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1.

What is dental informatics?

2.

Is dental informatics just another name for information technology?

3.

What is the Dental Informatics Online Community (DIOC)?

4.

What background do people interested in dental informatics need?

5.

Do I need to have a computer science degree to get involved in dental informatics?

6.

What do dental informaticians do?

7.

How can I learn more about dental informatics?

8.

What type of problems does dental informatics solve?

9.

What is the research agenda of dental informatics?

10. If am a dentist in private practice is dental informatics relevant to me?


11. As a practicing dentist, how do I start integrating information technology into my practice?
12. How can dental informatics improve patient care?
13. Where can I study dental informatics?
14. What are my educational options to study dental informatics if I don't live in the United States?

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1.

What is dental informatics?

Dental informatics is the application of computer and information science to improve dental practice,
research, education and management. During the last forty years it has developed into a research

discipline of significant scale and scope. Dental informatics can be considered a specialty of medical
informatics.

For more information on dental informatics research read Dental Informatics:


An Emerging Biomedical Informatics Discipline. Schleyer TK, Journal of Dental
Education 2003: 67(11); 1193-1200. Access PDF / HTML / Abstract
This article delineates informatics from information technology and explains the
types of scientific questions that dental and other informaticians typically explore.
For more information on dental informatics for practitioners read Dental
informatics: A Cornerstone of Dental Practice. Schleyer TK, Spallek H, Journal of the
American Dental Association 2001: 132; 605-613. Access PDF / HTML / Abstract
This article explores dental informatics growth as a discipline, its goals, opportunities
and challenges and how practitioners can get involved.
For more information on how dental informatics has developed as a field
and its future read Dental informatics: A Work in Progress. Schleyer TK, Advances
in Dental Research 2003: 17:9-15. Access PDF / HTML / Abstract
This article addresses the progress of dental informatics from 1992 to 2002 in regard
to dental practice, dental research and dental education. This article includes
suggestions of ways the field could develop to realize its potential.
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2.

Is dental informatics just another name for information technology?

Dental informatics is a distinctly separate field from information technology.

Dental informatics (DI) is primarily focused on research, development, and


evaluation of information models and computing applications. Dental Informatics has
lead to numerous applications that improve dental practice, research, education and
management.
Information technology (IT) is primarily focused on the implementation and
application of computer technology and telecommunications. IT has significantly
improved our ability to store, access, manage, filter and apply information.
Despite the large conceptual division between DI and ITlimited areas of overlap
exist. For example, a dental informatics team may conceptualize a computerized
method to organize patient history archives and then seek the technical expertise of
an information technology team to help with software development.
For more information on the development of the field of dental
informatics read Dental informatics: A Work in Progress. Schleyer, TK, Advances in
Dental Research 2003:17:9-15. Access PDF / HTML / Abstract
This article addresses the progress of dental informatics from 1992 to 2002 in regard
to dental practice, dental research and dental education. The article includes
suggestion of ways the field could develop to realize its potential.

For more information on dental informatics advances for practitioners read


The Technologically Well-Equipped Dental Office. Schleyer TK, Spallek H, Bartling
WC, Corby P, Journal of the American Dental Association 2003: 134; 30-41.
Access PDF/ Abstract
This article discusses the state of the art of several technologies, provides an
integrative view of technologically well-equipped office and offers several guidelines
for technology purchasing decisions.
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3.

What is the Dental Informatics Online Community (DIOC)?

The Dental Informatics Online Community (DIOC) is a National Library of Medicine funded project to
create an open, worldwide research community for people interested in dental informatics.

Begun in 2006, the DIOC is an evolving resource that strives to meet the ever
changing needs of anyone interested in dental informatics.
The DIOC provides researchers, educators, bioinformaticians, clinicians, students,
industry, and the library and information science community with the information and
tools they need to advance the discipline of dental informatics.
The DIOC includes literature to enhance research and practice, a supportive
community to seek feedback and collaboration, and announcements of meetings and
conferences.
Get involved! Sign up to become a member of the DIOC today! You can keep
up to date with the latest dental informatics research, educational and collaboration
opportunities. The DIOC is here to serve you. Its free! Members are not restricted to
a specific discipline, association membership, nationality or qualification, and
membership is free. Register here.
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4.

What background do people interested in dental informatics need?

The success of dental informatics requires the expertise of a broad range of professionals. People that
have contributed to the advancement of dental informatics come from a wide variety of fields including
research, education, bioinformatics, computer science, library and information sciences, and dentistry.

Find more information on postgraduate dental informatics programs at


the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine Website and the University of
Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine Website.

Find more information on short term internships in dental informatics on the


University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine Website.
Continuing dental education programs across the United States provide a variety of
courses focusing on dental informatics. For continuing dental education courses in
your area check with your state's dental association and dental school.
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5.

Do I need to have a computer science degree to get involved in dental informatics?

No. Because the discipline of dental informatics requires the expertise of a broad range of professionals no
specific degree is required to get involved.

People that have entered the dental informatics field come from a wide variety of
backgrounds including research, education, bioinformatics, computer science, library
and information sciences, and dentistry.
Find more information on postgraduate dental informatics programs at
the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine Website and the University of
Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine Website.
Find more information on short-term internships in dental informatics on the
University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine Website.
For continuing dental education courses in your area check with your state's dental
association and dental school. In addition, continuing dental education programs
across the United States provide a variety of courses focusing on dental informatics.
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6.

What do dental informaticians do?

Individuals with expertise in dental informatics work for academia, dental schools, the government,
industry, insurance companies, professional organizations, and more.
Examples of the work of dental informaticians include:
o Developing standardized vocabularies to facilitate translation of research to practice
o Working with computer software and hardware development companies

Creating a new method of data input to improve the efficiency of chairside computing

Contributing to the efficiency of dental research and practice

Teaching at dental schools

Conducting research at universities

For examples of career development in dental informatics review the CVs of


these dental informaticians: Titus K. Schleyer and Heiko Spallek
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7.

How can I learn more about dental informatics?

You have made a great start! The DIOC and its Learning Center provide a
wide variety of resources on dental informatics. If you are looking for
something in particular and you can't find it let us know via the contact
form at the end of this page.
Read
Articles on dental informatics appear frequently in a variety of journals, including,
the Journal of the American Dental Association, the Journal of Dental
Education, Quintessence International, and the Journal of Computerized Dentistry.
For more general information on medical informatics search the following
websites: The Journal of American Medical Informatics Association, MD
Computing, The Journal of the American Medical Association and the British Medical
Journal.
For more articles on dental informatics visit the University of Pittsburgh School
of Dental Medicine's reprint service.
For continuing dental education courses in your area check with your state's
dental association and dental school. In addition, continuing dental education
programs across the United States provide a variety of courses focusing on dental
informatics.
Short-term internships in dental informatics are offered at the University of
Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine.
Postgraduate dental informatics programs are offered at the Columbia
University College of Dental Medicine and theUniversity of Pittsburgh School of
Dental Medicine.
Join
A variety of professional organizations have developed dental informatics programs:
o

Every year the American Dental Association (ADA) dedicates one day of its annual conference to

the latest technologies for dentists. The ADA administers a Standards Committee for Dental
Informatics which creates standards for tomorrow's information technology applications.
The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) hosts an annual session dedicated to
informatics.

The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) holds an annual symposium in Washington,
DC that includes presentation on dental informatics. In addition, the AMIA coordinates a Working
Group dedicated to dental informatics.

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8.

What type of problems does dental informatics solve?

Because dentistry is an information intensive science most every aspect benefits from the application of
computer and information sciences. In dental informatics the methodology of computer and information
sciences is used to address persistent problems in dental practice, research, education and management.

The research agenda of dental informatics is continually evolving. Click here for more
information on the current research agenda for dental informatics.
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9.

What is the research agenda of dental informatics?

The following list includes a few of the research areas being addressed:

Dental Practice
o
o

Universally accessible electronic patient oral health records and medical history
Effective and efficient user input and output devices more suitable for chairside computing

Validated, integrated decision-support systems

Teledentistry

Dental Research
o
o

Geographic information systems for dental epidemiology studies


Standardized knowledge representations and controlled vocabularies for diagnosis, treatment,
etc.

Computerized data mining tools and analysis

Bioinformatics methods and approaches for genetic and proteomic studies

Dental Education
o
o

Educational software
Multimedia laboratories that includes virtual reality simulators for preclinical training

Distance education programs

Dental Management
o

Integrated information systems that automate routine tasks and reduce administrative overhead

Administration systems for dental schools to assess quality assurance and streamline
accreditation

For more information on the development of the field of dental


informatics read Dental informatics: A Work in Progress. Schleyer, TK, Advances in
Dental Research 2003: 17:9-15. Access PDF / HTML / Abstract
This article addresses the progress of dental informatics from 1992 to 2002 in regard
to dental practice, dental research and dental education. This article includes
suggestions of ways the field could develop to realize its potential.
For more information about the developing research agenda of dental
informatics read Abbey, Louis M., Zimmerman, John L., eds. Dental Informatics:
Integrating Technology Into The Dental Environment. New York: Springer-Verlag,
c1992. pp. 250-294
For more information on Dentistry and the National Health Information
Infrastructure read Should Dentistry be part of the National Health Information
Infrastructure? Schleyer TK, Journal of the American Dental Association 2004: 135;
1687-1695. Access PDF / HTML / Abstract
This article reviews the goals and structure of the National Health Information
Infrastructure and evaluates the implications for dentistry.
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10. If I am a dentist in private practice, is dental informatics relevant to me?

Dental informatics has the potential to transform how dentists care for their patients. Many obstacles
faced by practicing dentists can be addressed through dental informatics. A few areas of current research
include:
o Maximizing workflow support
o Supporting clinical decision making and evidence based dentistry

Accommodating trends in clinical data acquisition

Reducing practice management and administration costs

Understanding patient use of the internet for health related information

Relaying the most up to date clinical practices and information to dentists

For more information on advances in dental informatics for


practitioners read The Technologically Well-equipped Dental Office. Schleyer TK,
Spallek H, Bartling WC, Corby P, Journal of the American Dental Association 2003:
134; 30-41. Access PDF / Abstract
This article discusses the state of the art of several technologies, provides an
integrative view of a technologically well-equipped office and offers several guidelines
for technology purchasing decisions.

For more information on advances in dental information from the American


Dental Association read A Resource Guide for Practice Development Through
Technology. Spallek, H. Journal of the American Dental Association, 135: 38S-44S
Access PDF
This article is a comprehensive resource guide for general dentists and specialists on
technologies, software packages, practice management and other related
information. The guide includes lists of recommended articles, books, websites,
education program, etc.
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11. As a practicing dentist, how do I start integrating information technology into my practice?

News
If you would like to submit a news story for publication on the DIOC website, please contact Heiko
Spallek. Please note that submitted news will be reviewed for relevance.

September 2014
Research opportunity
A software program that, among other things, mathematically models periodontal disease has been developed and
requires more stringent examination than the past year of successful in-house testing. The software developer
seeks a periodontal and/or dental informatics graduate student looking for a certificate program research topic. The
developer will provide advice, fully-committed mentoring, plus a $5000 research award. Student is expected to
work with an academic institution and produce work that is worthy of being published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Opportunity is designed to be a win-win for all concerned. Inquiries as to details of the project (see DIOC listing
Dental Integra under projects) may be directed to: DrS@thedentalintegra.com.

August 2013
Dental Informatics Seminar
The seminar "Development and Evaluation of Oral-Systemic Patient Education Modules" held on July 24, 2013 was
organized by the Dental Informatics Research and Training Program at the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation.
The presentation by Nicolette (Nikki) Klucas is available for viewing at your convenience on Marshfield Clinics
Mediasite.

March 2012
New Book: Integration of Medical and Dental Care and Patient Data. valerie j h powell rt(r) phd (17
),franklin din (18
), amit acharya (34
) and Miguel Humberto Torres-Urquidy (11
) (Eds.) seek to
optimize the delivery of healthcare by stating why isolated components of healthcare delivery need to work
together, by asserting how health information technology (HIT) can help these components collaborate to improve
care quality and patient safety, by documenting how existing barriers stand in way of interdisciplinary collaborative
practice supported by HIT, and by recommending how to remove such barriers. Link to book.

Article on Social Media in Dental Education: Social media are part of the fabric of today's world, from which
health care is not excluded. Based on its distribution capacity, a single individual can cause an amount of damage
to an institution that only a few decades ago required access to a mainstream news media outlet. A need for
regulation with regard to the use of social media seemed to have caught the eye of the medical profession, but did
not seem to penetrate the dental community with the same level of attention. Drs. Spallek and Oakley realized that
their institutions or professions could potentially be cast in a negative light by social media postings. Read more.

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