Buyer’s Guide

Buyer's guide to intraoral cameras

Buyers Guide to Intraoral Cameras

Intraoral cameras are such a helpful diagnostic tool that modern dental practices cannot afford not to have one. The cameras have a wide range of benefits including easing patient education, making case documentation effective and easing case referrals to specialists, among other uses. But how to select the right intraoral camera? This brief guide will take you through the major considerations you can weigh when comparing different intraoral cameras on the market.

Image Quality

Start by determining what purposes you need to use an intraoral camera like the IRIS HD Camera for. For example, one dental practice may use the camera to present cases to patients in order to increase case acceptance rates while another practice will only be interested in the images for documentation purposes. Another dentist may want to use intraoral cameras to take external images too.

Each of those end-uses will require varying levels of image quality. For example, case referrals to specialists require images of the highest quality possible so that the specialist can quickly identify the issues that require attention.

The crucial factors that affect image quality include resolution (the higher the resolution the clearer the image), the type of lens used, the lighting and the sensor or CCD chip. Discuss these specifications with your preferred supplier so that the most appropriate camera can be recommended for your needs.

Camera Design

Ease of use should also be at the top of your mind when you are shortlisting intraoral cameras before making your selection. All intraoral cameras like the IRIS USB 2.0 Chair Dental Camera are compact and lightweight. However, you need to hold a few in your hand and compare how comfortable you will be when using each of those cameras. Select the one that “feels right” in your hand since you may have to use it dozens of times each day.

Also, consider how the intraoral camera takes images. Does it have a button that the user pushes to capture an image? Make sure that the button will be easy to use when the camera is oriented in different positions. Other intraoral dental cameras have a small panel that you push to capture an image. These may be easier to use in case you are turning the camera around in a patient’s mouth in order to capture images from various angles.

Your Patient Management System

Think about your patient management system as you shop for intraoral cameras. Make sure that the camera you buy will easily integrate with your patient management system without any unnecessary inconveniences.

For example, select a camera whose images can be imported into the patient’s file with a single click instead of a camera that requires you to execute multiple steps to insert images into a patient’s file.

Computer System Requirements

Different intraoral cameras are designed for different computer systems. For instance, it would be unwise for you to buy the IRIS intraoral Dental Camera for Mac if your computers run on the Windows operating system. The IRIS USB 2.0 Dental Camera for Windows would be a better choice in such a scenario.

Similarly, consider the RAM requirements of the imaging software and the type of processor that the software runs on (32-bit or 64-bit processors). Selecting an intraoral camera which can run on either type of processor is a wise move just in case a need arises to upgrade your computers after buying the intraoral dental cameras.

Support Services

Tech support from an intraoral dental camera manufacturer can mean a world of difference in case you run into issues when you are installing or using the cameras. This support is especially crucial when you get to the installation phase when the software of the camera is being integrated into the patient management system.

Identify a supplier who has a track record of being available round the clock to provide technical support each time such expertise is needed. Stay away from suppliers who tell you that the manual is sufficient to address any concerns that you may have.

Every dental practice has unique needs. Start by defining your needs and then identify which intraoral camera features are crucial to addressing those needs. You can then determine what features fall in the “good to have” category and those you can do without. Ask for in-office demos and discuss with the supplier’s representative any issues that your team notices during the demo. You will then be able to make an informed decision as you invest in this useful dental technology.

Best Intraoral Camera 2018

Lum Intraoral Camera

IRIS Intraoral Camera Wins 2018 Product Award

Dental Advisor submitted the IRIS Intraoral Camera to nine dentistry consultants and asked them to subject the camera to a clinical evaluation over a period of four months. Their verdict? IRIS was given a 96 percent clinical rating overall by that team of consultants. Read on and learn about this camera and what that 2018 evaluation entailed.

Overview of the IRIS Intraoral Dental Camera

The IRIS intraoral camera is a user-friendly dental camera which has a five-point focus wheel. A dentist can use this focus wheel to determine how large or how small the area captured in the image should be. Eight positions are available for the user to hone in on the type of image to be captured, such as clear images of the arch, entire smile, the full face and so many other areas of interest.

The IRIS intraoral camera comes with a cable which is 15-feet long so that the user isn’t constrained when moving about to capture a variety of images when a patient is in the operatory.

The camera comes with two capture buttons to suit operators who are either left-handed or right-handed. This has the added benefit of easing the capture of images even when the camera is being turned around in the mouth of the patient.

Sony’s hi-resolution CCD and eight-point LED lighting makes the camera capture clear and sharp images with true colors.

The IRIS intraoral camera requires 1GB RAM, a 2.0 USB interface and at least 2.0 GHz as its computer system requirements. IRIS now makes a version for MAC computers as well. The camera is charged via the USB port on any PC.

Other Reasons why more Dentist’s Choose IRIS 

HD intraoral camera

  • High Definition 720p resolution
  • Motion activated auto On/Off
  • 8-point true white LED array
  • One-piece slim design soft tip
  • Dual capture buttons for left or right hand use
  • One-touch 5-position electronic focus for a macro to infinite viewing with OSD
  • High performance impact and chemical resistant seamless body
  • USB 3.0 connector that fits standard delivery units

 

What the Consultants Said

The Stainless Steel Wand. The consultants agreed that the sleek, stainless steel wand is ideal for a clinical setting since this material is easy to maintain at the high standards of hygiene expected in a hospital setting. The stainless steel can also stand up to the harshness of some of the cleaning products commonly used in dental offices and hospitals. This is unlike plastic wands that soon wear due to the impact of the cleaning products typically used in a dental office or hospital setting.

Camera Software. IRIS also received kudos because the software upon which it operates was found to be easy to integrate into most of the commonly used patient management systems in dental offices.

The Lens. The 90° lens makes positioning the camera to capture images easy and intuitive. The images captured will, therefore, be sharp and clear due to the natural orientation of the lens.

The Barrier Sheath. Not many cameras can work satisfactorily when a barrier sheath is in place. Some models don’t even allow a barrier sheath to be installed. The IRIS intraoral camera is one of those few dental cameras whose image quality isn’t affected even with a barrier sheath in place.

The Lighting. The LED lights were found to be more than adequate to illuminate the field as images are taken. Those lights could also be turned off as a user is capturing images that have been backlit by x-rays.

The Consultants’ Conclusions

11% of the consultants who evaluated the IRIS Intraoral Camera said that it was similar to other intraoral cameras available. However, the majority of the consultants were of the view that the IRIS intraoral camera was superior to the other products on the market. All the consultants were in agreement that they would recommend the IRIS Intraoral Camera to any dental practice which needed equipment. They also recommended that dental practices using the IRIS camera should install a cable kit in all the operatories where they expect to use the IRIS intraoral camera so that moving the camera from one operatory to another is seamless. All in all, Dental Advisor relied on the report of the consultants to award IRIS Intraoral Camera the 2018 Product Award.