Voice over Internet protocol for the orthodontic practice: a sensible switch from plain old telephone service

Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) is a revolutionary new technology that is causing a stir in the telecommunications industry and threatening the existence of traditional telephone service providers. Based on a simple method of converting analog audio signals into digital data before being transmitted over the Internet, VoIP has gained immense popularity among consumers. The technology is now regarded as an alternative to traditional telephone service for the orthodontic office. When the economics are considered, it is cost-effective, especially for a busy orthodontic practice where the call volumes both in and out are always high. VoIP has the potential to reduce costs, break the barriers between local vs long-distance calling, and make life easier for the office staff. However, deploying VoIP requires a cautious and thought-out process. Users should fully understand the risks and benefits before switching from the public switched telephone network. VoIP customers and service providers are vulnerable to many of the same impersonation-based attacks by those who attempt toll fraud, and identity and information theft. In this article, VoIP is introduced to orthodontic practitioners, who might be unfamiliar with this technology. Internet protocol based private branch exchange systems that are currently marketed as open-source technologies are also reviewed. Additionally, VoIP is compared with the traditional public switched telephone network technology and evaluated for its potential applications in an orthodontic office for both increased efficiency and cost savings.