Intraoral Radiography
In a nutshell, an intraoral camera is a small video camera that takes a picture of the outside of the gum or tooth. The intraoral camera resembles an oversized pen. The camera is outfitted with a disposable protective sheath for each new patient. While simultaneously viewing a monitor, the dentist inserts the camera into a patient’s mouth and gently shifts it about so that images can be taken from a variety of angles. Today, use of the intraoral camera is widespread and has been, and continues to be, extremely handy both in diagnosing dental conditions such as tooth decay and cracked teeth, and in educating our patients.
It’s not difficult to understand why many patients have misgivings about dental diagnoses that aren’t accompanied by pain or any visual cues that the naked eye can see. Since the intraoral camera is used in tandem with a computer screen we can easily show you, in real-time, if you have a fractured tooth or have gum disease. In the case of the intraoral camera, a picture may be worth more than a thousand words!
The intraoral camera is especially useful during dental restoration procedures. We can take instant “before and after” pictures and display the results simultaneously for you to see!
In addition to being a great diagnostic tool, the intraoral camera is a fantastic educational aid. Instead of merely explaining to you what’s happening inside your mouth. Similar to digital X-ray images there is no development time associated with intraoral cameras: The immediately available images that this tool renders can be a great time-saver for both you and your dentist.