Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
An intraoral camera in Pompano Beach is the simplest piece of technology at South Florida Smile Spa and one of the most useful: a pen-sized camera that puts a magnified, well-lit picture of a single tooth on the screen in front of you, so a crack, a worn filling, a chipped edge or a red gum margin is something you look at together with Dr. Nicole M. Berger rather than something you are asked to take on trust. The pictures are saved to your record, compared at later visits, sent to insurance to support a claim and used to plan cosmetic work. This page explains how the camera is used, what it can and cannot show, and why it changes the conversation at the checkup.
Quick answer
An intraoral camera is a small wand with a light and a lens that captures close-up color photographs inside the mouth and displays them on a chairside screen, magnified many times. At South Florida Smile Spa in Pompano Beach it is used at exams to show you cracks, decay, failing fillings, worn enamel and gum inflammation, to document conditions for your record and for insurance pre-authorizations, to plan and track cosmetic treatment, and to check that a restoration is sealed. It uses no radiation, takes seconds, and lets you see your own teeth the way the dentist sees them, which makes a recommendation easier to understand and to decide on.
What It Is For
An intraoral camera in Pompano Beach: seeing what the dentist sees
A mouth mirror shows the dentist a small reflected view; the camera shows you a large, lit, magnified one and keeps it.
- Cracks and fractures. Hairline cracks in molars and around old fillings that cause biting pain are far easier to see magnified than in a mirror, and often invisible on X-rays.
- Failing fillings and crowns. Leaking margins, chipped porcelain and stain creeping under an edge are shown rather than described.
- Gum health. Redness, swelling, recession and plaque along the gumline, documented at each visit so improvement is visible.
- Wear and erosion. Flattened cusps, notches at the gumline and thinning enamel from grinding, acid or hard brushing.
- Cosmetic planning. Close-ups of shade, shape and edges before and after whitening, bonding or veneers.
Photography adds to, rather than replaces, the exam and X-rays; the American Dental Association’s page on dental X-rays explains what imaging is still needed to see below the surface.
At the Checkup
How the camera is used at a visit
- A quick pass. During the exam the wand is moved over any tooth of interest; each picture takes a second and appears on the screen.
- Look together. Dr. Berger points out what she sees, enlarged, and explains what it means and what the options are.
- Saved to your record. Images are stored with the date so the next visit can compare.
- Used for insurance. A photo of a cracked tooth or a failing crown supports a pre-authorization more clearly than a written note.
- Checked after treatment. A new filling or crown is photographed so the sealed margin is on record.
Why seeing it changes the decision
Most patients who have been told for years that a cracked molar should be crowned finally agree when they see the crack on a screen. The camera does not make the recommendation; it makes the reason visible, which is the point. It also keeps the practice honest, because a photo of a sound tooth is a photo of a sound tooth. Images taken over years show whether a watched area is stable or progressing, which is often the difference between monitoring and treating. Our cleanings and exams page explains how the camera fits into the checkup.
What it cannot show
The camera sees surfaces. Decay between the teeth, infection at a root tip, bone loss and anything under a crown still need digital X-rays, and three-dimensional questions need a cone-beam scan. The camera, the X-rays and the exam together give the full picture; none replaces the others.
Care in Pompano Beach
Why patients choose South Florida Smile Spa for a transparent exam
- You see it too. Every recommendation is shown on screen, magnified, before it is made.
- No radiation. The camera is light and lens only, used freely at every visit.
- A visual record. Dated photos make change over time visible.
- Insurance support. Photos accompany pre-authorizations for crowns and other work.
- Cosmetic planning. Before-and-after documentation of whitening, bonding and veneers.
Patients come to us from Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek for care planned with the imaging and tools described on this page.
See your own teeth the way the dentist does
Book an exam with Dr. Berger. Magnified photos on screen, explained, before any treatment is recommended.
South Florida Smile Spa · Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS · 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 · (954) 785-1100
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an intraoral camera?
A small wand with a light and lens that photographs individual teeth and gums, magnified, and shows them on a screen at the chair. The images are saved to your record.
Does it use radiation?
No. It is a camera, not an X-ray, and can be used as often as needed at any visit, including in pregnancy.
Why would I need photos if I have X-rays?
X-rays show what is under the surface; the camera shows the surface in detail: cracks, worn edges, leaking fillings and gum changes that X-rays miss. The two complement each other.
Can I get copies of the pictures?
Yes. Images are part of your record and can be shared with you, another dentist or your insurance on request.
Does the camera find cavities?
It shows surface decay and staining and helps judge cracks, but decay between the teeth and under old fillings needs bitewing X-rays. Dr. Berger uses both.
Do you see patients from outside Pompano Beach?
Yes. Patients come from Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Creek and across Broward County, and the camera is part of every checkup. The office is at 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach. Call (954) 785-1100 or request an appointment.