Functionally, intra-oral cameras have not changed for some time. Their basic shape and function; a wand shaped device with a lens at the tip which is used to take pictures of teeth and oral structure, has remained the same for decades now.
That isn’t to say that there have been no changes in camera technology over the past 20 years. Today, cameras are lighter and more portable than ever before. Technology has really focused on how the images are stored and accessed. Once, bulky video printers were used to capture the image and then print a 4×6 photograph of the picture on the screen. Today, images are stored in a computer, archived in dental imaging software.
Let’s start by clearing up a misconception about digital imaging: any intra-oral camera, no matter how old, can be hooked up to a computer and used to store images digitally. How? All cameras have a video output on them. This video output can be fed into a computer simply by installing a $100 video capture card in the computer. The imaging software can be set to use this card as a source, and your old Acucam is now ready for the 21st century.
New cameras can make this process a whole lot easier. In addition to the video output, today’s cameras often feature USB or Firewire ports to pair them with a computer. With a USB connection, you can simply plug the camera into an already existing port on the computer and you are hooked up. Using the USB connection, the imaging software is configured in exactly the same way as you would configure the capture card. However, if you were using a capture card in a multiple operatory practice, each operatory would need to have the capture card installed in order to use the camera.
One potential downside to the USB/Firewire option is that a driver needs to be installed on the computer to allow the machine to recognize the camera. This doesn’t cost money, as the driver is included with the camera, but does add an extra level of complexity. Computers don’t always do what they are told, and driver errors can shut your camera down until you have someone come to fix it.
My favorite camera on the market today is the Gendex Acucam Concept IV FWT (shown on the right). Featuring a fast Firewire connection, the camera installs easily and the camera drivers are stable. This means reduced downtime for the dentist, and fewer service calls for the technician. In addition, the camera uses a docking station technology, in which a dock is installed in each room. The benefit of this is that the bulky dock stays put while only the small flexible camera is moved from room to room. Simplicity is always the best option.
Tags: Dental Equipment, Intra Oral Cameras
