Why has my treatment plan and clinical notes changed?

We have start to update charting in Dentally so treatment planning and clinical notes work together in one clearer workflow. This article explains what changed, why, and how to work in the new layout.

Charting is where you plan treatment, record what you did, and write clinical notes. Over time, more features were added to the same screen. We heard from clinicians that charting felt busy and that notes were spread across individual treatment items.

We are rolling out Clinical Charting, Simplified as a series of connected updates. The treatment planning redesign and treatment item clinical notes are part of the first phase. The goals are:

Updates reach practices in stages. When your site changes, you will see the new treatment plan layout and the updated notes experience at the same time.

For the wider story behind these updates, read Charting is getting simpler in Dentally on our insights hub.

There is not an option to revert to the previous layout. We know changing a screen you use all day takes adjustment. These updates are intentional. They are based on feedback from practices, and we continue to refine the experience in small releases rather than one disruptive change.

If something is not working (for example you cannot move an item, or a template note looks wrong), contact support so we can help with a specific issue. That is different from switching the whole site back to the old UI.

Your treatment plan may look different, changes include:

Clinical notes can now be written in two places. The main place is the clinical notes sidebar, where you write an appointment clinical note for the whole visit. You can still write a shorter treatment item clinical note on an individual treatment when you specifically need one.

We recommend writing most of your notes in the sidebar. The sidebar is optimised for ambient listening and appointment recording, and it keeps one complete record of the visit in the patient's clinical history.

Notes now save automatically as you work. You complete each note once you're happy with it, and every change is recorded in the note's audit history.

Clinical notes can now be written in two places. The main place is the clinical notes sidebar, where you write an appointment clinical note for the whole visit. You can still write a shorter treatment item clinical note on an individual treatment when you specifically need one.

Appointment clinical note (recommended)

Treatment item clinical note

Previously, clinical notes were attached to individual treatment items. This meant notes for a single visit could be spread across several treatments.

Appointment clinical notes are written in one place, the clinical notes sidebar, and saved to the patient's clinical history. This gives you one complete record for each visit, and works better with appointment recording.

It depends on which type of note you are writing.

Appointment clinical notes no longer lock automatically after 24 hours. Completing a note is something you do once you've reviewed it and you're happy the record is complete.

If you need to add information after completing an appointment clinical note, you can add an amendment at any time. Amendments are recorded with the date, time and your name, and the full audit history is kept.

You must now access and edit clinical notes from the clinical note sidebar.

Once you finish, complete the note so it shows as Reviewed in the patient record.

Notes already attached to a locked treatment item stay where they are. A treatment item locks when it is charged and marked as complete. Once an item is locked, its existing notes can't be edited.

You can still write new treatment item clinical notes where you need short, treatment-specific detail. See How to write a clinical note on a treatment item.

Appointment clinical notes in the sidebar are where AI notes are moving. When your practice has access, that is where you will dictate and use full appointment recording.

The old AI notes editor (summarise, then copy and paste into your note) is being deprecated. Follow Changes to AI notes: what you need to know to learn more.