Enquête sur l'informatisation des cabinets d'orthodontie

An inquiry into the use of computers in orthodontic offices

¹ Faculté de chirurgie dentaire, 3, chemin des Maraîchers, 31062 Toulouse cedex

Résumé

Sur 380 orthodontistes interrogés, 80 % ont répondu. Il s'avère que 88 % sont informatisés et il apparaît que certains se limitent à des tâches de secrétariat et que d'autres conservent quand même un carnet de rendez-vous en papier. Deux tiers préfèrent la céphalométrie conventionnelle, peu de confrères gèrent leurs stocks par l'informatique et très peu utilisent la télétransmission. Un orthodontiste sur deux emploie la photographie numérique, mais 88 % continuent à travailler avec la radiologie conventionnelle.

Les opinions restent très diversifiés, mais le cabinet «zéro papier» reste exceptionnel.

Abstract

Eighty per-cent of the 380 orthodontists who received our questionnaires answered them. Their responses show that 88% of them have computerized their offices, at least partially. Some use computers only for front office tasks and some of those still maintain paper appointment books. Two thirds still prefer to analyze their cephalograms in the conventional way. Not many of our orthodontic colleagues use computers for inventory control and very few take advantage of the possibility of transmitting information and images electronically. One orthodontist out of two uses digital photography, but 88% of them continue to work with conventional radiography.

Our colleagues, it seems, are far from uniform in their use of computer technology, but it does appear that the paper free office remains a very rare exception to the norm.