Denticode Lab helps your team turn a recorded dental visit into a structured clinical note, suggested CDT codes, required attachment guidance, and claim-ready documentation.
Before your first patient, take a few minutes to set up your microphone, speaker labels, patient, and visit template. A clean setup makes the first week of Denticode feel smooth instead of awkward.
What You Need Before You Start
For the best experience, we recommend using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. These browsers support the live chairside transcript feature. Safari and Firefox may still work for recording and post-visit transcription, but the live transcript view may be limited.
You will also need a laptop or chairside tablet with a stable internet connection. Ideally, use the same device your operatory team already uses for charting.
Recommended Microphone Setup
Audio quality has a major impact on transcription accuracy and speaker labeling.
The best option is a wireless lavalier microphone worn by the provider. This gives Denticode the clearest provider audio and helps reduce patient, suction, and room noise.
A good second option is a tabletop USB cardioid microphone placed about 18 inches from the provider. This works well when only one provider is speaking most of the time.
The built-in laptop or tablet microphone should only be used as a fallback. It can still produce usable notes, but speaker labels and audio clarity may be less accurate.
Avoid ceiling microphones or wide-room omnidirectional microphones. They often pick up suction, hallway noise, music, and background conversations, which can make the transcript harder to clean up.
Set Up Speaker Labels
Before recording your first visit, go to:
Settings → Speakers
Denticode starts with three default speaker roles:
Provider
Assistant
Patient
You can edit these labels to match the actual people in the room. For example, you may use names like “Dr. R,” “Marisol,” or “Patient.”
The color assigned to each speaker will appear in the live transcript, making it easier for your team to quickly scan who said what.
You do not need to record voice samples. Denticode uses timing and audio patterns to help assign speaker labels during the visit. If a line is assigned to the wrong speaker, your team can correct it with one tap.
5-Minute Pre-Visit Checklist
Before the first patient sits down, complete this quick setup.
1. Select a Template
Choose the note template that matches the visit type.
Denticode includes starter templates for common visits such as:
Perio SRP
Limited Exam
Post-Op Check
Crown Prep
Routine Visit
Your team can clone and customize templates by provider, procedure type, or documentation style.
2. Select or Add a Patient
Next, select the patient for the Lab session.
If your PMS is connected, Denticode may show patients from your real roster. Start typing the patient’s name and select the correct match.
If the patient is not already listed, choose Add Patient and enter the required patient details before starting the session.
3. Select the Language
English is the default language for Denticode Lab.
If the visit will be completed in another supported language, select the language option at the top of the Live Transcript panel and choose the correct language before recording.
4. Test the Microphone
Tap Record, say a full sentence, then tap Stop.
Check that the audio waveform appears. If the waveform is flat, the microphone may not be connected or selected correctly.
5. Start Recording
Once the template, patient, language, and microphone are ready, tap Record.
What to Do During the Visit
Speak naturally, just like you would when charting.
Denticode understands common dental terminology and abbreviations. For example, terms like “BW” and “OHI” can be expanded into cleaner clinical language before the note and billing review are finalized.
As the visit progresses, Denticode may begin filling structured fields such as:
Chief Complaint
HPI
Procedure Summary
Clinical Findings
Treatment Completed
Post-Op Instructions
When a field looks correct, confirm it. Confirmed fields are locked so they are not overwritten during later processing. If a field is highlighted, that means Denticode is making its best suggestion and your team can review or edit it.
Using Voice Perio Charting
For periodontal visits, open the Perio tab and tap Record Voice.
Speak in a consistent order using tooth, surface, and measurement details.
Example:
“Tooth fourteen, facial three two four, lingual five three six, bleeding distal, mobility one.”
As you speak, Denticode fills the perio chart and updates pocket depth color bands in real time:
Green: 3mm or less
Amber: 4–5mm
Red: 6mm or greater
This helps the team review perio findings quickly while keeping the chart organized.
After the Visit
When the visit is complete, tap Finalize.
Denticode will run a final review and generate:
A structured clinical note
Suggested CDT codes
Required attachment guidance
Insurance narrative support
A claim-ready documentation package
Review the final output, confirm the codes and attachments, then select Send to PMS if your PMS integration is connected.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Two Providers Sharing One Lavalier
If two providers speak into the same microphone, speaker labeling may become less accurate. Use one microphone per provider when possible, or use a tabletop cardioid microphone.
Forgetting to Stop Recording
Always tap Stop at the end of the visit. If recording continues into the next patient, the next visit’s audio may be added to the wrong session.
Narrating Patient Statements Too Loosely
For clean chart attribution, clearly identify when you are quoting the patient.
Instead of saying:
“The patient says sharp pain on cold.”
Say:
“Patient states: ‘sharp pain on cold.’”
This helps Denticode place the patient’s statement correctly in the note.
Final Tip
A few minutes of setup before the first visit can save your team hours of editing later. Start with a clear microphone, accurate speaker labels, the correct patient, and the right template - then let Denticode handle the documentation workflow from chairside to claim readiness.