The invention relates to a method for performing an optical three-dimensional recording by using hand-held dental camera. The camera automatically records a plurality of individual optical recordings in succession at a defined frequency during the measurement. The individual three-dimensional optical recordings are combined into an overall recording of a dental object to be measured and before the measurement is performed, a three-dimensional standard jaw model is displayed using a display device and a first control point on the standard jaw model is displayed using the display device. The hand-held dental camera is then positioned in relation to the object to be recorded in such a way that the camera points at the first control point of the standard jaw model and records a corresponding recording region of the dental object.