In today’s fast‑evolving dental education environment, preparing students for real‑world practice means exposing them to hands‑on clinical skills and the technologies they will use every day in modern dental offices. That’s where the Dental R.A.T. hands‑free periodontal charting system stands out as a valuable educational tool for dental hygiene and dental schools alike.
At its core, the Dental R.A.T. is a foot‑operated input device that functions as a hands‑free mouse specifically designed for periodontal charting. Simply plug it into a USB port and it works with your school’s existing dental software — no special software installation required. Students can perform comprehensive charting, run intraoral cameras, open X‑rays, and navigate practice management systems without ever having to take their hands out of the patient’s mouth.
One of the biggest advantages dental schools have by incorporating Dental R.A.T. into their clinics is that students gain experience with technology widely used in practicing dental offices. In many practices, hygienists and dentists are expected to run perio charting and imaging software efficiently and accurately during patient exams. Introducing Dental R.A.T. in training helps schools ensure their students are comfortable and proficient with advanced workflow tools before they graduate — a significant advantage in the job market. This aligns with values shared on Dental R.A.T.’s site, where the company emphasizes helping schools bring their technology “up to par” with contemporary practice needs.
Traditional periodontal charting often requires students or assistants to manually control the computer while charting — a process that can be awkward, time‑consuming, and prone to contamination. With Dental R.A.T., students can use their foot to enter charting numbers and navigate software, allowing them to focus fully on patient care and clinical accuracy. This not only streamlines the charting process but also fosters better habits in time management and clinical documentation — crucial skills in professional practice.
Moreover, Dental R.A.T. includes audible feedback of entered numbers. This feature plays a dual educational role: reinforcing correct data entry for students learning periodontal measurements, and opening up opportunities for patient education during training sessions. This real‑time audio cue helps students and their instructors confirm values without having to constantly look at the screen, reinforcing clinical confidence and accuracy.
Ergonomics and infection control are top priorities in dental education. Because Dental R.A.T. enables hands‑free computer interaction, students spend less time de‑gloving, re‑gloving, and touching shared surfaces. This reduces cross‑contamination risks — a fundamental lesson in safe clinical practice — while supporting a more hygienic learning environment for both students and patients.
Unlike many specialized dental technologies that require costly software licenses or ongoing subscriptions, Dental R.A.T. offers a plug‑and‑play approach with no monthly fees. Schools can integrate it into their clinics without a big investment in infrastructure or training. And because the learning curve is short, students and faculty alike can adopt it quickly, making it an affordable way to enhance clinical instruction and student readiness.
The R.A.T. technology is amazing. Students learn how to incorporate the R.A.T. into clinical care quickly; in fact, sometimes more quickly than seasoned faculty members and practitioners. The use of the R.A.T. with dental hardware and software helps student clinicians maintain the chain of asepsis in the operatory.
Kathleen Hodges, RDH, MS
Professor/Department Chair- Idaho State University
We would love to help your college improve their technology and help get Dental R.A.T.’s into your dental clinic!
Our goal is to help every hygiene and dental school get their technology up to par so that the students will have experience with the perio charting computer technology they are going to be faced with. We feel it makes the student more employable and we also want your school to be their school of choice with the most current technology.
By giving students access to hands‑free periodontal charting technology, dental schools not only modernize their clinical training but also reinforce best practices in efficiency, accuracy, and patient communication. Dental R.A.T. bridges the gap between traditional instruction and modern practice expectations, ensuring graduates are not just competent — but confident — as they enter the profession.
