Real-Time Dual View Dental Monitoring and Mentoring System

Abstract

A real-time dental monitoring and mentoring system is disclosed, comprising a dual-camera set-up for capturing both intra-oral and external views which captures the clinician’s preparedness, patient’s physical movements and vital signs during a dental procedure. The system transmits synchronised video streams to a cloud platform, enabling remote experts to supervise, provide feedback and record sessions. Designed for use in education, private practice and rural outreach, the system enhances procedural accuracy, ergonomic compliance and learning outcomes.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to the field of dental healthcare technology, more specifically to real-time dental monitoring and mentoring systems. It pertains to a dual-camera apparatus and method for facilitating remote clinical supervision, mentoring, and ergonomic assessment during dental procedures.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn dental education and early clinical practice, practitioners especially in remote or resource-limited areas often operate without immediate expert oversight. While tele-dentistry has improved patient consultations, existing technologies have yet to address the complexities of real-time clinical training, procedural accuracy, and ergonomic optimization. The absence of direct supervision can lead to repeated procedural errors, poor posture habits, and inadequate skill development, ultimately affecting the quality of care and the long-term health of practitioners.Current tele-dentistry solutions primarily focus on diagnostic imaging and remote consultations, leaving a critical gap in interactive procedural guidance. Without a means to visualize both intraoral procedures, practitioner posture, clinician's preparedness, patient's physical movements and vital signs, educators and mentors struggle to provide dynamic, real-time corrective feedback. This limitation is particularly pronounced in educational settings where institutions face challenges in maintaining consistent supervision, often resulting in disparities in competency development among dental students and early-career professionals.Several innovations, such as US2025073003A1 and CN114143353A, illustrate the industry's trajectory toward advanced imaging and remote interactivity. US2025073003A1 introduces dual intraoral and extraoral imaging to generate detailed 2D and 3D models for improved treatment planning. However, its primary function is diagnostic, lacking provisions for live procedural guidance and ergonomic assessment. CN114143353A, meanwhile, enables remote dental treatment through robotic control but does not facilitate real-time mentorship or ergonomic evaluation. While both patents represent advancements in dental technology, neither adequately addresses the need for interactive clinical supervision.The present invention, DentoVision, aims to bridge this gap by integrating real-time intraoral visualization with simultaneous practitioner posture monitoring, along with monitoring patient's physical movements and vital signs. Unlike previous innovations that focus on anatomical reconstructions or teleoperated procedures, DentoVision emphasizes live procedural guidance through a secure streaming interface. The system consists of two high-resolution cameras: an intraoral camera with integrated lighting for close-up treatment views and an external camera capturing the operator's movements and posture along with monitoring patient's physical movements and vital signs. These feeds are transmitted to a cloud-based platform that supports encrypted real-time communication, enabling educators and mentors to provide immediate feedback and annotations.By combining diagnostic imaging, ergonomic monitoring, patient's physical movements monitoring, patient's vital signs monitoring and interactive mentorship, DentoVision enhances the quality of dental training and professional development. Its scalable, privacy-compliant, and user-centric design ensures applicability across diverse practice environments, from academic institutions to solo and rural clinics. This comprehensive solution sets a new standard for dental education and clinical supervision, addressing fundamental gaps in tele-dentistry and advancing both procedural accuracy and practitioner well-being.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention provides a sophisticated dual-camera system designed to facilitate real-time supervision and mentoring during dental procedures. The system incorporates two distinct high-resolution cameras that work in tandem to provide comprehensive monitoring. The first camera is an intraoral camera, which is mounted on a flexible, adjustable arm and equipped with integrated lighting to capture clear, close-up views of the patient's oral cavity and the specific treatment area. This allows for detailed visualization of dental procedures as they occur. The second camera is externally positioned to capture the dental practitioner's full posture, body mechanics, and ergonomic practices during the treatment, enabling an assessment of physical positioning and workflow that are critical for long-term practitioner health and procedural efficiency. The second camera also captures physical movements and vital signs of the patient. Both video feeds are securely streamed simultaneously to a cloud-based platform that supports encrypted transmission and storage, ensuring patient confidentiality and compliance with relevant privacy regulations such as HIPAA and GDPR. Remote experts, mentors, or educators can access this platform to monitor ongoing procedures in real time, offering immediate guidance, corrective feedback, and detailed annotations directly on the live video streams. Remote experts, mentors, or educators will also give instructions to the dental practitioner based on the patient's physical movements and vital signs, providing corrective advice, such as adjusting the chair angle, modifying tool handling, or changing the procedural approach / techniques to improve patient comfort and treatment effectiveness. The system also supports session recording, which can be archived for future review, educational purposes, and quality assurance. By integrating detailed intraoral visualization with external ergonomic monitoring, patient's physical movements monitoring and real-time expert interaction, DentoVision addresses key challenges in dental training and practice-improving clinical accuracy, reducing errors, enhancing operator ergonomics, and expanding access to high-quality dental education and remote mentorship. The platform's user-friendly interface and scalable architecture make it adaptable to a wide range of settings, from solo practitioners in remote locations to large academic institutions, ultimately elevating standards of dental care and practitioner well-being.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFigure 1. Diagram of operatory setup with intraoral and external cameras, dental chair, and display monitor with Picture in Picture format.Figure 2. Workflow illustration showing live transmission to remote expert, feedback mechanisms, and session recording at the operation site. Figure 3. System Architecture for Remote Dental Consultation, Treatment planning mentoring and assessment.Figure 4. Real Time Telehealth System for Remote Dental Consultation, Diagnosis, planning and Assessment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGSFigure 1 illustrates the dental operatory setup featuring the DentoVision dual-camera system. The figure shows a dental chair

[101] equipped with adjustable armrests and reclining capability to position the patient comfortably during treatment. Mounted in the chair is a flexible multi-jointed arm holding cameras: one intraoral thin flexible corded camera

[102] positioned into the patient's mouth with integrated LED lighting for clear visualization of the treatment area, and a second external camera

[103] placed to capture the dental practitioners preparedness and patient's physical and vital sign .Adjacent to these is a display monitor

[104] mounted on an adjustable arm

[105] , providing real-time visual feedback from both cameras and the remote mentor .The control panel

[106] and dental tools

[107] are arranged conveniently within reach for ease of use during procedures.Figure 2 depicts the DentoVision system in operation during a clinical procedure. The patient is reclined in the chair

[201] , wearing protective eyewear may be worn by the patient as an added precaution while the dental practitioner performs treatment using appropriate instruments. The intraoral camera

[202] captures detailed images of the patient's Intra oral view, while the external camera

[203] monitors the clinician's preparedness and patient's physical movements and vital signs. The display screen

[204] mounted on an adjustable arm

[205] , with Picture in Picture shows live procedural images in screen, supporting accurate clinical work and facilitating remote mentorship through real-time video streaming and audio / pictorial feedback. This figure highlights the integration of technology in enhancing both procedural accuracy and operator's posture and skill in a dental practice.Figure 3 illustrates a telehealth system for remote dental consultations, where a medical / dental expert-1

[303] interacting with a patient or doctor via a virtual consultation on a computer screen. The screen

[304] displays a live feed of the patient reclining in a dental chair

[301] , alongside reference images, including a dental braces setup and a close-up of a tooth with a bracket, aiding in diagnosis and treatment discussions. The dentist, equipped with a headset

[302] and lab coat, engages in real-time evaluation, potentially to enhance orthodontic assessments, offering remote monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment guidance. This system exemplifies the integration of telehealth in dental care, making expert consultations accessible without physical presence, improving skill efficiency and patient care.Figure 4 illustrates a telehealth-based remote dental consultation system, where a expert -2

[403] is conducting a virtual consultation using a computer screen. The screen

[404] displays a live feed of a patient reclining in a dental chair, alongside diagnostic reference images, such as a dental braces setup and a close-up of a tooth with a bracket, aiding in visual analysis and treatment discussion. The dentist, equipped with a headset

[402] and lab coat, appears to be interacting with the images and patient data in real time, for enhanced assessment. This system facilitates remote monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment planning, demonstrating the integration of telehealth in modern dental care, improving accessibility and patient experience.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention, referred to as DentoVision, introduces a dual-camera system designed specifically for real-time dental mentoring and evaluation. The system comprises two distinct but integrated camera units: an intraoral camera

[102] and an external environment camera

[103] . The intraoral camera is mounted on a thin chorded flexible, articulating arm that can be adjusted to various angles and positions, allowing detailed visualization of the patient's oral cavity during operative procedures. This camera is equipped with integrated LED lighting and high-definition or 4K resolution to ensure clinical clarity in low-light oral environments.As shown in Figure 1, the invention features a designed dental operatory unit that includes a patient chair

[101] with adjustable armrests and reclining functionality. Mounted above the chair is a multi-jointed adjustable arm that supports an external camera system. The first camera is an intraoral camera

[102] , equipped with integrated LED illumination to capture clear, high-resolution visuals of the oral cavity. The second is an external wide-angle camera

[103] , positioned to observe the practitioner's posture, movements, vitals and instrument handling during dental procedures. The synchronized cameras provide a comprehensive view of the clinical area and the operator's physical positioning, ensuring effective monitoring of both the treatment site and working posture.Complementing this is the external view camera [103, 203] play a crucial role in monitoring the vitals, positioning and safety of both the patient and the dentist during dental procedures, positioned to provide a wide-angle perspective of the operators body posture, patients body movements, facial expressions, and response to treatment, as well as the dentist's hand movements and techniqueand vital signs and interactions with the dental environment. This camera plays a critical role in evaluating both operators physical preparedness and patients overall physical and vital status which is essential for better outcomes.The video feed from these cameras is streamed in real-time to the Dento Vision AI app and displayed on monitors accessible to remote experts [403, 303] such as medical / dental professional or dentists. These experts can carefully observe the vital conditions, ergonomics, and compliance with procedural protocols. Based on what they see, they can provide immediate feedback or corrective advice, such as adjusting the chair angle, modifying tool handling, or changing the procedural approach / techniques to improve patient comfort and treatment effectiveness.Additionally, the system can analyze the live video stream using AI algorithms to detect signs of patient discomfort (like sudden movement or facial tension), ensuring proactive intervention. Through this setup, experts can suggest how to proceed step-by-step, enhancing both safety and training value. This makes the system not only a tool for live treatment but also a dynamic teaching platform powered by real-time expert supervision.A display monitor

[104] is mounted on an articulating arm

[105] , allowing dynamic adjustment and easy visibility for the practitioner. This monitor shows live video streams from both cameras, picture-in-picture as well as real-time 3D digital dental models and procedural guidance overlays. A control panel

[106] allows the operator to switch views, zoom in, record footage, or interact with AI-driven diagnostic tools. The dental instruments

[107] are arranged within convenient reach, supporting uninterrupted workflow during procedures.During clinical operation, as depicted in Figure 2, the patient is reclined with safety eyewear, while the practitioner performs dental treatment using the system. The intraoral camera

[202] continues to provide magnified, well-illuminated images of the working area, and the external camera

[203] monitors body alignment and movement patterns. The display screen

[204] supports procedural accuracy by showing augmented visuals, enabling real-time verification, and enhancing precision. The dual-feed display can also be shared remotely for expert mentoring and live teaching.The invention further supports telehealth integration, as shown in Figure 3, wherein a remote dental expert-1 or practitioner

[303] engages in a virtual consultation. The patient is located in a distant dental clinic and visible on the practitioner's screen

[304] , which also displays reference images such as orthodontic brackets or diagnostic markers. The remote dentist, wearing a headset

[302] , evaluates the case and provides feedback in real time, utilizing AI-based tools to assist in clinical decision-making.In a similar setup depicted in Figure 4, another practitioner

[403] (Expert-2) conducts remote analysis using a similar interface. The patient appears on a screen

[404] , and the dentist interacts with the visual data through a headset

[402] , leveraging live imaging and diagnostic overlays to discuss treatment plans or monitor progress remotely. This setup demonstrates the scalability and versatility of the system in supporting expert collaboration without geographical constraints.The two video streams are synchronized and transmitted in real time to a secure, cloud-based interface accessible by authorized remote experts. This interface allows for live observation of both the procedure and the operator. Mentors can provide immediate feedback through audio commentary or onscreen annotations, guiding the practitioner through corrections and best practices as the procedure unfolds. The system also includes functionalities such as time-stamped annotation, interactive discussion panels, and feedback logs.Additionally, the platform includes tools for overall assessment. These may involve visual overlays to evaluate the angle of the operator's presentation with standardized ergonomic norms. The data from each session can be archived for future review and integrated into structured learning modules or institutional audits. The software interface is intentionally designed to be user-friendly, minimizing the learning curve and enabling wide adoption across experience levels and institutional infrastructures.The DentoVision AI app is an advanced platform designed for comprehensive dental training and real-time patient monitoring, combining artificial intelligence with expert collaboration. It enables dental procedures to be performed under constant observation, where AI-powered cameras monitor the vital conditions of both patient and dentist's expertise, ensuring safety, correct posture, and procedural accuracy. Experts connected remotely can view the live video feed and provide feedback or suggest adjustments to techniques based on what they observe. Through a virtual hand-raise feature, assistants or trainees can pose questions during procedures, prompting immediate expert responses and creating an interactive learning environment. The system displays 3D dental models and real-time intraoral visuals on screens or devices, allowing multiple experts to collaboratively evaluate and guide the ongoing procedure. This DentoVision AI app also serves as a powerful teaching aid in dental education and training. Multiple experts from different locations can simultaneously participate in live sessions, offering their insights and sharing best practices. The software's compatibility with a wide range of devices-including laptops, tablets, and mobile phones-ensures seamless access and flexibility for both learners and professionals. Whether in a classroom, clinic, or remote setting, the app empowers dental students and practitioners to engage in collaborative learning, access expert guidance on-demand, and stay updated with modern dental procedures and techniquesData transmitted through the system is encrypted end-to-end and hosted on servers that comply with international healthcare data standards, including HIPAA and GDPR. The architecture is built to scale, allowing multiple users to engage simultaneously, whether in a dental school, clinic chain, or remote training session.By offering a blend of high-resolution dual-angle video capture, secure real-time transmission, and interactive mentoring tools, DentoVision redefines how clinical supervision, procedural accuracy, and skill empowerment which can be delivered remotely within the dental profession.The common man / patient with poor socio-economic strata can be treated with expert opinion and guidance in real time at any location, which again saves logistical expenditures and time, retaining good quality of treatment. Data transmitted through the system is encrypted end-to-end and hosted on servers that comply with international healthcare data standards, including HIPAA and GDPR. The architecture is built on scale, allowing multiple users to engage simultaneously, whether in a dental school, clinic chain or remote training session.By offering a blend of high-resolution dual-angle video capture, secure real-time transmission and interactive mentoring tools, DentoVision redefines how clinical supervision, procedural accuracy and skill empowerment can be delivered remotely within the dental profession. There is a need for a system that enables dual-perspective monitoring (intraoral and external), facilitates real-time mentoring, and ensures quality ethical practice. The current invention addresses this gap.

Claims

1. A dual-camera dental monitoring system comprising; - a first camera [102, 202] configured to capture an intraoral view of a patient's oral cavity; - a second camera [103, 203] configured to capture the external view of the dental practitioner along with movements and vitals of the patient - a flexible mounting mechanism for each camera; - a display [104, 204] with live video streams from the first camera [102, 202] and the second camera [103, 203], providing picture-in-picture as well as real-time 3D digital dental models and procedural guidance overlays - a cloud-connected interface for transmitting both feeds in real-time, and - a software application platform for viewing the video for comprehensive dental training and real-time patient monitoring with expert collaboration.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a small intraoral camera [102, 202] includes integrated LED <1cm in size with lighting for enhanced visibility.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the external camera [103, 203] captures practitioner preparedness and procedural skills.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the external camera [103, 203] captures the physical movements and vital signs of the patient.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface enables live annotations, audio commentary, and feedback from remote experts [303, 403].

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the platform is compliant with HIPAA and GDPR for secure data storage and transmission.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a recording module for educational review, training, and quality assurance.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the software includes tools for operator's assessment and procedural documentation.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the system architecture is scalable to support multiple users and sessions simultaneously.

10. The system of Claim 1 where in the skill empowerment and clinical experiential learning for the dentist is attained at their own centres which saves times and other financial challenges.