Diagnostic Services
Intraoral Cameras
A small handheld camera captures close-up images of your teeth and gums, so you can see what your dentist sees and understand your options.
What is an intraoral camera?
An intraoral camera is a small handheld device, roughly the size of a pen, with a tiny camera and light at its tip. As it is moved around your mouth, it captures magnified images of individual teeth and the surrounding gums and displays them on a screen.
Looking into a mouth with a dental mirror only shows part of the picture, and it is hard for patients to see for themselves. Close-up images make it easier to show you a worn filling, a crack line, or an area of gum inflammation, rather than just describing it.
How intraoral cameras may help
Intraoral images can support your care in several ways:
- Showing you surface details such as cracks, chips, worn or leaking fillings, plaque build-up, or gum inflammation
- Helping you understand why a treatment is being recommended before you decide
- Recording the appearance of a tooth so changes can be compared at future visits
- Making it easier to ask questions and talk through options with your dentist
What to expect
Using an intraoral camera is quick and simple:
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Your exam begins as usual
Your dentist or hygienist examines your teeth and gums and decides where a closer look would be useful.
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The camera is guided around your mouth
The slim wand is moved gently over the teeth being examined. There is no radiation involved, and most people find it no different from a mirror.
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Images are shown on screen
The images appear on a monitor so you can see them as they are captured.
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Next steps are discussed
Your dentist explains what the images show and whether any treatment or monitoring is recommended.
Cameras and X-rays work together
An intraoral camera shows the surfaces of your teeth and gums that can be seen. It cannot see between teeth, inside a tooth, or below the gumline. That is where digital X-rays come in.
Your dentist may use both, along with a visual exam, to build a complete picture before recommending treatment. Diagnostic tools are always used for a clinical reason, and we are happy to explain what we are looking for.
Questions about your images?
If you would like to see an area of concern more closely, or have questions about something shown during your exam, just ask. Understanding your own oral health helps you make informed decisions about your care.
Seeing an image of your own tooth can also make it easier to weigh your options. If a treatment is recommended, you can ask what would happen if you waited, what alternatives exist, and how the area might be monitored over time. Our team at West End Dental Centre is happy to walk you through your images at your next visit.
Diagnostic Services
See your smile up close
Call 780-944-2828 or book an appointment online.