Oral cams: Things you need to know about them
Oral cam is one of the newest technologies that have entered in the field of dentistry. It enables the dentists to carry out treatments or surgery with a clear vision. In early days, dentists used only dental hand piece, where even a sight of tooth decay or cavity was enough for the dentist to render a suggestion. But today, dentists prefer to check the site of investigation in detail, so as to come to a conclusion. Oral cam to a large extent has cleared all the doubts and in fact renders clarity to both the patient as well as the dentist.
How oral cams work
An oral cam captures pictures or still photos from patient’s oral environment. It enables the patient to get an idea as to the condition or health of his teeth, and the mode of treatment to be implemented. The camera, at the site of investigation, emits light on the infected part. The infected area simultaneously exudes a color due to which the dentist can determine the defect inherent in one’s oral area. The three modes of light in oral cams allow the dentist to enlighten the patient by giving him a visual tour of his oral health, as well as enabling the diagnosis and treatment of the patient. In that context, oral cam has brought in the much needed efficacy required in treating the patients.
Although the technology inherent in oral cam is constantly improving, all the oral cams have a certain set of features which do not vary from each other. Likewise, the ability to zoom-in and zoom-out of one’s tooth, or recording video tour of one’s oral hygiene, are certain specs of features inherent in every video cam. The images so taken by the oral cam can be effectively displayed on the computer monitor. Certain images like broken fillings, distorted teeth, worn-out fillings, decay in cavities, plaque, the fitting of the teeth, types of dental lesions, calculus or tartar need to be seen with clarity. An oral cam can efficiently garner clear vision of the unhealthy conditions in one’s oral environment. Moreover, the still photos depicting one’s oral conditions can also be sent to the insurance companies or be sent to a specialist for further reference.
Specifications in an Oral Cam
An oral cam comprises of a class apparatus, generally IEC 601 standard. The class apparatus comprises of NTSC system, wired or wireless technology, and high sensitivity CMOS, a sensitivity of 0.5 lux, signal ratio of 5.1 db, a 4 LED lighting, automatic adjustments and a definition of 380 lines. Apart from these primary technicalities, Oral Cam requires an atmospheric pressure of at least 900 to 1060hpa, a power supply of 100 to 240v, and 60 degrees angle viewing. However, with technological advancements, the specifications of oral cam can also change. The most recent technology uses fluorescent oral cams which enable even better detection of one’s oral hygiene. The innovation of equipments in the arena of dentistry through new age tools such as an oral cam has also affected the quality and technique of treatment methods.
Tags: dentistry, intraoral cameras, oral cam