Successful web searching.

This section of the series introduces the topic of WWW search engines and directory sites; showing you how to find information using a search engine and a directory. It also covers other ways of searching for information on the internet.

E-mail: what is e-mail?

This third part of the series explains what e-mail is and why it is the most widely used service on the internet. The principles behind sending and receiving e-mail messages are described. Also the various uses of e-mail are discussed.

An introduction to the Internet.

This is the first of a multipart series on the internet aimed at dental practitioners. In this part I will try to answer the questions 'What is the Internet?' and 'How does it work?', the historical background of the internet will be discussed, and reasons will be given as to why dentists should consider connecting to the internet.

Efficient use of the Internet.

This section explains how to make most of your time on-line by providing tips on how to reduce the cost of using the internet. Suggestions are given on how to get the best from your existing hardware and software. There are also recommendations for some additional hardware and software.

The evaluation of SafeQuest--a computer-assisted learning program on cross-infection control for the dental team.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of a computer-assisted learning (CAL) program (authored by a general dental practitioner-GDP) on cross-infection control (CIC) for the dental team. The aims of the evaluation were to determine how easy the program was to use, to determine if users found the information useful, to ensure that the content was accurate and to see what improvements could be made. METHODS: 96 questionnaires were distributed to dentists, 57 of whom responded (60%). 66% of the respondents were GDPs. RESULTS: Compared with earlier evaluations of hospital-produced CAL programs, SafeQuest was equally well received. 96% of respondents found it easy to use and 93% gave a positive score for their overall impression. 64% felt that the program had extended their knowledge, despite the fact that 74% rated their knowledge on CIC as being good/excellent before using SafeQuest. Suggestions on how the content and presentation of the program could be improved led to changes to the final version. CONCLUSIONS: The SafeQuest program on cross-infection control could be useful as a learning resource in general dental practice. The program, authored and produced by a GDP, compares favourably with those written in dental schools.

Introduction to the world wide web.

The World Wide Web used to be nicknamed the 'World Wide Wait'. Now, thanks to high speed broadband connections, browsing the web has become a much more enjoyable and productive activity. Computers need to know where web pages are stored on the Internet, in just the same way as we need to know where someone lives in order to post them a letter. This section explains how the World Wide Web works and how web pages can be viewed using a web browser.

An introduction to the Internet.

The aim of this multipart series is to show members of the dental team why the Internet is becoming an essential tool and to encourage colleagues to 'get online'. The various ways of connecting to the Internet are discussed, comparing the advantages and disadvantages of each. How to use email and browse the World Wide Web is covered in some detail. There are plenty of practical tips on how to use the Internet safely and efficiently. The amount of information available on the Internet is vast and the series gives practical illustrations on how to be successful in searching for relevant information. There is an introduction on how to create a practice website and the final part looks at how to put all these skills together to make the most use of the Internet in the practice of dentistry.

Introduction to email.

Email is a computer based method of sending messages from one computer to another. From its humble beginnings 40 years, it has matured to become a crucial tool in utilising the power of the Internet. More people have access to email than to any other Internet application, and despite the problems with spam email and viruses, email remains popular because of its low cost, universality and ease of use. This section looks at the advantages of email over other methods of communication, how email works and other ways of communicating using the Internet.

Effective use of email.

Email is a crucial communication tool and everyone who uses it should have a good understanding of the email program that they use to send and receive email. In some cases this will be built into their dental system software and for others it may be a web-based email account using the Internet Explorer web browser. In this section we look at the workings of the most popular stand-alone program, Outlook Express, and discuss good email practice for home and work.

Connecting to the internet.

There are many and varied ways of connecting to the Internet. For the vast majority of the Internet's existence, most people connected using the maddeningly slow click-and-wait experience of a dial-up connection. By June 2005, the number of the newer and faster broadband connections in the UK exceeded dial-up connections for the first time (approximately 1/3 broadband cable and 2/3 broadband ADSL). By the middle of 2006, 40% of households in the UK had a broadband connection, compared to just 28% in 2005. In the last quarter of 2006, the total number of broadband subscriptions in the UK had topped the 13 million mark (one subscriber may equate to multiple users sharing one connection). Mobile Internet access via mobile phones and other devices will mark the biggest change in the way that we access the Internet and is likely to have a profound effect on our everyday lives. In this section, we look at the various ways of connecting to the Internet and compare the features, benefits and costs of each.

Safe and efficient use of the Internet.

A minority of people abuse the freedom of the Internet to the detriment of the vast majority. Many people feel that the Internet requires more regulation to reduce the burden of hackers, viruses, hoaxes, adverts and spam that continue to proliferate unabated. Until this ever happens, it is down to the individual person or business to protect themselves against malicious attacks and to use the Internet in a safe and efficient manner.

Power searching.

The true power and value of the World Wide Web only becomes apparent once a user has learnt how to quickly and effectively find the information that they are seeking. Until then, searching the Internet can be an arduous and fruitless task. Knowing which website to use to start the hunt and how to select the most appropriate search words are only half the story. The other half is interpreting the results and then critically evaluating the information found.

Creating a practice website.

A website is a window to the outside world. For a dental practice, it may be the first point of contact for a prospective new patient and will therefore provide them with their 'first impression'; this may be days or weeks before actually visiting the practice. This section considers the different ways of creating a dental practice website and lists some of the main dental website design companies. It also describes what factors make a successful website and offers advice on how to ensure that it complies with current regulations and recommendations.

Putting it all together; dentistry and the Internet.

This last chapter in the series looks at how the Internet, 'warts and all', can be used in the practice setting. The web in particular has changed dramatically in the last three or four years, and the phrase 'Web 2.0' was coined to reflect this perceived change in the way that the web was being used. Web-based communities, social networking, the transition of websites from mere information pages to real software applications and the expansion in broadband access have all been important factors in this 'improved' WWW. Has dentistry been able to keep up with this pace of change and are dentists willing to embrace what the Internet has to offer?