Speak back pocket depths is a setting in Bola that reads each pocket depth measurement out loud right after Bola charts it. It is a verification feature. You hear "three two three" played back, you confirm the chart matches, and you move on.
Headphones required.
This setting must only be used with headphones or earbuds. If the audio plays through the operatory speakers, Bola will hear its own playback through the microphone and start charting it as if the hygienist were calling new measurements. That causes repeated entries, wrong values, and lag. This is one of the most common root causes of "Bola is charting strangely" support tickets.
How it works
When you call out a measurement (for example, "three two three buccal"), Bola does these things in order:
Charts the measurement
Pauses incoming audio
Speaks the measurement back through the active audio device
Resumes incoming audio when the playback ends
Because Bola pauses input during the spoken playback, you have to leave a beat between commands. If you start speaking the next measurement while Bola is still talking, that command will be missed. Treat it like a conversation with a person: you cannot interrupt and expect the listener to keep up.
This pacing is the second-most-common reason customers report Speak back not working. The first is using it without headphones.
Default state
Speak back pocket depths is off by default.
How to turn it on or off
Desktop App
Open the Bola desktop app
Click Options
Click Charting Settings
Toggle Speak back pocket depths on or off
Chrome Extension
Click the cog wheel (two icons to the right of the mic button) in the Bola extension
Click Mic Settings
Toggle Speak back pocket depths on or off
You can also reach the toggle from inside an active Perio exam. In the extension, click the gear icon in the mic widget to open Mic Settings. In Curve specifically, the same toggle is also reachable from Exam settings at the bottom-left of the Perio chart.
The setting saves and takes effect automatically. No restart required.
Should I use Speak back pocket depths?
Turn it on if:
You wear headphones or earbuds while charting
You want a real-time audio confirmation that Bola heard the right numbers
You are training a new hygienist and want them to learn to verify each measurement before moving on
Leave it off if:
You do not wear headphones or earbuds
Audio output goes to the operatory speakers (the patient and other staff would hear it, and Bola would hear its own playback)
Your charting cadence is fast and you do not want to pause between measurements
You already use High Accuracy Mode and find the visual warning enough
Troubleshooting
Bola keeps charting things I did not say. The chart is wrong or duplicated.
This is the classic feedback-loop symptom. Speak back is on, but audio is going through speakers instead of headphones, so Bola hears its own playback and charts it. Either put on headphones, or turn Speak back pocket depths off in Charting Settings (desktop) or Mic Settings (extension).
Bola misses my next measurement after speaking back.
You are likely speaking before Bola finishes the playback. Bola pauses input while it is talking. Wait for the spoken playback to end before saying the next measurement. If you find this slows you down too much, the setting may not be a fit for your cadence.
Speak back works for other commands but not for pocket depths.
We have seen this on Denticon specifically. If you are on Denticon and PD speak-back is silent while bleeding or other intents speak back fine, send a session ID so we can investigate.
Not sure which mode you're in.
Open the desktop app → Options → Charting Settings, or in the Chrome extension click the cog wheel → Mic Settings. The toggle shows the current state.
If you're still stuck, reach out and let us know your EHR (Dentrix, Eaglesoft, Open Dental, Curve, Ascend, etc.) and whether you are charting with headphones or speakers.