Practical Strategies to Get the Most Out of Perio Software

Practical Strategies to Get the Most Out of Perio Software

Oral surgeons and practice administrators know that running a specialty practice means balancing clinical excellence with operational efficiency. Perio software plays a key role in this balance. The right approach to using your perio software can cut down on wasted time, improve accuracy, and make daily workflows smoother for everyone on your team.

This guide shares practical strategies to help you maximize the value of your perio software and build stronger, more efficient processes in your practice.

What Is Perio Software?

Perio software is a digital platform designed to support periodontal care and oral surgery workflows. It often includes features for charting gum health, documenting pocket depths, tracking bone levels, generating treatment plans, and managing recall visits. The goal is to streamline clinical and administrative tasks so that specialists and their teams can spend more time on patient care and less time on paperwork.

DSN On Premise supports perio practices with these capabilities, offering stability and reliable workflows for practices that want advanced perio charting and documentation built directly into their platform.

Why Getting the Most Out of Perio Software Matters

If you’re only using your perio software for basic charting, you’re leaving value on the table. Specialty practices that maximize their software often see benefits such as:

• More accurate documentation for compliance and insurance claims

• Stronger referral relationships thanks to clear, shareable treatment notes and images

• Improved patient experience with better education tools and visual explanations

• Reduced administrative burden through automation of forms, follow-ups, and billing

Strategy 1: Standardize Charting Workflows

One of the most powerful aspects of perio software is structured charting. To get the most out of it:

• Create standard charting protocols for your team so everyone collects data the same way.

• Use the software’s built-in templates to ensure consistency across providers.

• Train staff to enter findings in real time during exams instead of later, reducing missed details.

The payoff? More reliable data for both clinical decisions and billing.

Strategy 2: Integrate Imaging Into Your Perio Records

Perio charting alone only tells part of the story. When you integrate imaging with your perio software, you get a fuller clinical picture.

With systems like DSN On Premise, perio charting can be paired with imaging integration to give providers and staff direct access to 2D and 3D scans. This makes it easier to compare imaging with perio charts, show patients their treatment needs, and collaborate with referring doctors—all without juggling multiple systems.

Strategy 3: Automate Follow-Ups and Recalls

Manually tracking when patients are due for recall visits is a recipe for missed appointments and inefficiency. Instead:

• Use your perio software’s recall module to automatically generate follow-up reminders.

• Pair this with e-services like text reminders and secure email so patients never miss critical perio maintenance visits.

• Create recall workflows that account for both periodontal maintenance and surgical follow-ups to keep your schedule full and predictable.

Strategy 4: Close the Loop on Billing and Referrals

One pain point many oral surgery practices face is managing referrals and claims cleanly. Even if your perio software doesn’t handle every detail, you can strengthen this process by:

• Linking perio charting notes directly to billing codes for fewer rejected claims

• Tracking referral sources to know which relationships drive your revenue

• Using analytics tools that highlight referral trends and help practices see which referrers are most valuable

Strategy 5: Cut Down on End-of-Day Documentation Fatigue

Let’s be real—nobody enjoys hours of charting after clinic hours. Perio software can help if you pair it with modern documentation strategies.

For example, some platforms now offer AI-powered voice-to-notes transcription that turns spoken clinical notes into structured, review-ready documentation. While still in beta testing, features like this can reduce after-hours work and help keep your perio records complete and accurate.

Strategy 6: Make Security and Compliance Non-Negotiable

Patient data security is not optional. Perio software often includes role-based access and encryption, but you should make sure these features are fully enabled.

With DSN On Premises, practices can maintain strict control over their servers while supporting HIPAA-compliant workflows. Pairing this with secure imaging and communication tools helps maintain compliance without slowing down care.

What Real Practices Are Saying

Here’s what one oral surgeon shared in a review of DSN:

“Now all prescriptions are electronic. Our staff enters them into the system, and I sign off electronically. Everything integrates seamlessly with pharmacies, which saves a ton of time.” – Dr. Serv Wahan

Even though this review highlights e-prescribing, the underlying point applies to perio software too: when you streamline and integrate systems, the entire team saves time and avoids manual errors.

Final Thoughts

Getting the most out of your perio software is about more than just learning the features. It’s about building repeatable workflows, cutting down on manual tasks, and connecting the dots between charting, imaging, billing, and referrals.

With DSN On Premise, oral surgeons and administrators already have access to perio tools that can deliver these benefits. By leaning into these strategies, your perio software can go from being a basic record-keeping tool to a true driver of efficiency and patient care in your practice.