Will you feel nervous when you go to see a dentist? Now the intraoral camera is nothing to be nervous about. This tool will cause you no pain, and you may even have fun during your exam!

An intraoral camera is a tool your dentist uses to examine your mouth in as detailed a way as possible. The instrument, which may look like an oversized pen, has a camera that takes high-resolution footage or images of a patient’s mouth and shows the visuals real-time on a monitor—they’re like high-tech versions of the hand mirrors you see in your dentist’s practice.

Intraoral cameras have incredible technological features. With LED lighting, a head that rotates from 0 to 90 degrees, and powerful magnifying capabilities (some cameras can zoom in up to 100x), your dentist can examine your mouth in extreme detail. This means dentists can make diagnoses more accurately.

The feature of intraoral camera that benefits the dentist also benefits the patient—maybe even more. When your dentist uses an intraoral camera during your examination, however, you’re seeing exactly what he or she sees right then. Dentists can display clear, colorful images, allowing them to point out any issues and discuss them with you immediately. You’ll certainly learn a lot about your mouth! And the more you see and understand, the more confident you can be when making treatment decisions.

Your dentist can discuss your oral health with you while you both see the images or footage.  As the high-resolution images show you exactly what’s happening in your mouth, they do the same for your provider, bolstering your treatment case. And the print or digital copies are so quickly available with an intraoral camera, it saves time for you, your dentist, and your provider, making your treatment run smoother.