Dental scribe microphone guide
Clear notes start with a clear recording. Find the setup that fits who needs to be heard, how your team moves, and how many rooms you use.
Start with a phone, tablet, or computer. Upgrade after testing the workflow in your room.
Find your starting point
Choose the workflow closest to yours. You can change it at any time.
Recommended place to start
A phone, tablet, or computer is enough to test OraCore in one room. Add a provider-worn microphone if movement or room noise makes capture inconsistent.
Best for Scribe Solo, associates, hygienists, and traveling providers.
See the setup detailsRecommended place to start
A fixed room microphone can hear the patient, dentist, hygienist, and assistant without passing equipment between people.
Best for Scribe Team and shared clinical workflows.
See the setup detailsRecommended place to start
Use the same room-based microphone and placement in two or three operatories. Once the room test is reliable, repeat the setup across the practice.
Best for practices that want a low-friction, repeatable setup.
See the setup detailsRecommended place to start
A ceiling array or pendant microphone keeps counters clear and the capture position consistent. Test the workflow and room acoustics before installation.
Best for new construction, renovations, and polished fixed setups.
See the setup detailsCompare your options
The right choice depends more on the conversation and room than the price of the microphone.
Microphone types
01
Keeps the microphone close as one provider moves. A strong fit for an individual workflow, but it can miss the patient and other team members.
02
Stays ready in the operatory and hears the full visit. Start near the rear cabinet with the pickup area directed toward the chair.
03
Keeps counters clear and capture consistent. Best considered after the room workflow has already been tested.
Placement matters
Hear the people in the operatory without aiming the microphone toward the loudest equipment or the hallway.
One microphone per operatory
A dedicated room microphone removes the handoff. No one has to remember who is wearing it, move a phone, or reconnect a device between patients.
See the five-minute room test
Five-minute room test
Use a synthetic appointment with no patient information. Change one thing at a time if the test needs improvement.
Confirm the microphone appears on the device.
Speak from the patient chair and provider positions.
Include movement and recurring noise.
Use OraCore with a synthetic appointment.
Adjust input, direction, distance, or location.
Allow the browser and OraCore site to use the microphone.
Choose the room microphone and check that the input level moves.
Troubleshooting
Start with the selected input. Then check permission, level, placement, and nearby noise.
Open the browser’s site settings, allow microphone access for OraCore, then reload the page.
Choose the room microphone in the browser and computer input settings, then run the room test again.
Raise the input level, move the microphone closer, and point its pickup area toward the patient chair.
Move the microphone away from suction, handpieces, speakers, air purifiers, hallways, and neighboring rooms.
Reconnect it directly to the computer, try another port, close other audio apps, and restart the browser.
Hardware to test
Test two or three microphones in two or three operatories before making a larger investment. The best option is the one your team can connect, place, and use the same way every day.
Look for clear multi-speaker pickup, a simple USB connection, stable placement, and a setup your team can leave ready in the room.
Ready to try it?
You can begin with the equipment you already have and improve the setup after seeing how Scribe fits the room.
14-day free trial. No credit card required.