title: DiaTreat: a new method of communication for better diagnosis and treatment of dental problems.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this article is to present a simple method of communication between two oral health professionals so that the problem can be conveyed easily and treatment options obtained equally easily and quickly, using current electronic communication technologies.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Treatment of dental problems involves a thorough understanding of the underlying dental and medical conditions. The arena of dentistry being ever changing, with new specialties arising each year, it has become virtually impossible for an average dentist to keep track of all the treatment modalities available for various problems at a given time. It is the duty of a dentist, however, to treat his patients to the best of his ability. Professional ethics bind the other health professionals to render their opinion to the dentist so that the patient will ultimately get the best possible treatment. Method of communication is the only problem remaining in the path to achieving a total oral health care.
  
  
  METHODS
  DiaTreat is a unique method of clinical charting by which a dentist can incorporate all the ailments affecting his patient, and by withholding the patients name and address, can communicate with any of his colleagues for their opinion on the best treatment option for his patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is a new and innovative method of communication between a dentist and specialist. Even though it has some shortcomings of its own, on a wider range, the advantages far outweigh the drawbacks of the system. CLINICAL AND ACADEMIC SIGNIFICANCE: This can also be used by educational institutes for easy communication during interdisciplinary exchanges. Improvements need to be made yet to incorporate all the ailments known in dental discipline and make communication a comprehensive one.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics, Institute of Dental Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
authors.forename: K Srinivas
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: R Sunil Kumar
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sudheer
authors.forename: R Vamshidhar
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: N Venugopal
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: P Lakshmipathy
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D059019:Clinical Coding; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003142:Communication; D003219:Confidentiality; D003792:Dental Records; D003815:Dentists; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012984:Software; D013039:Specialties, Dental; D014584:User-Computer Interface