What the Dental RAT Foot Mouse Does
The Dental R.A.T. is a foot mouse that gives hands-free access to periodontal charting, intraoral cameras and digital X-rays. It sits on the floor and connects to the computer with a USB plug. No separate software is needed to use the foot mouse itself. A standard mouse is normally recognized by an operating system without special drivers, which is why a device that behaves like one can be used as soon as it is connected.
The company describes the concept as "a mouse with numbers on the floor." The toe button moves the arrow on the screen, as a regular mouse does. The heel button acts as the left click. Four input buttons enter the charting numbers 1 through 8 and also provide the right click. Because the unit works as a mouse, anything your hand mouse can do in your software, the foot mouse can do too.
Learning Curve and Charting Speed
Hygienists and dentists already use their feet for chair controls and other equipment, so a toe tap or heel tap is a familiar motion. The cursor control is usually the hardest part, and even that has a short learning curve. The company suggests spending about 30 minutes just playing with the buttons and the cursor control before charting a real patient. Speed improves with each use. The instructional videos show the basic operation and are the best way to see the motions before you try them.
Charting time is a common concern. According to the company, perio charting with the Dental R.A.T. takes about the same time as charting with an assistant. The gain is that the assistant does not have to be in the room at all, which frees that person for other work. That is the point of hands-free perio charting: the same data entry, done by one clinician, with no second person reading and typing numbers.
Fit, Cursor Speed and Hardware Versions
Foot size is not a barrier. The device fits any size from a woman's size 4 up, and some doctors wearing a size 13 use it.
The cursor speed is adjustable. There are 1,000 speed settings, so you can raise the speed as you get comfortable.
- To speed the cursor up, hold buttons #1 and #2 together while moving the mouse joystick up, away from you.
- To slow it down, hold #1 and #2 together while moving the joystick down, toward you.
- The change depends on how long you hold the joystick, so bump it briefly first and then adjust.
Two hardware generations exist.
The original foot mouse is metal and very sturdy, with a 3-year warranty and a USB cord. It has a headset plug, so the hygienist or patient can hear the numbers privately, or speakers can be plugged in.
The Dental R.A.T. 2.0 is much smaller and made of hard plastic, with buttons that are easier to push and an adjustable mouse speed. It is still very durable. It can run wirelessly over radio frequency or be plugged in with a USB cord. It includes a one-year warranty, and additional years can be purchased. Like the original, it has a plug for a private headset, and the numbers can also be played through the computer itself.
Charting Functions Beyond Entering Numbers
Audio feedback is one of the most useful features. As each number is entered, the computer speaks it, so the Dental R.A.T. effectively makes your software talk. This lets the clinician confirm a value without looking at the screen. It also lets the patient hear their own readings as part of education. A headset is included and plugs into the computer's speaker jack for privacy. If you do not want spoken numbers, turn the computer speakers off. The audio feedback files for Windows and Mac are available on the downloads page.
Findings such as bleeding and recession are entered with a tap of the heel. Depending on the software, you park the cursor on the right field and tap your heel to record it. When a program has an on-screen keyboard, move the cursor to the number you want and heel click.
Intraoral cameras work the same way: if a left mouse click captures the picture with your hand mouse, a heel click captures it with the foot mouse. If your X-ray or camera foot pedals can also be triggered by a regular hand mouse, the Dental R.A.T. can do the same job, so those other pedals may no longer be needed.
The device is not limited to periodontal specialists. General offices and periodontal offices across the country use it. Any office that needs access to its computer program while both hands are busy can use it.
Software Compatibility and Support
The Dental R.A.T. has been tested with major packages including Dentrix, Eaglesoft, PracticeWorks, Softdent, PerioExec, Open Dental, MacPractice and the Florida Probe software. The company says it runs all practice management software, and that it simply has not made a training video for every program. Software-specific videos exist for the most commonly requested brands.
Demos and Questions
You can demo a Dental R.A.T. foot mouse for free. To arrange one or to ask something not covered here, call 877-278-0061, Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm, or email bky.logue@gmail.com. The answers below go further into the foot mouse, perio charting practice and the business case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a foot mouse, and how is it different from an ordinary foot pedal?
A typical foot pedal triggers one function, such as a handpiece or an imaging capture. A foot mouse reproduces the whole pointing device: cursor movement, left and right click, plus number entry. That is why the Dental R.A.T. can chart, navigate software and operate imaging programs from a single floor unit instead of needing one pedal per task.
How do the toe and heel controls replace a hand mouse?
The toe button moves the on-screen arrow, and the heel button acts as the left click. One of the four input buttons also serves as the right click. Together they cover the pointing, selecting and context-menu actions you would normally do by hand. Moving the cursor takes the most practice, but the learning curve is short.
What if my software does not accept numbers directly from the foot buttons?
Most charting programs have an on-screen keyboard. Move the cursor over the number you want and heel click. Because the Dental R.A.T. acts as a mouse, it can operate anything on the screen that a hand mouse can click, so number entry does not depend on one particular software layout.
Why are keyboards and mice a cross-contamination concern in the operatory?
Keyboards and mice are touched with gloved hands that have just been in a patient's mouth. They are then touched again by the next gloved or ungloved hand, and they have many crevices that are hard to disinfect. Moving the controls to the floor means gloved hands never touch these surfaces during charting. Patients have also noticed this: many understand how dirty keyboards and mice can be and appreciate the effort to keep things sterile.
How does a foot mouse compare with an automated periodontal probe?
An automated probe replaces the probing instrument itself, which makes it a different and generally larger investment. The Dental R.A.T. keeps your manual probing technique and only changes how the numbers reach the computer. One dentist who tried an automated probe described it as too complex for his needs and extremely expensive. He found the Dental R.A.T. easy to use and relatively inexpensive.
What did independent research say about demand for hands-free perio charting?
Dr. Gordon Christensen reviewed dental software programs in the February 2003 edition of CRA. The top concern across all eight leading software packages was that they did not reduce staff costs. One of the most desired features was hands-free periodontal charting. The Dental R.A.T. was designed around that need.
How does accurate perio charting support billing and documentation?
The Dental R.A.T. makes it practical to record periodontal depths at every appointment. Recorded depths support more accurate billing for periodontal maintenance visits. A full, accurate chart can often be billed to insurance. Consistent documentation at every visit also helps a practice avoid legal problems that arise from failing to diagnose or treat periodontal disease.
How do patients react to a foot mouse in the operatory?
Patients tend to see it as a sign of regular, accurate record keeping and of attention to sterility. Hearing their own readings through a headset or speaker also makes the visit feel more informative. One patient said she appreciates that no one else hears her numbers and knows the practice is keeping things sterile.
How durable is the foot mouse?
The original Dental R.A.T. is built of metal and is very sturdy, and the company says it will probably never need to be replaced. The 2.0 is smaller and made of hard plastic, but it is still described as very durable. Both come with a warranty, and extended coverage can be purchased for the 2.0.
Can a dentist use the foot mouse for exams, or is it only for hygienists?
Dentists use it too. It is for anyone who needs computer access while their hands are occupied. Doctors who use it report that they no longer have to pull a staff member from other duties to assist with periodontal charting. They also find it easier to stay in compliance with periodontal record-keeping standards.