Templates
Defaults, custom templates, and free optimisation.
Which templates do I get by default?
Child Examination, Adult Examination, Emergency, and Flex/Freestyle. They ship as pre-filled healthy baselines which the AI then modifies based on what you said.
Should I customise my templates straight away?
Tip: No, and this is the single most repeated piece of advice we give. Use the default templates for your first handful of appointments. You'll get a much better sense of how the system writes before you start customising.
How do I create a custom template?
Duplicate a default template and edit it, or upload your own. There's a structured field editor with drag-and-drop, an instructions panel, and an AI-assisted build.
Can you optimise my templates for me?
Yes, and it's free. There's a button in the top right of the template editor to send your templates to us. We reformat them and push them back to your account, and they'll be there next time you log in.
It's one of the highest-value things our support team does, so do take us up on it.
I'm coming from a click-based system. Will my templates import?
They import easily. But strip them down first.
- You don't need lots of options or template headings, because there is no clicking.
- A click-based template carries a menu of choices you'd work through by hand. Here the AI populates the note from speech, so those options are dead weight.
A field sometimes doesn't update with healthy defaults
This can occasionally affect fields with a pre-filled default: oral hygiene habits, manual versus electric brush, flossing, and so on.
Go into the template editor and delete the default value. The field will then be far more receptive to what you actually say.
How do I stop empty sections pasting into my PMS?
Turn on the 'Do not copy empty field' setting. It's essential for complex templates, so unfilled sections don't end up in your PMS.
What's the difference between Light and Detailed notes?
- Light: less verbose, and easier to scan.
- Detailed: comprehensive, but can be long enough to be harder to navigate.
Both are available, and it's worth trying each for a few appointments to see which suits you.
Can I share templates with other dentists?
Yes. Templates can be shared from the template editor, and you can browse and import templates shared by other users from the Template Store.
Didn't find your answer?
Get in touch and send a screenshot of what you're seeing. It's the fastest route to a fix.
Contact support
OpenDentist Notes