The clinical significance of the digital patient record.

BACKGROUND Computer technology has revolutionized the way the world does business, allowing us to work faster, smarter and more efficiently than ever before. Computers first made their way into the dental office in the late 1960s as an accounts receivable device. Today, we can digitize anything and recall it in the operatory with the patient. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS This article discusses new trends in the digital patient record and the benefits this technology provides to the dental team in terms of improved data collection and recording. It also discusses the benefits a digital patient record provides to patients, as well as how to communicate patients' oral health needs using these electronic tools.