The Value of Intraoral Cameras

Dental intra oral cameras are tremendously valuable tools for today’s dental practices; although, many dental professionals still do not incorporate them into their practices. Intra oral cameras provide an enabling technology for diagnosis, case presentation, patient education, and virtual documentation.

dental intra oral camera

Even when dental intra-oral cameras have been available for over 15 years, numerous practices still do not make use of them. And even those who do rarely use them to their full potential. Dental intraoral cameras are one of the greatest and most useful technologies in dentistry today. It is really cost effective; and when utilized to its maximum capacity, would result in a marvelous return on investment. Hence, an intraoral camera should be used with every single patient to enhance diagnosis and treatment planning.

Things to Consider

There is no particular dental IOC that has it all; thus, individual camera features must be considered when determining which system is the most appropriate and desirable for your practice.

Does the IOC provide a good, clear image on the computer or video screen? To find out, test the dental intra oral camera in your office using your own equipment. What you see in a demo may not produce the same image quality in your office.

Is the intra oral camera portable or self-contained? Some dental intra-oral cameras require a separate docking station in each operatory, and wireless ones do not. The need for a docking station in each operatory requires consideration of positioning and space.

The intra-oral camera should also be compatible with your practice management software. This would allow you to send images directly into a patient’s virtual record, and to print an excellent hard copy. Imaging software would enable you to educate patients about aesthetic enhancement possibilities.

Additionally, there are some mechanical features to consider. Does the dental intraoral camera have one (1) lens for all image perspectives, or are multiple lenses available? Are you able to easily change them? Multiple interchangeable lenses assist in taking images of a single tooth, an entire quadrant, or a full frontal smile view, which are vital, not only for diagnosis and patient education, but also for case presentation and virtual documentation of a patient’s entire dentition.

You also have to take into consideration the focusing mechanism of the intraoral camera. There’s fixed, adjustable, and autofocusing. Different focusing mechanisms suit diverse needs; therefore, the one that would work best would depend on what the operator is trying to photograph.

Return on Investment

All dentists must come to realize that the dental IOC is one of the most valuable and powerful tools in existence. Patients appreciate what they see more clearly than what you tell them. Images provide for better case presentation and service, and patients are more likely to follow through with treatment recommendations since better case presentations bring about increased case acceptance. The dental camera enlarges on a monitor what cannot be easily seen. This equipment can help practitioners to better educate their patients, who sequentially, can take responsibility for their oral health through better understanding and ownership of their treatment.

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