The Technology Building the Future of Dentistry

At Bell Family Dentistry, technology isn’t about flashy gadgets or complicated setups—it’s about creating an "invisible" support system that allows the dental team to focus on what matters most: patient care and education.

Thanks to Dentrix Ascend cloud-based practice management software and its integrated revenue cycle management tools, business manager Amanda Bell and her team can automate essential tasks like billing, payments, insurance verification, and perio charting. All the technology works quietly in the background, saving time and streamlining clinical and administrative workflows.

“There’s a lot of information to manage in a dental office, and having the correct tools to manage that information easily, accurately, and quickly makes a huge difference,” said Bell. “Dentrix Ascend is continually adding to their capabilities, so we can capture data in a way that makes it easier for everyone.”

Saving Time (and Stress) for Everyone

Tools like Ascend Pay allow the Riverbank, CA, dental office to store credit cards, set up payment plans, and send electronic statements and payment links directly to patients, reducing bottlenecks at checkout. “The ability to offer automatic payment plans has been really helpful for patients who get unexpected bills,” Bell shared. “It helps us keep our production going and makes treatment more affordable for patients."

There's also the convenience of Request to Pay. "If a parent sends their 17-year-old in to get a cleaning and they don't have money on them, you can text mom right then and there, and she can pay the portion that's due before the patient leaves," she said.

When it comes to insurance, the team sends all claims and pre-authorizations electronically through eClaims, while real-time eligibility checks with Eligibility Pro mean the front office team isn't stuck on endless calls with insurance companies. 

“Nobody likes to get a surprise bill,” said Bell, “so anything we can do to understand the patient's insurance as accurately as possible helps ensure we’re giving them correct estimates,” she added. “Eligibility Pro saves us quite a lot of time; it allows us to get the information we need without having to waste a lot of time on hold.”

And that saved time is put to better use. “The most important thing for us is being able to educate the patient,” she said, whether that means explaining why insurance is covering a certain amount or walking them through a surprise root canal bill. “These are big financial decisions, so the more information we have at our fingertips, the better we can help patients understand their benefits, which takes some of the stress away.”

Perio Charting Meets Education

Technology also has transformed Bell Family Dentistry's clinical workflows, particularly with Dentrix Ascend Voice, a perio charting tool the office has used since 2019.

“In the past, when a hygienist needed to do perio charting, somebody would have to stop what they were doing and go help them enter it into the computer,” said Bell. “But with Voice, they can call out pocket numbers into a microphone, and they get automatically entered into the patient's chart. It's very accurate.

"Not only does perio charting get done more consistently with Voice, but it often sparks surprising chairside conversations.

“Periodontal issues are some of the least understood, which is understandable—we talk a lot about caries, but we don't talk a lot about gum health,” noted Bell. “Voice has led to a lot of conversations and education so that patients can understand this aspect of their oral health.”

As the practice prepares to open a second location, Bell is certain that embracing these technologies isn't optional—it’s essential. “At some point I think that you're not going to have much of a choice but to be involved in automation,” she said. “You might as well learn as you go, instead of having to go from the dark ages to the light ages.”

Opportunities at Your Fingertips

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Archway Dental Partners, a forward-thinking dental service organization with 35 offices in Connecticut and plans to expand into New York and Massachusetts.

“Our goal is creating value for the offices that we acquire, and the first step is getting Dentrix Ascend into the practice so we can dissect the data and see exactly where we can make the strongest impact,” said Joe Eckerle, Chief Operating Officer at Archway Dental Partners.

For Eckerle, diving into the data is easy thanks to Jarvis Analytics, an integrated dental analytics platform that provides real-time insights on practice performance. “I think having the analytics attached right to Dentrix Ascend is a big plus, and it’s super easy—a couple of clicks and you’re there,” he said.

Having quick access to practice insights also can serve as a launching point for mentoring dental team members.

"We can easily review the data to see exactly what doctors and hygienists are producing, ensuring they meet our standard of care while highlighting where they're excelling and where they may need support," said Eckerle. "I always say, ‘What gets measured gets done.’ When an office has clear goals and KPIs, we can recognize their successes. And when we see an office that's struggling, we can ask about their challenges and offer help."