’s say you want to describe an oral lesion that you saw during your examination. You would first select the WRITE UP section by clicking the icon on the toolbar. This will bring up the Tri-Panel interface. In the default setting, the LEFT panel will be populated with lots of categories listed below one another: Main Complaint, Patient Factors, Emergency Symptoms, Relevant Medical history etc.
Search the list and left-click on the Oral Soft Tissue Lesions category in the LEFT panel. The instant you do that, the heading at the top of the MIDDLE panel will change to read Oral Soft Tissue Lesions and this panel will populate with a list of questions: Appearance, Location, Size etc. Left-clicking on Appearance would cause the RIGHT panel to populate with possible answers: Bulla. Desquamate, Ecchymosis etc. If the lesion you detected was an ulcer, you would scroll down to Ulcer and left click it. Notice how the text [Ulcer] appears next to the word Appearance in the MIDDLE panel and the gray square changes to GREEN indicating that there is data in this field. Next, left-click on the Location question. Notice that this time the RIGHT panel answer changes to a large empty text box. This time you have the freedom to describe your findings as a word, phrase, sentence or even a paragraph. You might want to type in, “Right lateral border of tongue approximately 6 mm from the tip.” Click on the Size question in the MIDDLE panel and enter the data in the RIGHT panel answer. Continue moving down the MIDDLE panel entering data into the answer panel as you go along. When you reach the Color question in the MIDDLE panel, notice that the RIGHT panel is pre-populated with a new list of possible answers.

Do I have to complete all the questions in the MIDDLE panel?

No. You have the complete freedom to pick and choose only those answers you wish.

What are the + signs next to some of the questions?

These indicate areas with question groups. Left click the + for an expanded view.

When I click on the question next to the + sign nothing happens in the RIGHT panel. What’s up?

The first line of text next to the + is the heading of the question group and cannot be assigned to a question type.

The answer I want isn’t available in the pre-populated RIGHT panel. Now what?

No problem. The beauty of PANDA Perio® lies in its complete customizability and simplicity of modifying the application on the fly and in real time. Click here to go to “How do I change the questions and answers?” for in depth instructions on how to customize PANDA Perio® to your unique requirements.

The question I want isn’t available in the MIDDLE panel. What do I do now?

No problem. You’ll want to add your own question. Click here to go to “How do I change the questions and answers?” for in depth instructions on how to customize PANDA Perio® to your unique requirements.

I want to create a new category in the LEFT panel. How do I do that?

Click here to go to “How do I change the questions and answers?” for in depth instructions on how to customize PANDA Perio® to your unique requirements.

How do I combine two or more categories in the LEFT panel into a single category?

In order to do this you’ll need to move every one of the questions in the category to the new category. Left-click the EDIT icon on the right side of the MIDDLE panel to bring up the EDIT QUESTION window. Left click the arrow on the SECTION drop down menu. Scroll down and choose the category where you want to move your question. The press the SAVE button.

Can I move a question from one category to another?

Sure. Left-click the question in the MIDDLE panel that you want to move. Press the EDIT QUESTION icon to bring up the EDIT QUESTION window. Left click the arrow on the SECTION drop down menu. Scroll down and choose the category where you want to move your question. Press the SAVE button.

I want to re-order the questions. How do I do this?

Use the UP and DOWN tabs on the right side of the MIDDLE panel.

How do I move questions in the MIDDLE panel from one question group to another?

Left-click the question in the MIDDLE panel that you want to move. Press the EDIT QUESTION icon to bring up the EDIT QUESTION window. Left click the arrow on the SECTION drop down menu. Scroll down and choose the category where you want to move your question. Then select the PARENT question by left-clicking on the arrow and scrolling down the list. Press the SAVE button.

How do I delete a question?

Press on the DELETE tab on the right of the window. You will be prompted to confirm that this is the action you want to take.

Oops. I accidentally deleted a question. How do I get it back?

Don’t worry. The questions aren’t actually deleted. They’re moved to the DELETE category. To restore your question left click the DELETE category. Find your question in the MIDDLE panel and press the EDIT QUESTION icon to bring up the EDIT QUESTION window. Left click the arrow on the SECTION drop down menu. Scroll down and choose the category where you want to move your question. The press the SAVE button and voila, it’s restored with its associated answer.