An intraoral camera (synonyms: intraoral camera, oral camera) is a digital camera that is pen-shaped in its dimensions and thus dainty enough to allow digital photography inside the mouth while still maintaining high resolution.
The demands placed on a camera system that can be used intraorally are correspondingly high:
- High intraoral depth of field
- High resolution
- High magnification
- Representation of even the finest findings
- Representation in different focus areas
- Low distortion
- Wide angle of view
- Satisfactory color accuracy
- Bright illumination
- Easy handling
- Blur-free triggering, by hand through sensitive pressure sensor
- Ergonomic design
- Low weight
- Easy cleaning and disinfection
- Display on the monitor in real time
- Networking with a storage medium for image archiving
The systems offered work with a resolution of up to 470,000 pixels, a magnification of up to 100x, display the smallest structures of up to 12 μm, create a homogeneously illuminated recording area with up to nine LED lamps positioned around the lens, and are ergonomically designed in form and function for easy handling. Highly qualified optical systems enable undistorted images of everything from portraits to the finest findings such as leaking filling margins, root canal entrances and much more. Depending on the system, sharpness is regulated by selecting an area (face, quadrant, dental or macro image) or by autofocus.
Indications (areas of application)
Due to its ease of use, an intraoral camera represents a valuable support for the dentist in the following tasks, depending on its equipment:
- Communication in patient education
- Software-supported documentation of findings
- Diagnostics
- Planning restorative and/or prosthetic restorations.
- Follow-up, for example, of oral mucosal diseases (stomatitis, aphthae and oral cavity cancer).
- Communication and working basis for the dental laboratory.
- Endodontic (root canal) treatments.
- Surgical treatments
The procedure
An intraoral camera is usually integrated into the dental treatment unit, as is the monitor for image reproduction. Thus, the camera can be used simultaneously with the treatment without further effort. Both wired camera systems, which are triggered by hand or via a foot switch, and wireless radio cameras with a hand release are available. Ideally, this involves 360° all-round triggering, which enables images to be taken from any camera or finger position.
The intraoral camera provides a live image of the mouth, teeth and gums and can be stopped by pressing a finger button on the camera probe and saved directly in image software.
Live images are “frozen” into still images by triggering a hand or foot sensor, e.g., for the patient interview or for reporting, and stored if necessary. As a rule, four images can be displayed simultaneously on the monitor (quad image mode).
The images can usually be viewed directly at the chair, evaluated and stored for later use (image archiving). The patient is put in the dentist’s position and point of view, so to speak. For the dentist, the pictorial representation makes it possible to better explain and point out any problems or diseases as well as successful therapies.
