How To Involve Patients in Their Oral Health Journey
Every dentist should want their patients to not only receive the best dental treatment possible, but for them to understand and care about that treatment too.
Turning dentistry into a more human-related industry can have huge long-term benefits in encouraging patients to proactively prioritise their oral health and practice good oral hygiene.
Minimally invasive and preventive dentistry should be at the forefront of this shift in mentality for both clinicians and patient alike.
One piece of equipment that can be a game-changer in achieving this is the intraoral camera.
What is an intraoral camera?
An intraoral camera is a device used by clinicians to capture high resolution images of inside a patient’s mouth. Its design is slim and resembles that of an oversized pen.
The camera emits a light over the patient’s teeth and gums to produce real-time visuals that can be shared with the patient there and then.
How to find the best intraoral camera?
One dental brand that is spearheading the revolution in human-related dental care is Acteon.
The Acteon C50 fully HD intraoral camera represents a significant leap forward for greater interpretation, giving all patients the opportunity to be involved in their treatment and better understand their oral health status and care plan.
Versatility is one of the greatest strengths of the C50 with several different modes able to produce precise images, before and after treatment, that give patients a clear picture of what’s happening inside their mouths.
Here are what those modes are:
Perio mode
A 21st century way of disclosing the teeth – no dyes or solutions needed. The camera can be switched into perio mode at the push of a button and it will use selective chromatic amplification to highlight plaque and inflammation, as shown in the above image.
This clear visual aid allows clinicians to help the patient understand oral hygiene instructions, empowering them to take control and improve their home care regime for better periodontal outcomes.
Caries mode
Auto fluorescence is used to detect early caries, and lesions that don’t always show on a radiograph. Caries mode supports a minimal intervention approach and helps the patient to understand the suggested treatment plan.
During cavity preparation, the camera can be used to ensure the site is clean and ready to be restored.
The image on the left show’s signs of decay in the fissures, while the image on the right shows caries still present in the cavity.
Like all the other modes, it is activated at the push of a button and requires no dyes or solutions to be put on the teeth first, thus making is extremely fast and easy to use.
Daylight mode
- Improved interpretation of tooth shades with rendering of natural colours.
- A powerful support tool for pre- and post-treatment and facilitating the follow-up process.
Communication made easier
The HD images produced by the C50 can be stored in the patient records for reference and comparison.
With the information transferred in an easy to interpret visual language, the patient can quickly understand the status of their periodontal disease or carious lesions and make better informed decisions about their treatment plan, thus increasing treatment acceptance rates.
The camera can be used to break down communication barriers such as language, speech, or hearing.
The reporting tool in the software allows clinicians to prepare a tailor-made home care plan in seconds or create a report that can be sent direct to a referring clinician.
To get the most of your intraoral camera and simplify daily use, dental professionals can also sign up to the C50 club.
