Getting More From Chairside With Prompts

Ask a question, draft a document, or format a note - all mid-consultation, without switching tools. AI Colleague already has the full context of the session, so you're not re-explaining anything. These are ready to copy, paste, and adapt.

At a glance

• Asking Clinical Questions
• Investigating Unusual Findings
• Drafting Referral Letters
• Explaining Findings to Patients
• Translating Care Advice
• Supporting Reception
• Formatting Structured Clinical Notes

Asking Clinical Questions

• "What differential diagnoses should I consider for [finding]?"
• "Give me a quick evidence summary on [a condition] - for example, cracked tooth syndrome or sleep apnoea management."
• "This patient's on [a common medication] - anything to flag before I prescribe [X]?"
• "Would zirconia or [an alternative material] be the better call for this crown, given the findings?"
• "Give me a second opinion on this treatment plan for tooth [number]."
• "Given everything in this session, which of these treatments should we prioritise first?"
• "What should I watch for post-op with this procedure, given this patient's medical history?"

Investigating Unusual Findings

• "What are common differential diagnoses for this lesion?"

Drafting Referral Letters

• "Draft a short referral letter for impacted wisdom teeth."
• "Draft a referral letter to an oral surgeon for this patient's extraction."

Explaining Findings to Patients

• "Explain periodontal disease in simple, patient-friendly language."
• "Explain [a finding or condition] in plain language a patient could read at home."

Translating Care Advice

• "Translate these post-op instructions into [language]."
• "Rewrite these care instructions at a simpler reading level."

Supporting Reception

• "Draft a short answer to a patient asking about their aftercare, based on this session's clinical note."
• "Prep a quick line answering [a common post-treatment question], so reception isn't guessing or interrupting the dentist."

Formatting Structured Clinical Notes

For a note section that needs the same structure every time - like comprehensive exam or periodontal charting - use a /clinical_note command with a template instead of writing it out freeform.

Example - Periodontal Charting

/clinical_note using the following template — Periodontal Charting

(Use FDI notation for all teeth. Write the tooth number on its own — e.g. "36" — without adding "tooth" or "teeth" in front of it.)

[Purpose and timing of the periodontal charting]

[Tooth number]:
PD: [Pocket depth measurements, in mm, in sequence]
BOP: [+ or −]
(Output only + or − — never a description. + = bleeding on probing present, − = absent.)
Rec: [Recession, in mm]
CAL: [Clinical attachment level, in mm]
(Only include if you can calculate it directly from PD and Rec given above — CAL = PD + Rec at that site. Do not estimate if either value is missing.)
Mob: [0, I, II, or III]
(Output only the grade — never a description. Grade based on how it's described — e.g. "a bit loose" = I, "definitely mobile" = II, "very loose, displaceable" = III.)
Furcation: [I, II, or III]
(Output only the grade — never a description. Only for multi-rooted teeth where furcation involvement is mentioned.)

[Repeat the block above for each tooth charted]

[Additional periodontal findings — e.g. suppuration, generalised bleeding percentage, overall pattern]

(Only include a field, or a whole tooth block, if it's explicitly mentioned in the transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note — otherwise leave it out completely.)

Example - Comprehensive Exam

/clinical_note using the following template — Comprehensive Dental Examination

General Instructions:
(Use FDI notation for all teeth — do not use any other notation, such as UR1. Write the tooth number on its own — e.g. "36" or "16, 17" — without adding the word "tooth" or "teeth" in front of it, so the note stays in short clinical form. When documenting, use phrasing such as "patient opted" rather than "dentist recommended.")

Medical History: [Confirmation that medical history was checked and updated]

Presenting: [Patient full name] arrived for comprehensive exam
[Who is attending with the patient, and their relationship or profession, if applicable]

WKY: [Hobbies, occupation, work, interests, family, country of origin, and family members present at the appointment]

Relevant Medical History: [Relevant systemic medical history]

Main Concern: [Main reason for visit]

Dental and Social History:
Brushing: [Brushing frequency, toothpaste used, toothbrush type]
Interdental Cleaning: [Method — e.g. floss, Piksters, flossettes, toothpicks, water flosser]
Diet: [Frequency and type of snacking, soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, tea consumption]
Water: [Water consumption, rated as poor, fair, good, or excellent]
(Base the rating on what the patient reports — e.g. very little water or mostly other drinks = poor; some water but inconsistent = fair; regular water through the day = good; consistently high water intake = excellent.)
Sleep Quality: [Sleep quality, average hours, jaw tenderness on waking if present]
Last Dental Visit: [Date and type of last dental visit]
Trauma History: [Any history of dental or maxillofacial trauma]
Smoking Status: [Smoking status and amount]

Extra-Oral Examination: [Findings, or "NAD" if none noted]

Intra-Oral Examination:
Soft Tissue: [Findings on tongue, cheeks, palate, other oral soft tissues, or "NAD"]
Oral Cancer Screening: [Suspicious lesions noted, or "NAD"]

Dentition and Caries Charting: [Findings including missing teeth, surfaces affected, lesions, structural/endodontic/periodontal/functional status, mobility]

PSR: [Periodontal screening result, in format XXX, XXX]

Plaque: [+, ++, or +++]
(Output only the symbol — never write it out as words. + = light plaque, localised to a few sites. ++ = moderate plaque, along multiple teeth or the gumline. +++ = heavy plaque, widespread or thick deposits. Example: if the transcript says "there's some light plaque along the lower front teeth," output "+" — not "light plaque" or "light/minimal plaque.")

Calculus: [+, ++, or +++]
(Output only the symbol — never write it out as words. + = light calculus, small or localised deposits. ++ = moderate calculus, visible supragingival deposits across several teeth. +++ = heavy calculus, extensive supra- or subgingival deposits. Example: if the transcript says "quite heavy calculus buildup," output "+++" — not "heavy calculus.")

NCTL: [mild, moderate, or severe] — type: [attrition, abrasion, erosion, or abfraction]
(Output only mild, moderate, or severe — not a restated description of the wear. Grade based on how it's described — e.g. "a bit of wear" = mild, "noticeable wear" or "flattened cusps" = moderate, "significant wear" or "through to dentine" = severe.)

Occlusion: [Type of occlusion]
Overbite: [Percentage value]
Overjet: [Length in mm]
Crowding: [mild, moderate, or severe]
(Output only mild, moderate, or severe — not a restated description. Grade based on the dentist's description — e.g. "slightly crowded" = mild, "noticeably crowded" = moderate, "severely crowded" or "significant overlap" = severe.)

Other: [Other intraoral findings not covered above]

Imaging:
[Intraoral photographs taken]
[iTero scan taken]
[Diagnocam imaging taken]

Radiographic Findings:
[Type of radiographs taken — e.g. OPG, CBCT, bitewings, PA]
[Radiographic findings]

Problem List / Diagnoses: [List objective problems, issues, and diagnoses]

Discussion and Treatment Options: [Discussion of each problem/diagnosis with the patient, in the same order as Problem List / Diagnoses]
(Once treatment options are discussed, always include a statement that the patient opted to proceed with the plan below.)

Treatment Plan: [Ordered treatment plan, including today's appointment and follow-ups, in numerical order with time intervals noted]
(State the review interval and provider exactly as mentioned in the transcript — e.g. "6/12 review with OHT," "3/12 review with dentist." If no interval or provider is mentioned, leave that detail out rather than defaulting to one.)

Post-Operative Instructions:
NV: [Next visit details — appointment type, duration, and reason]
RTR: [Reason for return, explained in simple, patient-friendly language, without jargon]
[Patient first name] well on discharge 
— [Practitioner's name] (Always include — Sign off the clinical note with the practitioner's full name (first_name and last_name) found in the 'user' field of the clinical session data.) 

Additional Information: [Any other relevant information not captured above, as bullet points]

(Unless marked "Always include," only include a section if it's explicitly mentioned in the transcript or contextual notes — otherwise omit that section entirely. Never invent your own patient details, assessment, plan, interventions, evaluation, or plan for continuing care — use only the transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note as your reference.)

The same pattern works for any structured note section you want formatted consistently every time - swap "Periodontal Charting" and the headings underneath for whatever the section needs.