Have you ever had a toothache, but the damage wasn’t visually evident? Dental enamel is the second hardest naturally occurring material; diamonds are first. Tooth enamel is also the hardest substance your body creates, even harder than bone. At Thomas F. Brown, DDS Family & Sedation Dentistry, our dentists in Naperville, IL, use intraoral cameras to examine extremely fine details on tooth enamel. After finding the cause of an issue, Dr. Brown can effectively treat the issue and resolve your toothache.
In today’s blog, you’ll learn:
- What an intraoral camera does
- The benefits of using an intraoral camera
- How intraoral images, combined with other imaging, aid in the diagnostic process
If you’d like to experience the technological advances in dentistry firsthand, call to reserve an assessment and consultation with our dentists in Naperville, IL. You can dial (630) 296-4933 or schedule your appointment online.
What are intraoral cameras, and what do they do?
The intraoral camera used in dentistry is a tiny camera connected to the end of a wand, or pen-like device. By scanning the teeth with the device, we capture detailed digital images of teeth. The images can be displayed and magnified 10-40x on a chairside computer while Dr. Brown explains what his trained, experienced eyes see.
He may find issues like tooth decay (cavities or dental caries), chips, cracks, or crazing, which are tiny weblike cracks throughout the surface. These problems can cause pain of various types and intensities, but treatment is possible.
If we use an intraoral camera during your six-month preventive checkup and find small issues, early treatment could save you from more advanced issues, pain, and expense down the road.
These same images help us convey to insurance providers the intricacies of our patients’ cases.
Benefits of Using Intraoral Cameras
A few of the main benefits you’ll witness when our dentists in Naperville, Il, use an intraoral camera during your exam are:
- Non-invasive, pain-free exam
- Proof of progress, meaning before-and-after images
- Improved diagnostic accuracy
- Early detection for early treatment
- You can see, as well as hear, the dentist’s findings
- Opportunity for patient questions, based on images
- Better records for insurance claims and reimbursement
Improved Diagnostics with Digital Imaging
Our Naperville dentists can combine imaging from the intraoral camera, digital x-rays, and CBCT for improved diagnostics and treatment planning. These tools allow Dr. Brown a comprehensive understanding of a patient’s dental health.
With high-resolution, magnified intraoral camera images, Dr. Brown may notice tooth wear, acid erosion, craxing, and even inflammation that may not be visible otherwise. Understanding the intricacies of enamel, gum tissue, the interior of teeth, where teeth roots reside in the jaw, nerve paths, and bone density can be examined.
All of this adds up to more precisely diagnosing dental issues, then providing focused treatment for restoration of dental health, function, and an attractive smile.
Experience Advanced Technology with Our Naperville, Il, Dentists
Call our Naperville, IL, dentist’s office at (630) 296-4933 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Brown, or schedule online. We will leverage all of our advanced technology and tools to provide an efficient and effective experience for you and your loved ones.