Intraoral Camera

Many dentists have problems helping patients understand dental examinations, diagnosis, or treatment. When your dentist says you need dental implants during a regular checkup, you may not believe them, especially if you do not experience any pain. You will feel like they are making things up to take your money. However, the truth is that you might have a developing problem that the dentist has spotted but is hard to explain.

Luckily, dentistry’s rapid technological advancements have introduced new products that suit both dentists and patients. One of these revolutionary products is the intraoral camera. These devices are designed to capture and display dental images from a patient’s mouth enabling proper patient education and case documentation.

One of our most remarkable features at Encino Dentist is the ability to utilize intraoral cameras to examine the inside of your mouth that would have otherwise been challenging to see. The cameras help us spot developing problems and display them on a screen, performing accurate diagnosis and treatment.

What is an Intraoral Camera?

An intraoral camera is a tiny, handheld video camera that enables dentists to capture actual and apparent images of the inside of your mouth and display them on a screen for you to review. We also utilize the cameras to give you a footage tour of your mouth so that you can see hidden things you couldn’t have seen with the naked eyes like decay, plaque deposit, gum conditions, tooth cavities, and broken fillings.

The devices are the size of a dental mirror and look like an oversized writing pen. It comes with a disposable plastic sheath to prevent contamination. Our dentists utilize a new sheath on each patient, so you need to worry less about contamination. When Intraoral cameras are moved inside your mouth, they capture images of critical oral issues in real-time while you see them on the screen.

Before introducing these cameras, many patients found it difficult to understand or trust concerns raised by their dentists during regular appointments. Oral professionals had challenges educating patients on their dental issues. However, with this new technology, Encino Dentist can display, pause or zoom in during a video examination so that you can see for yourself and trust our diagnosis and treatment. The procedure is also painless, unlike other dental processes that are uncomfortable or painful.

History of Intraoral Camera

Intraoral cameras were first introduced in 1980. The first version of these cameras was not user-friendly because it required a lot of space. The cameras also occupied a lot of space because apart from the tiny intra-wand, they had a massive video processor box, a keyboard, and a floppy disc to save and store dental images. The cost of these cameras was also high back then.

However, technological advancements like small USB connection, LED lighting, and diagnostic image resolution changed these devices’ design and functionality over the years, making them more user-friendly.

The current day intraoral camera is the size of a pen and more pocket friendly. Besides, cloud storage has made it possible for patients to review the dental images in their homes’ comfort and evaluate the dentist’s suggested treatment.

The latest cameras have unique technological features like:

• LED lighting
• Fixed or variable camera focus
• Power zoom capabilities of up to 100X
• Exclusive imaging software
• Angle views between 0 to 90 degrees
• SC card storage

These features have made diagnosis even more accurate, making dentists more trustworthy.

How Do Intraoral Cameras Work?

As stated earlier, intraoral cameras have small lenses at the tip. Before it is inserted into your mouth, it is connected to the dentist’s computer. The camera moves inside the mouth, enabling you to see the images from the comfort of your chair.

When the dentists notice something abnormal in the mouth, like bleeding gums or corroded fillings, they can pause the shot they desire to view clearly. At Encino Dentist, we not only display these dental pictures on the screen for you to see. After spotting an oral issue and capturing the images, we arrange, enlarge and print them out for your file. The files make future dental reviews quick, and you can even take some of the pictures home.

Advantages of Intraoral Cameras

With the new features in the advanced intraoral cameras, these technological devices have become an integral part of every dental practice. One of the device’s main advantages is that it makes you an active partner in your treatment because you are involved in the process. That way, you get an in-depth understanding of your oral problem and the reason for the recommended treatment. Some of the essential advantages of these advanced technology dental tools include:

1. More Accurate Diagnosis

Our dental practitioners at Encino Dentist use intraoral cameras during routine checkups, enabling us to make accurate diagnoses. We use the new-era intraoral cameras with great utility features. With a fixed or variable camera like focus, LED lighting, up to zoom capabilities 100x, angle views ranging from 0 to 90 degrees, and exclusive imaging software, we can conduct a more detailed examination of the mouth.

The detailed images and footage captured by the cameras eliminate room for assumptions. We can spot all the hidden problems in your mouth and capture dental pictures enabling us to make a diagnosis with absolute surety. With the images readily available, you can even discuss them with the dentist so that you can assess the problem and develop effective treatment options.

If we come across a problematic case that’s difficult to diagnose, we can easily confer with other dental experts because the dental pictures captured are clear and sharp. With our precise diagnosis, you should expect the right treatment.

2. Patient Education

A dentist might perform an oral examination correctly, make an accurate diagnosis and recommend the appropriate treatment. However, as a patient, you might find the diagnosis and recommended treatment ridiculous, especially if you are not experiencing any pain or symptoms of a dental problem.

Also, a dentist might understand the signs and symptoms of an oral condition thoroughly, but explaining to the patient precisely what is happening using a dental mirror might be challenging. The images are unclear, and as a patient, you might not understand. Because of this, we at Encino Dentist communicate and educate our patients about their dental condition and the appropriate treatment.

We make you actively participate in the treatment by showing you sharp pictures of areas that might be developing dental problems. These are the same images our dentists see, which enables a detailed discussion of the dental issue at hand. Suppose we spot gum disease during the examination. In that case, the dentist handling your case will explain to you what the problem is, the cause, and the recommended treatment.

If you have burning questions regarding the same, you can point them out in the images displayed on the screen, and our dentist will answer them immediately. You learn new aspects about your mouth that you didn’t know of, thus making informed decisions when deciding on a treatment.

Educating patients gives them the satisfaction that the right professional is handling their oral problems. Because you discuss the issue by looking at the dental picture or footage, you understand what causes particular oral problems and how to prevent them. If your oral problems are caused by hygiene, your dentist can use the videos or images displayed to explain techniques to improve your oral hygiene.

3. Improved Dentist-Patient Relationship

When you visit a dentist for a routine checkup and out of nowhere they tell you that you need dental crowns or implants, you might think they are making up the stuff. This might create distrust, and you are likely not to return after six months for another routine checkup.

However, with our intraoral cameras, you can see the dental condition we are talking about, so there is no time you will think we are making stuff up to drain your pockets. You will understand the problem the dentist is talking about and the reason for recommending a particular treatment.

The pictures or videos from the cameras are real-time, which means what you see is the actual situation. This establishes understanding and acceptance of the problem and eliminates the anxiety associated with distrust between dentists and their patients.

4. Early Detection of Oral Problems

Many patients are afraid of visiting dentists because of the anxiety associated with various dental procedures. Some procedures are painful and span over multiple sessions because the oral problem is in an advanced stage. This makes early detection critical in treatment.

An intraoral camera detects the smallest signs of a developing dental problem like a hairline fracture in the early stages. At this stage, the treatment required is less invasive, pocket friendly, and only requires a single visit to the dentist. The treatment offered for a dental problem detected early is less painful, eliminating the anxiety of visiting a dental office.

5. Concrete Dental Insurance Claims

When using your health insurance coverage for treatment, your policy carrier will require proof of the dental condition. Intraoral cameras provide insurers with the evidence they need to approve your treatment. The clear and sharp dental pictures showing your oral condition and the need for treatment bolsters your claim and proves that the need for treatment is legitimate.

Furthermore, because the pictures are available in hard and soft copies, you can quickly send them or attach them to your claim whenever your insurer needs evidence, reducing time wastage for the parties involved.

6. Enhanced Practice Reputation

The credibility and integrity of dental practitioners are critical to the success of a practice. Consumers want complete honesty and details when it comes to financial transactions. You will not be convinced to spend your money on a procedure if a dentist recommends it without giving them tangible evidence to back the recommendation.

Our dentist understands that you want value for your money. We will explain the oral problem in detail and provide proof in the form of footage or pictures. That way, you will trust the treatment we recommend for the condition giving you the education and transparency you need. If you are satisfied with our services, you are likely to refer friends and family to our practice, which will bolster our credibility.

7. Future Case Documentation

Filing patient cases is not a simple task because dentists must write down notes describing the condition of each patient. Apart from being time-consuming, many patient files in dental offices mean wastage of office space.

Intraoral cameras have simplified filing immensely because a dentist only needs the dental pictures, and no description of the oral problem is required. The images are printed and stored in casebooks for future reference.

At Encino Dentist, we use these images to compare before and after treatment so that you can appreciate what you have achieved. We also use the pictures to show you the changes in your oral health, how various treatments are progressing, and advice on necessary adjustments.

8. Increased Treatment Acceptance

Patients turn down treatment procedures recommended by their dentists mainly because the dentist isn’t convincing. It’s up to your dentist to convince you why you need treatment. Unfortunately, without clear and sharp images of the condition the dentist is referring to, you will hardly be convinced even when the treatment is necessary. 

Intraoral cameras have made it easy for patients to accept treatment because the dental pictures displayed on the screen are self-explanatory. You can see your mouth’s condition, so you won’t need any convincing to take the recommended treatment.

Find the Right Dentist Near Me

If you are looking for a less invasive dental procedure and convenient diagnosis, look no further. Encino Dentist utilizes an intraoral camera in the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of patients. We understand that treating a dental problem begins with accepting there is a problem. Our dentists will use the picture from your mouth to communicate and educate you on the issue, enhancing your treatment. Call us today at 818-650-0429 for a free consultation.