Toothpic: An Intraorally-Fixated Dental Camera that Aims to Prevent Musculoskeletal Pain in Dentists

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Dentists perform procedures on 8-12 patients daily, racking up a lifetime total of around 60,000 hours. In the US alone, there are 200,000 practicing dentists who rely heavily on dental loupes to operate effectively. Unfortunately, many in the field report experiencing lower back and neck pain due to awkward posture and poor ergonomics when performing procedures. The lack of a device that allows for proper upright posture while operating forces dentists into slouched positions, leading to musculoskeletal disorders that are the primary cause of early retirement among dentists. These issues can significantly decrease workplace efficiency, treatment quality, and patient volume, ultimately limiting earning potential for dentists.We have created an intraorally-fixated camera designed to allow dentists to view the operating field from a separate monitor, enabling them to perform dental procedures from a neutral, upright posture that prevents long-term musculoskeletal pain. The device features a camera, disposable housing, and dental clamp, as illustrated in our gallery. While in use, the dentist can adjust lighting, zoom, pan, and focus of the video feed through a separate joystick controller. Since the device is secured to a dental clamp, the camera moves with the patient and remains securely attached to the tooth. The device also boasts features that stabilize it to the dental clamp and allow for adjustment of the field of view.The mouth and teeth models used in our demonstration were not created by our senior design team, but rather included for clarity and to showcase the device's functionality.