As both a Dental Hygienist/Therapist and a Clinical Educator, one of my absolute non-negotiables in periodontal care is the use of intraoral photography. Every periodontal consultation and hygiene appointment I carry out includes intraoral images, as I believe they are one of the most valuable tools we have for patient education, treatment planning, clinical documentation and reflection. At Anna House Dental Clinic, I supervise dental hygiene and therapy students treating patients, and I actively encourage them to adopt the same approach from the very beginning of their careers. Intraoral cameras completely change the way students communicate with patients. Rather than simply explaining what they can see, they can show patients exactly what is happening inside their mouths. This creates greater understanding, improves patient engagement and helps patients take ownership of their oral health. From an educational perspective, the benefits are enormous. Students develop greater confidence because they are able to clearly see the results of their work through high-quality before and after images. These photographs also provide an invaluable opportunity for clinical reflection, allowing students to review their treatment, discuss cases in detail and identify areas for continuous improvement. The images have also become an excellent teaching resource. They allow us to build a library of real clinical cases, helping students recognise normal anatomy, developmental variations, periodontal conditions, restorative defects and oral abnormalities. Combining these images with radiographs and clinical notes enables students to strengthen their diagnostic skills, improve treatment planning and develop a more comprehensive understanding of patient care. For me, intraoral photography is far more than simply taking pictures. It has become an essential educational tool that supports patient communication, clinical documentation, reflective practice and diagnostic learning. It is helping to shape a new generation of clinicians who are more observant, more confident and better equipped to deliver exceptional patient care. Charlotte Benson · RDHT and CE