The role of voice-activated technology in today's dental practice

Background. Voice-activated modules are available for most leading clinical software applications. This article briefly charts the evolution of this technology, describes how it is used in dental practices and discusses possible future developments. Conclusions. Improvements in speech recognition and microphone technology have helped voice-activated charting and clinical note dictation become more accurate, faster and easier to carry out than previously possible. As the technology continues to evolve and is applied more broadly in clinical settings, voice activation is likely to become a mainstream part of dental computer technology. Practice Implications. Voice activation is a user-friendly and cost-effective way to increase clinical productivity and maintain an innovative, up-to-date practice image.