Specialized Keyboard for Dental Examinations

Abstract

The present invention includes a device, system and method of use consisting of a specialized dental keyboard wherein the specialized keyboard resides as virtual keys on a touch screen panel on a device such as a tablet computer including such devices as an Apple iPad. The invention includes a software component that enables customer configurable keyboard layouts including a plurality of specialized keys that provide short-cut macros to streamline data entry during a dental exam.

1 . A dental examination system for use with a dental examination software tool, the dental examination software tool being able to record conditions of a patient's teeth and store the records in an associated patient's computer chart of the dental examination software tool, the system comprising:
 (a) a host computer having a central processor, at least one output screen or monitor device, and at least one input device, the dental examination software tool resident on the host computer;   (b) a specialized dental keyboard/input-output device having a plurality of input keys, said specialized dental keyboard/input-output device physically distinct from said host computer;   (c) each input key having an associated data string recognizable by the dental examination software tool; and   (d) groupings of input keys specific to dental procedures, wherein each grouping includes a plurality of said input keys, the distance between adjacent input keys of the grouping being smaller than the distance between the input keys of the grouping and input keys not associated with the grouping, comprising:
 (i) a tooth surface grouping of input keys comprising:
 an I/O (Incisal or Occlusal, the top side of the tooth or the chewing surface of the tooth—in the anterior teeth case that is called incisal) input key; 
 an M (Mesial, the front side of the tooth) input key; 
 a D (Distal, the back side of the tooth) input key; 
 an L (Lingual or Palatal, that is palate side or tongue side) input key; and 
 an F (Facial or Buccal) input key; 
 wherein the I/O input key is centrally positioned, the M input key is positioned above the I/O input key, the D input key is positioned below the I/O input key, the L input key is positioned to the left of the I/O input key, and the F input key is positioned to the right of the I/O input key, such that the I/O input key, the M input key, the D input key, the L input key, and the F input key are arranged in a cross pattern; and 
 
 (ii) a tooth grouping of tooth input keys, each tooth input key designating a specific tooth, comprising:
 a first set of at least 16 tooth input keys, the first set including consecutively numbered from 1 to 16 representing the correspondingly numbered teeth of the upper arch of a mouth; and 
 a second set of at least 16 tooth input keys, the second set including reverse consecutively numbered from 32 to 17 representing the correspondingly numbered teeth of the lower arch of a mouth. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , the specialized dental keyboard/input-output device further comprising an image capture button, the image capture button for activating a camera to create an image, the image being stored in the associated patient's computer chart of the dental examination software tool, the camera being an intra-oral camera. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , the specialized dental keyboard/input-output device further comprising an image capture button, the image capture button for activating a camera to provide input images of human gestures, a pre-determined set of command or data instructions being associated with particular individual gestures or particular sequences of gestures, recognized input images of human gestures activating the command or data instructions to implement commands or input data. 
     
     
         4 . A method for using an automated supply ordering and inventory control system in conjunction with a dental examination system, the dental examination system comprising a computer and at least one input device, the dental examination system having an associated dental examination software tool, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) storing pre-determined supply lists associated with procedures or treatments in memory accessible by the automated supply ordering and inventory control system, the pre-determined supply lists associated with procedures or treatments to be performed on a patient;   (b) storing a virtual inventory in memory accessible by the automated supply ordering and inventory control system, the virtual inventory detailing a stock of supplies;   (c) the dental examination software tool accepting input from a dental practitioner via the at least one input device, the input from the dental practitioner pertaining to a particular procedure or treatment to be performed on the patient;   (d) the automated supply ordering and inventory control system accessing a particular pre-determined supply list associated with the particular procedure or treatment to be performed on the patient;   (e) the automated supply ordering and inventory control system accessing the virtual inventory to verify supplies listed on the particular pre-determined supply list are in stock; and   (f) the automated supply ordering and inventory control system automatically re-orders supplies if the removal of supplies listed on the particular pre-determined supply list reduces the stock of those supplies to a set threshold point;   (g) wherein automated supply ordering and inventory control is based on a procedure or treatment inputted by the dentist.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising the step of presenting steps associated with the particular procedure or treatment to a dental practitioner on a screen, and allowing the dental practitioner via the at least one input device to customize the steps of the particular procedure or treatment. 
     
     
         6 . A specialized dental keyboard/input-output device adapted for recording conditions of teeth in a patient during a dental exam using a dental examination software tool, the specialized dental keyboard/input-output device comprising:
 (a) a display area;   (b) groupings of input keys specific to dental procedures, wherein each grouping includes a plurality of said input keys, the distance between adjacent input keys of the grouping being smaller than the distance between the input keys of the grouping and input keys not associated with the grouping, comprising:
 (i) a tooth surface grouping of input keys comprising:
 an I/O (Incisal or Occlusal, the top side of the tooth or the chewing surface of the tooth—in the anterior teeth case that is called incisal) input key; 
 an M (Mesial, the front side of the tooth) input key; 
 a D (Distal, the back side of the tooth) input key; 
 an L (Lingual or Palatal, that is palate side or tongue side) input key; and 
 an F (Facial or Buccal) input key; 
 wherein the I/O input key is centrally positioned, the M input key is positioned above the I/O input key, the D input key is positioned below the I/O input key, the L input key is positioned to the left of the I/O input key, and the F input key is positioned to the right of the I/O input key, such that the I/O input key, the M input key, the D input key, the L input key, and the F input key are arranged in a cross pattern; and 
 
 (ii) a tooth grouping of tooth input keys, each tooth input key designating a specific tooth, comprising:
 a first set of at least 16 tooth input keys, the first set including consecutively numbered from 1 to 16 representing the correspondingly numbered teeth of the upper arch of a mouth; and 
 a second set of at least 16 tooth input keys, the second set including reverse consecutively numbered from 32 to 17 representing the correspondingly numbered teeth of the lower arch of a mouth.