Importance

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Abstract

A computer-automation tool for dentists and insurance companies to communicate dental patient information is provided. Such system has a specialized PC-peripheral that produces digital images from transparency films and dental intra-oral intra-oral radiographs, e.g., x-ray films, for storage, retrieval, viewing, transmission, and processing on computer networks. For example, dental intra-oral radiograph images can be captured at a local dentist's office and transmitted over the internet to support quick insurance claim processing. The digitizer peripheral is automatic enough that no special skills beyond that of an office clerk are required. To digitize an x-ray film frame, the film is simply dropped into a slot on the digitizer peripheral. No menu items or key needs to be selected on the computer. The sensing of the film insertion, its positioning, and releasing it after digitization are all automatic. On-screen, the individual x-rays and intra-oral photographs are organized into patient panels and associated in a database together with patient background and administrative information.

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First Claim