---
title: "What Is Intraoral camera? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "An intraoral camera is a small camera on a wand that shows close images of teeth and gums on a screen, so patients and dentists can look at them together."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/intraoral-camera
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Technology and Imaging

# Intraoral camera

An intraoral camera is a small camera on a wand that shows close images of teeth and gums on a screen, so patients and dentists can look at them together.

An intraoral camera is a pen-sized camera that goes inside the mouth. It shows enlarged, clear pictures of a tooth or gum area on a monitor. Dentists use it to look for defects that are hard to see and to keep records of what they find.

A research review describes it as a tool for patient education and for records of care. When you can see a cracked tooth or worn filling yourself, the dentist's explanation is often easier to follow.

The pictures are different from X-rays. A camera shows only the surface, while a [digital X-ray](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/digital-x-ray) shows what is under it. Pictures can also be used with an [intraoral scanner](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/intraoral-scanner) or a [dental exam](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/dental-exam).

[Town Center Dental can helpDental Exam](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/services/dental-exam)

## Related terms

-   [Digital X-ray](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/digital-x-ray)
-   [Intraoral scanner](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/intraoral-scanner)
-   [Caries detection](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/caries-detection)
-   [Digital impression](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/digital-impression)

## Sources

1.  [NIH PMC: Clinical applications of intraoral camera to increase patient compliance](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6712211/)
2.  [NIH PMC: Clinical applications of intraoral camera to increase patient compliance](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6712211/)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)