How to Use DigitalTCO: A Mindset Shift

Using DigitalTCO requires a shift in how you think about note-taking. Traditionally, dentists follow a three-step process:

1. See the patient.
2. Write the notes.
3. Draft letters or follow-ups.

With DigitalTCO, everything happens at the same time—your notes, letters, and follow-ups are being created as you speak. This means you need to be consciously aware that you are dictating your notes while consulting with the patient.

Why This Matters

If you don’t adjust your mindset, you may find that:

❌ The note is missing key details.

❌ The AI hasn’t recorded relationships correctly (e.g., a child patient and their guardian).

❌ The output isn’t structured the way you expected.

This isn’t because DigitalTCO is inaccurate—it’s because it only writes what you explicitly tell it.

Examples of the Mindset Shift in Action

Example 1: Recording Patient Attendance

👦 A child, John, comes in with Claire.

What you might say during the consultation:

"Oh, hi! And you’re John. How are you today? Right, good! And you’re Claire? Brilliant. Okay, what brings you in?"

🚨 Problem: The note might not include Claire because you haven’t told DigitalTCO she’s the parent/guardian.

✔️ Solution: Be explicit:

"Patient attended with Claire, his mother."

Example 2: Recording Previous Dental Work

👨‍⚕️ What you might say during the consultation:

"We’ve had a little look around, and it seems like there are some sealants on these teeth. Maybe there was early decay before, but I’m not really sure."

🚨 Problem: The note might say "Previous dental work: Nil."

✔️ Solution: Instead, say:

"Previous dental work: four fissure sealants present on the lower right six, lower right seven, upper left six, and upper left seven."

Key Takeaway: DigitalTCO is Not a Mind Reader

DigitalTCO does not interpret what you mean—it writes what you say. If something is missing from the note, the question should not be "Why didn’t DigitalTCO add that?" but rather "Did I say that clearly enough?"

Your Role:

✅ Think about what needs to go in the template.

✅ Dictate your findings in a way that fills in all necessary sections.

✅ Adjust how you phrase things so that they fit into the structured format you need.

Handling the Learning Curve

1. Use the Plus Button
   • After creating a note, review it.
   • If something is missing, press the ➕ (plus button) and dictate the extra information.
   • This allows you to quickly fix small gaps without redoing the whole note.
2. Refine Your Dictation Over Time
   • The next time you see a patient, you’ll remember to be clearer in how you phrase things.
   • Over time, this will become second nature.

The New Workflow: Everything Happens at Once

Old Workflow:

1️⃣ See the patient.

2️⃣ Write the notes afterward.

3️⃣ Create letters or follow-ups later.

DigitalTCO Workflow:

✅ See the patient while simultaneously dictating the note and generating letters.

✅ Everything happens in real time, so your documentation is done by the time the appointment ends.

Final Thoughts

The transition to DigitalTCO requires a shift in thinking, but once you adjust, it will save you an enormous amount of time.

🔹 Be clear and explicit—say what you want written, don’t assume the AI will infer it.

🔹 Use the plus button to quickly fix notes post-appointment.

🔹 Embrace the real-time workflow—everything is recorded as you consult.

By making these small adjustments, you’ll quickly master DigitalTCO and eliminate the burden of manual note-taking. 🚀