Intraoral Camera

A visit to the dentist is often accompanied by anxiety among patients. Much of the anxiety stems from patients having misgivings about some dental diagnoses, especially those oral issues that cannot be seen easily. With the intraoral camera, we at Oral and Facial Surgery Center can show you in real-time what dental problems you need to deal with on a computer or television screen.

How Does an Intraoral Camera Work?

An intraoral camera looks like an oversized pen and consists of a small video camera that takes an x-ray of your gums and teeth. The image-taking device is usually wrapped in a protective disposable sheet to prevent any transfer of pathogens from one patient to another.

There are several different types of intraoral cameras with various features that can help enhance the sharpness of the image. Most of these devices are equipped with LED lights that do not easily scratch or break and are more resistant to liquids than halogen lights. They also have a brighter, whiter light, and are quite durable. Some intraoral cameras also come with fluorescent ultraviolet light that can help diagnose dental caries.

While looking at a monitor screen, Dr. Kennedy and Dr. Ardoin will gently insert the tip of the camera into the patien's mouth and shift it so that images can be taken from all angles.

Benefits of Intraoral Cameras

Intraoral cameras have many uses and advantages. Some of them are listed below:

•	One of the biggest advantages of using an intraoral camera is that patients can see the problems in their mouth along with the dentist. Seeing their oral issues in greater detail can help alleviate anxiety in patients and make them feel more involved in the process. It also enables us to explain the diagnosis more easily.
•	The intraoral camera is very useful during tooth restoration procedures. For example, if you are having a tooth cavity filled with a composite resin material, we can take "before and after" pictures with the intraoral camera and display them at the same time, so that you can see the difference.
•	Additionally, many patients are only aware of specific ailments which they can see or which cause them pain. However, the intraoral camera allows us to identify other dental or oral issues that are not so easily detected and show them directly to the patient so that they understand there are other problem areas that need to be treated as well. This results in improved oral health care and a better patient-doctor relationship.
•	Another great benefit of intraoral cameras is that they save time. This is especially noticeable when we need to take several x-rays at a time. Images are very easy to retake and can be sent to other doctors or emailed to you and even printed out. You can use the hardcopy of the images from intraoral camera to validate your insurance claim. Moreover, intraoral cameras also lead to a smaller paper trail as their images can be transferred electronically as well.

With this advancement in the field of dentistry, intraoral cameras are becoming more and more practical and comfortable for patients. If you are concerned about the condition of your teeth and mouth and want to see the problem areas, call us at 337-443-2533 for our Lafayette location or 337-381-3663 for our Opelousas location to schedule an appointment with us. We will effectively diagnose your oral health issues and determine the best treatment plan for them.

Lafayette

Location
203A Energy Parkway
Lafayette, LA 70508

Hours
Monday-Thursday: 8am - 5pm
Friday: 8am - 12pm

Opelousas

Location
2351 Larkspur Lane
Opelousas, LA 70570

Hours
Monday-Thursday: 8am - 5pm
Friday: 8am - 12pm

Request Appointment

Contact Us

Patient Information