One of the biggest obstacles that make it harder for patients to admit the need for treatment is that they usually do not recognize their condition. Also, some of the time, they just do not relish the idea of having dental treatment.
Even routine inspections can invoke within the patient’s mind thoughts of fear and pain, and this does not make the dentist’s tasks easy. A great way to introduce the intra-oral camera to your patients would be to describe it as a patient education tool that would increase their comfort and understanding of their existing dental condition. Tell them that because the intra oral dental camera wand is smooth, slim, and contained, it will be unobtrusive inside the mouth.
A great way to say it could be something like this:
“Ms. Weiss, today, we would be using a state-of-the-art dental technology called the intra oral camera. It is a comfortably small camera wand that will allow us to look inside your mouth, and capture magnified images of your current dental condition, then display them on screen. The pictures will let us see problem areas up close, and then we could discuss together the potential complications and the appropriate treatment for you”.
It is significant to point out to patients that intraoral dental camera images are not meant to substitute for conventional diagnostic tools such as radiographs and physical examinations. They will, however, enhance understanding of the findings by giving a clear and magnified picture of what’s happening inside the mouth. Additionally, point out that these findings can be saved, shared with health specialists, and used for insurance claims. If explained properly, patients would quickly understand the extensive worth of intraoral camera images in supporting their long-term oral health.
A few patients may feel awkward at looking at their IOC pictures. Assure them that they need not look at their images, but that it is essential for the dentist to view them. Every dentist uses different approaches in modifying the patient’s behavior and acceptance of the recommended treatment. The intra-oral dental camera allows patients to directly perceive their intra oral conditions. Therefore, the patient can partake openly in the decision making process insofar as the preferred treatment. Some dentists even let their patients control the intra-oral camera wand so they can inspect their own mouths. Dental professionals must try varied methods to ascertain what practice works best for patients in their discovery and education with the use of intra oral dental cameras.