An intra-oral camera has a projector that is energizable to emit patterned illumination and an imaging sensor that is energizable to obtain image content. An inertial motion sensing element provides signals indicative of acceleration of the intra-oral imaging apparatus along at least one axis. A processor is in signal communication with the projector, the imaging sensor, and the inertial motion sensing element and is configured to initiate image acquisition according to signals obtained from the inertial motion sensing element.
