SupportClinical Features

How to Use Dental Charting

8 min read
Last updated: February 26, 2026

How to Use Dental Charting

MyDentalPractice includes an interactive dental chart (odontogram) that lets you visually record clinical findings, existing restorations, and planned treatments on a tooth-by-tooth basis.

Accessing the Dental Chart

  • Open a patient record from Patients → All Patients
  • Click the Dental Chart tab
  • The interactive chart displays all 32 adult teeth (or 20 deciduous teeth for pediatric patients)
  • Recording Findings

    Selecting a Tooth

    Click any tooth on the chart to select it. The tooth highlights and a detail panel appears on the right showing:

  • Tooth number (FDI notation)
  • Current conditions recorded
  • Treatment history for that tooth
  • Available actions
  • Marking Conditions

    With a tooth selected, use the toolbar to record findings:

    ConditionIconDescription
    CariesRed dotActive decay detected
    MissingX markTooth has been extracted
    FillingBlue fillExisting restoration
    CrownGold outlineFull crown present
    Root CanalRed lineEndodontic treatment done
    FractureZigzagCracked or chipped tooth
    ImpactedArrowTooth has not erupted

    Surface Selection

    For restorations and caries, select the affected surfaces:

  • M — Mesial
  • D — Distal
  • O — Occlusal (or I — Incisal for anterior teeth)
  • B — Buccal
  • L — Lingual/Palatal
  • Click multiple surfaces to record multi-surface restorations (e.g., MOD filling).

    Treatment Planning on the Chart

  • Select a tooth with a recorded condition
  • Click Plan Treatment
  • Choose the planned procedure from the dropdown
  • The tooth updates to show both the current condition and the planned treatment
  • Planned treatments appear in a different color (blue outline) versus completed work (solid fill)
  • Charting for Pediatric Patients

    For patients under 12, toggle Deciduous Chart at the top of the chart view. This displays the 20 primary teeth with appropriate numbering.

    The system automatically suggests switching to the deciduous chart based on the patient's date of birth.

    Printing the Chart

    Click Print Chart in the top right to generate a PDF of the current dental chart with all recorded findings. This is useful for:

  • Referral letters to specialists
  • Patient education and treatment discussions
  • Insurance documentation
  • Chart History

    Every change to the dental chart is versioned. Click Chart History to see:

  • What was recorded and when
  • Which team member made the entry
  • Previous states of the chart
  • This provides a complete audit trail of clinical findings over time.

    For recording detailed clinical notes, see How to Write Clinical Notes. For treatment planning, see How to Create Treatment Plans.

    Still need help?

    Our support team is available Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm WAT.